a half-time performance from Snoop Dogg. Photograph: James Ross/AAP
Saturday’s AFL grand final at the MCG will attract a crowd more than 30,000 fans larger than that of the next Super Bowl. It will be preceded by a public holiday for the prematch parade – one of the few days off around the world dedicated to sport. And it will be headlined by Snoop Dogg, one of earth’s pre-eminent musical performers.
By these measures, the grand final can stand alongside any event in world sport. But while there may be more than 50 watch parties for this weekend’s match scheduled across the globe, including five in China and six in Germany, the sport’s international growth remains a work in progress.
