Kylie Turned the MCG Into a Very Sparkly Space Disco. Watch it here:

Most Grand Final pre-game shows have a stage. Kylie had a concept, a wardrobe department and a small planet’s worth of glitter.

The art direction: footy meets outer space

The show opened with a video package, narrated by Kylie, that spliced images of kid-Kylie with footage of the teams playing in the final. Then a younger version of her, in uniform and headphones, wandered onto the ground while the real Kylie got ready on stage.

The theme was galactic, kicked off by metallic insect dancers. Yes, space insects, on a footy ground. We didn’t have that on my Grand Final bingo card, but it worked.

The set pieces

The design team went for the biggest possible versions of everything:

• Kylie emerged from a giant bedazzled “KYLIE” footy, so she was literally born from a football.
• She rose like the sun over one of the biggest oval-shaped disco balls known to humankind, which is what happens when the brief says “make it shiny” and no one says stop.
• The finale had her singing from a suspended circular platform high above the crowd. She’s been spinning around since 2000, so it was only fair the stage got in on it.

The outfits

She had a lot of them. It was another Dolce & Gabbana collaboration, more than three decades in the making. The opening look was a mesh tank top with an appliqué of her own face, her name in crystals, and a belt with fringes made of ribbons, Swarovski crystals and shoelaces. Wearing your own face as the design is a power move. Next came a minidress made from a vintage jersey T-shirt, with lace-up sides and gold crystals, which is footy fan and fashion house in one outfit. Kylie Minogue Wears Custom Dolce & Gabbana and Bared Footwear for AFL Grand Final.

Later there were a short grey dress, fishnets and gold boots, then a matching gold coat. For the airborne finale it was flowing white with a silver-trimmed bodice, plus sunglasses, because even in the sky you don’t skip the accessories.

And who won?

Well EVERYONE – but if it’s the footy your’e after… The Brisbane Lions beat the Fremantle Dockers, another three-peat for Brisbane, and no first flag for Fremantle. The game was good, but the pre-game had the better costume budget.