Now here's a way for Richmond great Matthew Richardson to finally play in an AFL grand final.

But sorry you long-suffering Richmond fans, it has nothing to do with the Tigers getting to that "one day in September".

Under a radical suggestion by an Australian music and sports culture expert, players should sing the national anthem on the AFL's biggest day, rather than the so-called stars the AFL invariably rings-in.

Barry Hill, a music industry lecturer at Melbourne's RMIT, claims this would encourage more people to join as one at the MCG in Advance Australia Fair, rather than stumble their way through like many do now when the anthem is performed by a musician.

He says an AFL player could be chosen under an Australian Idol format.

"The teams themselves should sing the national anthem. That might be something that would make the whole idea of having music at a sporting event more appealing," Mr Hill said.

"There could be an AFL idol competition during the season.

"(Richmond's) Matthew Richardson or (St Kilda's) Nick Riewoldt might have a really good voice. Who knows?

"I think that culturally would make the connection between sport and music a little bit clearer for everyone."

The national anthem before this Saturday's battle between Geelong and St Kilda will be delivered by the cast of American musical Jersey Boys, while Australian rock stalwarts Jimmy Barnes and Mark Seymour will headline the pre-match entertainment.

Mr Hill, an avid Richmond supporter, said the AFL would benefit from having its own talent take to the stage.

"The AFL would need to give them some good support and training to do that but it would certainly give the AFL a spin that a lot of the other leagues don't have, that their star athletes can also be seen as star performers," he said.

Barnes and Seymour will join a long list of entertainers who have appeared on grand final day, including Barry Crocker (1977), Peter Allen (1980), Rolf Harris (1982) and Olivia Newton-John (1986).

The AFL has often been criticised for its selection of singers and that hasn't changed this year - if internet blogs are any guide.

Some believe the Jersey Boys shouldn't be singing because the musical is about American singer Frankie Valli, while others claim the anthem has been misused to promote a commercial enterprise.

Half-time entertainment has been a debatable - and sometimes farcical - point through the years.

Rocker Angry Anderson, for one, will forever be remembered for his ill-fated rendition of "Bound for Glory" on a pseudo blue Batmobile in the 1991 grand final at Waverley Park.

While the traditional sprint between AFL players will attract some interest, music will again be high on the half-time menu on Saturday.

But even Mr Hill would have to admit refuelling on beers and pies is what most football fans will really be concerned about.

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