Latest news with #AdamBriggs
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
AFL world divided by Dreamtime ceremony at the MCG
The AFL put on a spectacular pre-match entertainment show ahead of the annual Dreamtime at the 'G clash on Friday night, although it left those watching on deeply divided. Actor and rapper Adam Briggs, who goes by the stage name Senator Briggs, joined beloved Aussie performer Paul Kelly in a wide-ranging musical performance before the clash between Richmond and Essendon. 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? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The key fixture of the AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls round, the match is held to recognise the vast Indigenous contributions to Australian Rules football. A number of past and present Indigenous players were honoured as part of the pre-match ceremony, including Indigenous Team of the Century members Bill Dempsey and Syd Jackson and AFL Hall of Fame inductees Michael Long and Stephen Michael. There was a Welcome to Country given by Uncle Colin Hunter Jr along with a number of musical acts and a performance from the Djirri Djirri Dance Group. Many footy fans took to social media to praise the performance, which commenced about 50 minutes before the opening bounce, including actor and writer Rhys Muldoon. 'When we have Australian musicians, black and white, singing together at the G, it's wild,' Muldoon wrote on X. 'Briggs and PK bringing it. 'This is the best performance I think I've seen at the football. So good.' X user Sara K said: 'Elite Pre-game entertainment tonight. 10/10.' Cody Winnell wrote: 'Pre-game doesn't get much better than this. Absolutely magnificent.' Laga 33 said: 'Loved every second of that. That's the level of performance you love to see!!' Damo SC offered: 'Spine-tingling stuff.' A number of fans compared the entertainment favourably with Katy Perry's effort at last year's grand final and some called for it to be replicated at this year's decider. Cameron Watt wrote: 'Briggs brother, that #DreamtimeAtTheG performance was f**king fire. 'Better than any GF performance, ever.' Clarky wrote 'That was better than Katy Perry at the GF. ABSOLUTELY VIBES.' There were, of course, plenty of negative reactions to the ceremony. Welcome to Country has become an incredibly divisive issue in Australia, even finding its way into this year's Federal Election campaigns. But some of those watching on were more intent on discussing the extended use of rap music, more than the Welcome ceremony. David McGuire tweeted: 'This is extremely excruciatingly painfully boring pre-game entertainment.' An account called Cptn Francis Young asked: 'What is this crap? Since when did Aborigines do mindless rap?' Stephanie Williams stated: 'I don't mean to be rude but the hell is with all the rap rubbish.' One watching on said: 'Whoever signed off that so called pre-game show should resign immediately.' Another quipped: 'I always find welcome to country is great opportunity to catch up on some knitting.' Whatever the preference of those watching on, it was a spectacular opening to a game that draws one of the biggest crowds each AFL season.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie icons Paul Kelly and Adam Briggs stun AFL crowd as they perform at the MCG in Melbourne
Australian music legend Paul Kelly and rapper Adam Briggs delivered a powerful performance at the MCG on Friday night, leaving footy fans stunned ahead of the Round 11 clash. The pair joined forces for a moving rendition of Briggs' iconic track The Children Came Back, captivating the packed crowd with their heartfelt delivery. Kelly, 70, cut a dashing figure in a grey blazer and matching trousers, teamed with a crisp black shirt. The acclaimed singer-songwriter strummed his acoustic guitar with emotion as he performed on centre stage. Meanwhile, Briggs, 38, brought his trademark energy and charisma to the night, belting out his verses with passion and purpose. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The First Nations star looked effortlessly cool in a blue jacket and black pants, clearly relishing the moment as he performed alongside Kelly and a live band. Their show-stopping collaboration set the perfect tone for the night, blending powerful storytelling with a celebration of resilience and Aussie music. Last year, Briggs set his sights on becoming an accredited AFL player agent and planned to undertake the AFL Players Association's accreditation course. The Yorta Yorta man is an actor, producer and political campaigner - but now he's looking at wearing another hat entirely. The Essendon supporter is currently part of a group of aspiring player agents who are seeking official accreditation, and will do the seminars and exam required for approval. Once the award-winning artist is accredited, he will be able to sign players and engage in contract negotiations. Briggs is a big fan of the AFL and has attended the Brownlow Medal count. As a child growing up in the Victorian town of Shepparton, his biggest hero was Indigenous footy star Gavin Wanganeen - who won the Brownlow for the Bombers in 1993. In 2023, Briggs famously pulled his support for the NRL side Melbourne Storm because one of the footy team's board members donated money to the No campaign. The Shepparton-born singer wrote a scathing letter to Storm chairman Matthew Tripp as he took aim at corporate director Brett Ralph for giving No campaign group Advance Australia a $75,000 donation prior to the referendum. Briggs - who was behind a viral Yes campaign ad explaining the Indigenous Voice to Parliament to two women at a pub - claimed the Indigenous Voice to Parliament No campaign had 'devalued my people and my Yorta Yorta / Wurundjeri identity'. 'It has heightened the stereotypes of devaluing our contribution to the Australian society and nationhood, and enhanced the burden of irrelevance. 'In doing so, it added to the already endless workload of myself, my father, and the Indigenous community.' Briggs said he and his father had supported the Storm since it was founded as a new NRL club in 1998 and had developed 'lasting friendships' at all levels of the club.
The Independent
06-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Public backs bold policies to improve health, survey finds
The majority of the public support bold policies to improve health in the UK, such as banning smoking in outdoor spaces, taxing manufacturers of foods high in sugar or salt and banning adverts for alcohol at sporting events, according to a new poll. Experts said current policies targeting junk food marketing for children are 'inadequate', while there has been 'alarmingly' little movement on comprehensive alcohol policies. They called for 'bold action' from the Government, or warned it 'risks undermining its objectives for improving health, economic growth, and inequality reduction'. The Health Foundation survey, conducted by Ipsos, included responses from 2,198 adults. The policy with the most support was the extension of the smoking ban, which the Government is considering. Some 73% said they would back the ban in spaces like playgrounds, outside schools and outside hospitals. And while the Tobacco and Vapes Bill did not include a ban on smoking in the likes of beer gardens, some 49% of the public said they would back this policy compared to a third who said they would oppose it. Elsewhere, 62% of the public support a proposed tax on producers of food high in sugar and salt, with revenue used to fund fresh fruit and vegetables for low-income families. The Government has already announced a ban on junk food adverts before 9pm in a bid to tackle childhood obesity, which will come into force in October. On alcohol, almost half of people in England (46%) would back the introduction of a minimum unit price for alcohol compared to almost a third (30%) who would oppose the measure. Minimum unit pricing was implemented in Scotland in 2018 and in Wales in 2020, where the minimum price for a unit of alcohol is now 65p and 50p respectively. However, there is no policy in place in England and Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, 48% of people would back a ban on alcohol adverts at sporting events compared to 23% who would oppose it. It comes after think tank the Nuffield Trust warned the 2012 national alcohol strategy 'no longer reflects the reality of problematic drinking in England'. Its analysts found there was a record 8,274 deaths attributed to conditions including alcoholic liver disease and accidental poisoning in 2023, representing a rise between 2006 and 2023. A further 14,370 deaths in 2023 were from conditions caused partially by alcohol, while around one in 20 adults are deemed to be heavy drinkers – men who drink more than 50 units a week and women who drink more than 35 units. Adam Briggs, senior policy fellow at the Health Foundation, said: 'The public supports bolder policy approaches to tackle alcohol, tobacco and unhealthy food and without this, the Government risks undermining its objectives for improving health, economic growth, and inequality reduction. 'Alcohol-related deaths in England have surged for five consecutive years, exceeding pre-pandemic levels by 40%. 'Alarmingly, there has been little movement on comprehensive alcohol policies under both Conservative and Labour governments. 'Current policies targeting junk food marketing and high-caffeine drinks for children are also inadequate. 'Prevention is foundational to fostering a healthy and thriving UK, so now is the time for bold action.' Mr Briggs also said some of the results show more support for action among people living in less deprived area of the UK. 'While support still outweighs opposition in more deprived areas, it shows that alongside implementing bolder policies, the Government must engage with a wide range of communities to address both real and perceived harms,' he added.
