That’s c**p”: Kelli Underwood butts heads with Waleed Aly
AFL commentator Kelli Underwood and The Project host Waleed Aly have had a clash while discussing whether Saturday’s night time Grand Final was a success.
In a historic first, the AFL’s premier event was held at night at the Gabba in Brisbane as Richmond beat Geelong by 31 points under lights.
While television ratings soared compared to last year, footy fans unanimously agreed that the Grand Final should remain a daytime spectacle.
Appearing on ABC’s Offsiders, Aly didn’t hold back when asked about his thoughts on the later time slot.
“I hated it, I hated it,” Aly said. “I think it’s the kind of thing you like when you don’t actually care about the game that is happening.
“It’s the kind of thing you gravitate towards when you want it to be an event, not a game. And that is exactly what it felt like.”
But Offsiders host Underwood immediately hit back at Aly.
“That’s c**p … look at these beautiful pictures. I loved it. I think it makes it more of an event … it has more spark,” Underwood said.
“I thought it was absolutely fantastic. This reminded me of the Sydney Olympics, and then you get the night and it elevates to some sort of Super Bowl level, which is not just a game, but you get an event.”
But cricket journalist Gideon Haigh agreed with Aly, calling the Grand Final “total c**p”.
Haigh particularly disliked the pre-match entertainment, headlined by Australian indie bands DMA’S and Cub Sport.
“The pre-match entertainment! Those awful bloody dirges,” Haigh moaned.
Veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson was also not a fan of the time change, saying: “Clearly the game was one for the ages, but the night Grand Finals should not be played going forward.
“Waleed’s nailed it. It’s a game, not an event, how many traditions are we going to lose under this administration … how many traditions will be get rid of?
“I couldn’t cop it if we lose the day of the grand final, I just think that is something unique to our game, and we sell out if we change it.”
Cricket journalist Adam Collins tweeted: “We don’t need it to be dark for the Grand Final to be the best event going. Also, the music after goals has to go — adds nothing, detracts from the natural sound a massive crowd makes when they’re invested in every moment. Never again.”
Meanwhile, Channel 9 sports presenter Tony Jones backflipped on his previous assertions, saying the Grand Final should remain an afternoon event in the future.
“I’ve always been an advocate for the night Grand Final. Based on what I saw last night, now I know it wasn’t the MCG, but I’m saying let’s stick to the day Grand Final,” Jones said on Channel 9’s AFL Sunday Footy Show.
“To me, it didn’t have the Grand Final feel holus-bolus. Now again, that’s Gabba versus MCG, but it was too long to wait through the game for this marquee match.
“I worry about the state of some people in Melbourne once the game actually rolls around. To me, it just didn’t grab me in the Grand Final sense.
Jones also said the pre-match entertainment “bombed”, saying the bands should not have performed so many dreary cover songs.
“Who are these people? I know that I’m 57, I get that. I know they’re very popular in the music scene at festivals and indie groups and that sort of stuff,” Jones said.
“But if you’re going to wheel them out, at least do something uplifting. Give us something uplifting. Give us something uplifting, not that.
“To me, that didn’t get you in the mood for a Grand Final.”
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd agreed. “I think it made me realise just how special day Grand Finals are,” he said.
“I don’t think there was anything that happened last night that makes me want to take the game away from being a day Grand Final.”