Featured Image Credit: Supplied.
Topics: Australia Afl, Australia
Jayden Collins
Topics: Australia Afl, Australia
AAMI Insurance came to the rescue once again after the match ball went missing at the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final ahead of the first bounce.
Earlier in the year, the excitement was building in Hobart for the launch of their new side by the 2028 season.
So, it was decided that a replica Grand Final match ball would be sent to Tasmania to be displayed in a museum to capture the hype of the Granny.
The Holiday Isle put the replica on display for everyone to see and marvel at its glory, but little did they know that they were all looking at the real thing.
Fast forward a few months to September 30, 2023 - Grand Final day.
Collingwood and Brisbane were gearing up to play the biggest game of their lives, but panic soon kicked in.
AFL officials couldn’t believe it - the ball was missing once again.
While the Tassie locals had protected the replica ball, a bit of confusion may have happened in the delivery process.
The footy that had been gifted to the home of AFL’s newest license, was in fact the real 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final match ball.
Just as they had the previous year, AAMI quickly put together an action plan to prevent one of the greatest clangers from happening at the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
Thankfully a fast-thinking AAMI woman managed to get to Hobart and swoop it from local Ricky Ponting’s admiration at the museum.
Trent Cotchin teamed up with Warrick Capper to jet across the Bass Strait and launch the ball straight into the MCG on Grand Final Day.
The ball was safely delivered to the centre circle by AAMI and everyone breathed a sigh of relief… again.
Last year, AAMI came to the rescue after the parachute delivery of the match ball encountered an aircraft mishap. Yikes.
They called on some Aussie legends to adventure across Australia to get the match ball to the MCG in time for the opening bounce.
Proving that they could be relied upon, they did the job once again ahead of the 2023 Toyota AFL Grand Final.
The biggest day on the footy calendar was saved and the Magpies and Lions were able to play the game of their lives at The ‘G.
While Tasmanians were disappointed at the revelation that the Granny wasn’t coming to the Apple Isle, they were reassured knowing that plenty of footy would be coming their way in a few years' time.