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Robbie Williams' incredible Shane Warne tribute before AFL grand final

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured left is pop star Robbie Williams and Shane Warne's kids Brooke and Jackson on the right.
Robbie Williams dedicated his performance of Angels before the AFL grand final to late Aussie cricket great, Shane Warne, whose kids were watching from the MCG stands. Pic: Ch7

Robbie Williams has endeared himself to Australian sporting fans for life after a beautiful tribute to the late Shane Warne before the AFL grand final.

The pop star put on an incredible pre-game show before the Geelong Cats and Sydney Swans battled it out for the AFL's biggest prize.

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After treating the capacity crowd at the MCG - as well as millions watching on TV sets around the world - to a taste of some of his hits, Williams paused momentarily to address the crowd.

He then dedicated his next song 'Angels' to the late Aussie cricket great Warne - whose death earlier this year at the age of 52 rocked the nation.

“This next song is dedicated to one of Australia’s greatest rock stars, Shane Warne,” Williams announced to the crowd.

“Love you Warnie!”

Cameras panned to a section of the crowd where Warne's daughter Brooke and son Jackson were watching from.

The UK pop star belted out his famous anthem before asking the capacity crowd to join him in singing the chorus.

Williams followed up 'Angels' with his own rendition of John Farnham's 'You're the Voice', in yet another beautiful tribute.

Farnham is recovering in a rehabilitation facility after having recent cancer surgery, with Williams' gesture a beautiful act for the Aussie icon.

However, it was his tribute to Warne - who has a stand named after him at the MCG - that sent fans into meltdown on social media.

Geelong favourites for AFL decider

Geelong head into Saturday's AFL decider against the Swans as favourites on the back of a 15-match winning streak.

The Cats were forced to call up Mark O'Connor into their starting 22 as a replacement for injured wingman Max Holmes, who was cruelly ruled out before the match.

Holmes has been battling a hamstring injury, suffered during the preliminary final, and was deemed too big a risk for Saturday's season decider against Sydney.

O'Connor was the Cats' medi-sub in their two previous finals victories over Collingwood and Brisbane.

Brandan Parfitt has been named as the substitute, having last featured in round 23.

It is heartbreaking for Holmes, who has enjoyed a breakout season.

The 20-year-old was one of the Cats' best players in the preliminary final before hobbling off early in the second half.

He moved well during a fitness test on Friday morning but sat out the team's light training run on the MCG that afternoon.

Sydney have also had injury concerns during the week, with Sam Reid (adductor) and Justin McInerney (ankle) in doubt during the build-up.

But the Swans will go in as named and selected Braeden Campbell as the medi-sub.

Reid was substituted out of the preliminary-final win over Collingwood but McInerney managed to finish the game.

Seen here, Sydney Swans big man Sam Reid playing against Cvollingwood.
Sydney Swans big man Sam Reid has been named for the grand final after overcoming injury. Pic: Getty

Sydney made one change to their preliminary final side, dropping Logan McDonald for fellow tall Hayden McLean.

McLean, picked for his first game since round eight, will spend most of the game forward and provide ruck support for Tom Hickey.

with AAP

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