Matildas World Cup hero Cortnee Vine has made a shock appearance in the AFL’s pre-game advertisement, taking footy and soccer fans by complete surprise.
The ad, for match-day sponsor AAMI Insurance, showed the journey of the match ball as it made its way to the MCG, and concluded with a live shot of the ball heading out to the centre to kick off the 2023 Grand Final.
Watch every match of the 2023 NAB AFLW Season LIVE & ad-break free during play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >
The star-studded ad called on sporting and media talent from across genres, including Seven’s Abbey Holmes, Matthew Richardson, Ricky Ponting, Trent Cotchin, Damien Hardwick, Dennis Cometti, Matt Preston, Darcy Vescio, Magda Szubanski as Sharon Strzelecki, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Moorfoot, as well as Andrew Dillon and Gillon McLachlan.
With the football bouncing off Szubanski’s head and coming to rest, Vine stepped up, as she did on a cold August night against France with the eyes of the world on her, and ran in to kick the Sherrin as if it was a round ball onto the next character in the ad.
Sporting fans across the country were shocked at Vine’s appearance, with many on “Sokkah Twitter” declaring it a violation of the “No Sherrin rule”, a social media joke evolving out of Football Australia’s previously reported reluctance to cross-promote other codes when doing PR for the round-ball code.
Often when foreign sporting figures or celebrities come to Australia, the iconic red Sherrin is thrust into their hands, a PR strategy that has worked a treat for the AFL over the years.
ESPN’s Joey Lynch tweeted: “There’s been a Cortnee Vine no Sherrin rule violation.”
One fan on social media wrote: “A Cortnee Vine cameo in the AFL Grand Final match ball intro. Love it!”
SENZ’s Logan Swinkels said: “That Cortnee Vine cameo was elite!”
ABC Sport’s Evan Morgan Grahame said it was “great to see Cortnee Vine in the AFL Grand Final pre-match ad, but I’m afraid I must issue a (Sherrin rule violation)”, posting a meme of Sydney Morning Herald football writer Vince Rugari, one of the main exponents of no-Sherrin protectionism on the site.
Code Sports’ Lachlan McKirdy was supportive of the cameo, calling it “A+”.
One fan was less impressed by the crossover episode, asking incredulously: “Did they just put Cortnee Vine on an AFL ad … so we promote them, but they’ll never promote us.”