Latest news with #2025GrandFinal
News.com.au
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Snoop Dogg in bombshell AFL Grand Final headline act rumour
The AFL could be getting set to Drop It Like It's Hot for the upcoming 2025 Grand Final at the MCG in September. American rap superstar Snoop Dogg has reportedly been locked in as the headline act for the final game of the season. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The rumour mill was sent into overdrive by 3AW host Ross Stevenson who spruiked that the 53-year-old could be the man to light up the stadium on September 27. Stevenson noted that Snoop Dogg is set to perform in the Philippines just two days before the Grand Final, meaning the travel to Australia wouldn't be a worry. 'It has been suggested to me that the grand final entertainment this year will be Snoop Dogg,' Stevenson said. 'You know who you can see in the Philippines on September 25? Snoop Dogg. 'I said to Damien Barrett about the rumour about Snoop Dogg being the Grand Final entertainment. He goes 'he might need someone else with him...'. 'Do you know who he's with in the Philippines two days before the Grand Final?' Co-host Russel Howcroft responded: 'Dr Dre?' Stevenson added: 'Dr Dre is correct! Does that get the job done, Damien?' Howcroft said the AFL had taken full control of who headlines the Grand Final entertainment, instead of using an outside company to do the job. 'I don't know whether this is rumour or flesh on the bones or just adding to the story, but I believe what's happening this year is that the AFL is taking full control of who is the entertainment at the grand final,' Howcroft said on 3AW. 'They used to let's say outsource it. There was a third party involved; that third party is no longer involved, (now) it's all in-house.' The AFL have yet to confirm who the headline act will be for this year's Grand Final, but that isn't slowing the rumour mill down. A potential Snoop Dogg appearance would follow in the footsteps of American popstar Katy Perry who took centre stage in 2024. Prior to that it was rock legends Kiss in 2023 and Robbie Williams who ignited the crowd in 2022. If the rumours come to fruition, expect more than just Snoop Dogg to be on the stage with the rapper performing alongside Dr Dre during the Paris Olympics closing ceremony last year and during the 2022 Super Bowl halftime show he appeared with Dr Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar.
South Wales Argus
29-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Smith aiming to stop former team as Thunder target Final
The South African won the Netball Super League with Lightning last season, marking a statement debut campaign in England. Smith made a summer switch to Manchester Thunder and now faces her old side in this season's Preliminary Final, with a place in the Grand Final against London Pulse on the line when they meet on Sunday. But the defender insists she doesn't have the inside scoop on her opponents and knows a typically tough game is in the offing. 'It's not going to be an easy game. We've been training really hard, and I am excited to see what is going to happen,' she said. 'When I come up against Loughborough, I have treated it as just another game, it's just another team. 'Loughborough are doing things differently this year so I can't go back on what I knew from last year; I don't have any inside information.' Smith's transition from one high-flying franchise to another has not been without its difficulties. The South African started the season injured after breaking her arm playing for her country in January. She subsequently missed the entirety of pre-season and made her return to court with the league already in full swing. "When we found out the Grand Final was at @TheO2 Arena, it gave us that extra bit of fight." 💗 🏟️ @Pulse_Netball captain @ZaraJaelE talks about what it means to have the opportunity to play at the 2025 Grand Final in her 'home' city on Sunday 6 July. Buy your tickets now ⬇️ — Netball Super League (@NetballSL) June 22, 2025 Smith proved to be the least of Thunder's injury problems, with shooters Lois Pearson and Paige Reed both missing the majority of the season through hamstring and foot injuries respectively. It has meant there have been rocky moments at times in Smith's debut season in the yellow dress, as Thunder got to grips with an ever-changing cast of temporary replacements and NXT Gen players. But with their full squad now available to them for the play-off campaign, Smith hopes it will play in their favour having shown little of their hand to their opponents earlier in the campaign. 'A move is never easy to make. At the start of the season, I had an injury so I didn't have any pre-season games and my first game was in the league,' reflected Smith. 'We have had a lot of injuries, particularly losing our shooters but we were able to get through the season. It's something we can be really proud of, hopefully this weekend we show what we can do as a team. 'Having your full team at the end of the season is hopefully great timing. It's really nice having everyone back, it is a real boost. I think it is an advantage for us because there won't be a lot of footage available of our full team.' Thunder travel to Lightning off the back of victory over London Mavericks in the minor semi-final, having secured third place in the regular season table. Manchester Thunder are yet to beat Loughborough Lightning in the NSL this season (Image: Ben Lumley) Victory will punch their ticket to the O2 Arena on Sunday 6 July, where they will face London Pulse in the first Grand Final held at the iconic venue. A win there would seal back-to-back Super League titles for Smith, joining an elite club of players to win consecutive titles with different clubs, but she knows it will be no easy feat. 'It was a privilege coming to the league last year and having the opportunity to playing in the final and win,' she said. 'It's not an easy thing to do, it's not a given. 'Not being from this country, I didn't actually know how big the O2 was. I had to ask the girls 'is it really that big?' 'I am really excited to go there, it is a bigger venue than last year and the atmosphere is going to be great.'
