- John Longmire is not known for his dry sense of humor
- Swans coach was asked for his opinion on pop star Katy Perry
- His response surprised Lions coach Chris Fagan and reporters
Swans coach John Longmire showed his sense of humor on Friday by making a cheeky comment about pop superstar Katy Perry ahead of her AFL finals performance at the MCG in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Longmire, 53, left rival Chris Fagan and a bevy of journalists in the lurch Friday when he was asked if he wanted to watch Perry entertain the packed crowd.
‘I got it [Perry’s music] on my playlist – one of the many genres I love,” he said during the grand finale parade.
‘Fireworks’, I could rattle them off, I was listening to them on the way.
‘But it would be fair to say: hopefully us [Swans] don’t listen to it too much when it’s on.
‘That’s no disrespect to Katy – she’s a great singer.’
It comes as Perry – who is reportedly paid as much as $5 million by the AFL – is supported by the likes of Cody Simpson, Christine Anu and Mike Brady – the singer of AFL anthems Up There Cazaly and One Day in September.
Earlier this week, Channel Nine reporter Tom Morris revealed that AFL big wigs had told the hitmaker they wanted her to perform her global hits such as Firework, Roar and I Kissed A Girl.
Swans coach John Longmire showed off his sense of humor on Friday with a cheeky swipe at pop superstar Katy Perry ahead of her AFL finals performance at the MCG
Longmire stated that a number of Katy Perry’s songs are on his playlist – it’s because the pop superstar is reportedly getting paid as much as $5 million by the AFL
Appearing on SEN Breakfast, the footy journalist claimed Perry’s team had resisted an AFL request that the Teenage Dream hitmaker perform just one new song.
“She plays about five songs and the AFL really wanted her to play five classic songs, she wanted to play two new ones,” he said.
Morris added that both camps reached a compromise, with Perry reportedly agreeing to release just one new song.
“They ended up meeting halfway and she plays one new song and four classics,” he said.
Co-host Kane Cornes, who admitted he was a Perry fan, added that the AFL should have a say in the planning of the blockbuster show.
“The AFL says, ‘We only want your hits. We just want your bangers. We want Roar, Teenage Dream, Fireworks.’ They want all the songs we know and love,” he said.
“You know, when you go to a concert and maybe they’re old and all you want is their good stuff. You want their greatest hits.”
The first bounce between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions in the AFL grand final at the MCG is from 2.30pm AEDT on Saturday.