Collingwood and Geelong have broken tradition with a spectacular pre-match show ahead of their blockbuster at the MCG.
Players from both sides came onto the ground just minutes before the opening ball-up in a huge shake-up.
Normally, players come out around 15 minutes before the game begins, conduct light warm-ups and the captains conduct the coin toss in the middle of the ground.
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But on Thursday night, the coin was tossed 90 minutes before the match inside the MCG. Geelong stand-in captain Tom Stewart won the toss, but was unsure which way to point when he chose the Punt rd end.
“It’s a bit odd, feels like a media conference pre-game, but it’s all part of it. Something new, something exciting,” Stewart said.
Collingwood stand-in captain Nick Daicos added: “It’s super exciting I think and hopefully the crowd is up and about with pre-game entertainment. We’ll do our huddle here and then as soon as we head out, we’re straight into it. It’s a different experience, but one we’re looking forward to.”
After the coin toss, players did their warm-up on the ground before disappearing into their changerooms.
There was a lightshow and fireworks to get the crowd pumped up, and then the players came onto the ground just three minutes before the ball-up without the customary theme songs.
The Pies came out to Heads Will Roll by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, while the Cats entered with Zombie Nation’s ionic Kernkraft 400, which they have used previously for their white out game at GMHBA Stadium.
St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt said he might have struggled with the change-up during his playing days, but tipped it could become the norm.
“I love my routine, not sure I would have handled that well this late in the season,” he said on Seven.
“But i think it will work for some of the players, being able to just run out and get straight into it. It is unique, incredible from Collingwood and Geelong to be able to come together on something like this.
“It is a big shift for the players so late in the season, assuming it goes well tonight, this could be the norm.”
Collingwood coach Craig McRae added: “The old adage ‘we’ve always done it that way’, I like to challenge those things. We’re probably one of the only sports in the world that probably doesn’t run out and (immediately) play.”
7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary first revealed the plans last month, which has been backed by Collingwood fitness staff.
The initiative is the brainchild of Collingwood fitness boss Jarrod Wade, who was previously at South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL, where teams run out and begin the game all in the space of 60 seconds.
