Radio host urges AFL to limit Welcome to Country to 90 seconds after extended pre‑final ceremony

Radio host Shane McInnes has urged the Australian Football League to impose a maximum length on Welcome to Country ceremonies after a pre‑match address stretched to more than four and a half minutes at an elimination final, delaying the game's start and drawing widespread attention from fans.

The extended speech, delivered by Aunty Joan Bell before Hawthorn's win over Greater Western Sydney at ENGIE Stadium on Saturday, prompted social media reaction from supporters who noted the timing and suggested the ceremony affected team routines. McInnes, speaking on 3AW, called for the AFL to mandate a 90‑second limit for Welcome to Country presentations at matches.

"I don't want to be disrespectful by any stretch of the imagination and I don't want to open up a political can of worms, but can the AFL please mandate that any Welcome to Country go for a maximum of 90 seconds," McInnes said. He added that the four‑and‑a‑half‑minute ceremony was "too long" and said it had delayed the start of the match, forcing the teams to adjust their preparations.

Welcome to Country addresses are customary at many Australian public events and are typically brief, often around a minute. Organisers and performers have considerable latitude over content and length, but the extended timing at the Hawthorn‑GWS match drew commentary from fans online. One X user joked the match would be "delayed by 30mins as the players need to do another warm up after that Welcome to Country," while another quipped that an extended welcome could shift outcomes, saying "Essendon may win a final by the time this Welcome to Country is finished."

McInnes said his proposal was intended as a practical measure to protect pre‑game schedules rather than to diminish the significance of the ceremony. "I personally have no issue if the AFL wants the ceremonial welcome, especially for a final, but it cannot go for four minutes," he said. "And that is on the AFL to ensure anything pregame, during these pregame proceedings, that they stick to time and do not delay the opening bounce."

The match produced other notable moments. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, seated next to AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, was booed by portions of the crowd when cameras focused on him during the third quarter. The boos were visible on the stadium's big screen as the men searched for their source. Hawthorn will meet minor premiers Adelaide in a semi‑final, while the loss ended GWS's season.

The AFL has incorporated Welcome to Country and other Indigenous acknowledgements into match protocols in recent years, including at marquee fixtures and finals. The league has not publicly announced a firm time limit for such pre‑game ceremonies. McInnes's comments add to ongoing public discussion about how to balance ceremonial recognition with the logistical demands of live sport.

Hawthorn's immediate on‑field focus will shift to their semi at Adelaide Oval, where they will seek to build on Saturday's victory. Greater Western Sydney's campaign concluded with the elimination final defeat.

McInnes reiterated that his call was made with respect for Indigenous tradition while stressing the need for clear timing at scheduled events. He said: "It can’t be going for four and half minutes, sorry that’s too long." The AFL did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether it would consider implementing a time cap for Welcome to Country presentations.