Kylie Minogue promised a great AFL grand final show, and she delivered

There was no sign of the anxiety Kylie Minogue had admitted to during the week as she delivered a glorious celebration of disco-pop in the AFL grand final pre-game show at the MCG on Saturday.

“I’m hoping I don’t get too overcome with emotion – I might,” she had said in the days leading up to her performance, urging herself to “hold it together, hold it together”.

She did so much more than that. She blew us away with a 20-minute set full of colour, movement, hits, guest appearances, and celebratory nods to her hometown and her life in it.

It was the show Melbourne had wanted for years, and one that Kylie herself had perhaps been dreaming of for decades. And it delivered in spades.

It began with a video prelude, the very personal acknowledgement of her own journey from Camberwell High to this moment. As images of Kylie and Melbourne and footy played on the screen, a remote Minogue spoke in voiceover.

“Well, you’ve come a long way since the start of things,” she said, and might have been talking about herself or about the game of footy. “You’ve made us cry, you’ve made us smile … there’s one day in September we want to remember … football’s such a part of this whole town, and we know that you won’t let us down. A homecoming like this? I should be so lucky.”

Kylie flanked by her Daft Punk-style dancers.Eddie JimWith that, a girl in school uniform, blonde hair in pigtails and Walkman in hand, emerged onto the field as a snippet of I Should Be So Lucky played over the speakers.

It was a mere tease, though, as the camera panned quickly to the real Kylie atop a raised plinth in the centre of the field, surrounded by dancers dressed in tight blue bodysuits and space-age helmets, like a bunch of Daft Punk clones, and singing Love At First Sight.

In joyful defiance of the weather, she was dressed as if for Copacabana Beach in Rio, wearing a tank-top and micro shorts draped with a long fringe skirt. If we act like it’s summer, it will be, right?

The stage was in the shape of a giant X; the plinth at its centre looked oddly like a liquid gas tank, despite the glowing LEDs on its outer face.

Kylie Minogue and her dancers on stage at the MCG.Getty ImagesWith her four-piece band and two female backing singers dressed in off-white suits, Kylie moved through a tight and packed disco-pop set: In Your Eyes, Get Outta My Way, On a Night Like This, All The Lovers.

As dozens of silver-clad dancers moved about the field and stage looking like they’d been transported from Studio 54 circa 1980, Kylie re-emerged before we’d even clocked that she’d disappeared, having somehow managed a costume change. Now in a tight dark-grey mini-dress with “Melbourne” in gold letters on the back and “2026″ on the hem, and wearing metallic knee-high boots, she launched into the unmistakable sounds of Spinnin’ Around.

No gold op-shop shorts, but there was plenty of bum action all the same.

Next, Indigenous musician William Barton – best known for his prowess on the didgeridoo, but here playing acoustic guitar – joined her on stage, while somehow a full string section had appeared on the turf, and Kylie had magically donned a gold overcoat (or was it a fancy Drizabone, a nod to the inclement weather after all?) to sing Confide In Me. She struggled a little with the top notes, but the backdrop of gold fireworks ensured no one was too distracted by that.

G Flip joins Kylie Minogue on stage at the AFL grand final.Eddie JimSlow was next, with its “read my body language” refrain. We have, Kylie. It says you’re giving it everything, and it’s more than enough.

As Padam Padam started, a phalanx of dancers emerged in red Vegas-style feathers, and G Flip (also in red) joined her on stage on guitar and vocals. The local singer is a fan – they revealed this week they even have a tattoo that reads “Kylie thinks I’m cute” on their right arm – and they brought a nice touch of guitar rock to the track.

Another cameo, from comedy duo The Inspired Unemployed dressed as station masters, introduced The Loco-Motion. There were dancers everywhere – on stage in pink with black-and-white check-pattern boots, and on the field in multicoloured footy-style Team Kylie merch (available, no doubt, to purchase at the pop-up shop outside the G, should you feel inspired). It was an absolute riot of late-1980s primary colour and feelgood vibes.

A colourful crowd of dancers surround Kylie during her set.Eddie JimThe extended disco-mix treatment of the song gave Kylie cover to slip away for yet another costume change, and paved the way for a spectacular finale.

When she emerged, it was on a small rig that rose from behind the giant Sherrin disco-ball that now sat atop the plinth in the middle of the stage.

It was a spectacular moment, but it got better, as Kylie – now dressed in a flowing white bodice dress (even her boots had changed; that’s three pairs!) – floated high above the centre square, passing through the smoke billowing out of the disco-Sherrin while singing Can’t Get You Out of My Head.

As the song morphed into the Dom Dolla remix, Kylie floated through the air, and dancers cavorted everywhere, it all felt so fabulously joyous.

The rig was guided to the ground by a guy in hi-viz waving air-traffic control wands, and after the safety harness was removed, Kylie wandered over to him, shook his hand, and gave a knowing smile; it was Dom Dolla. And it was one more cute moment in a performance full of them.

Kylie floats above the MCG surface, and a giant glittery Sherrin, as she performs at the AFL grand final.Joe ArmaoIt ended with Kylie on the hallowed turf, surrounded by her backing dancers, framed by a puff of smoke and fireworks, and that was it. A tight, packed, colourful 20-minute set, as promised, and an absolute party.

Yes, there might have been a few vocal wobbles, but as entertainment that was absolutely marvellous. You’ve done Melbourne, footy, and yourself proud, Kylie. It was well worth the wait.

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