AFL Faces Fan Backlash Over Post-Goal Music in 2025 Grand Final

The 2025 AFL Grand Final sparked significant controversy among fans and commentators over the league's decision to play pop music and iconic ballads at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) after players scored goals, a first in the event's 129-year history. Songs linked to key players, such as Charlie Cameron's "Country Roads" and Jeremy Cameron's "The Gambler," were featured, continuing a trend from Brisbane and Geelong home games but drawing sharp criticism for disrupting the traditional crowd atmosphere. Critics argued that the music drowned out authentic crowd noise, eroding the pure experience of the game, with commentators and fans labeling the move as "cringe-worthy" and an "absolute joke." Additionally, the grand final celebrations involving Auskick kids being miked up to create scripted, heartwarming moments during medal presentations were called out as forced and inauthentic by fans and journalists. On the field, Brisbane overcame a lopsided early free-kick count to defeat Geelong, securing their fifth premiership of the millennium, despite fan outrage over perceived umpiring bias. These events have collectively fueled a wider debate about the AFL's decisions and the preservation of the game's traditional values amid efforts to modernize and entertain.