The AFL is pleased to announce the full line up for the iconic Telstra Half-Time Sprint during the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final on Saturday.
The iconic 100m dash across the MCG turf will see seven participants from AFL Clubs come up against Olympic medallist and international boxer Harry Garside.
Watching along and firing the starting gun will be athletics superstar Gout Gout, who is fresh off a fourth-place finish in the 200m semifinal at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Lining up alongside Garside will be 2024 Sprint winner Beau McCreery from Collingwood, Nick Blakey from Sydney, Toby Greene from the GIANTS, Jed Walter from the SUNS, Maurice Rioli from Richmond, St Kilda’s Jack Higgins and the 2025 Telstra Rising Star winner Murphy Reid from Fremantle.
Legendary sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney will commentate the Telstra Half-Time Sprint live on 7 and 7Plus.
AFL Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial Bec Haagsma said the Telstra Half-Time Sprint will be hotly contested come Saturday.
“As Brisbane and Geelong compete for Premiership glory, the Telstra Half-Time Sprint will give fans of other clubs the opportunity to cheer on their teams on Grand Final Day, and we are excited to have Harry Garside race against the players in a fresh take on the much-loved annual event," Haagsma said.
“We thank our valued partner in Telstra for their support of the iconic Sprint and bringing sprint sensation Gout Gout along for the occasion – the players and Harry will no doubt be out to impress one of Australia’s most exciting athletic talents as they make the 100m dash across the hallowed turf.”
Telstra Executive Brent Smart said:
“We’re very excited to see a stellar line up of players ready to take the field for the Half-Time sprint. With Nick Blakey joining as the fastest player of the year, along with our very own Telstra AFL Rising Star Murphy Reid and newcomers Toby Greene, Jack Higgins and Maurice Rioli, the grand final just keeps getting better," Smart said.
“We look forward to seeing the boys join Harry Garside and Gout Gout at the ‘G for what is sure to be a race to remember.”
GWS GIANTS player Toby Greene said:
“It would’ve been great to be playing on Saturday but I'm excited to be part of the biggest day on the AFL calendar racing in the Telstra Half-Time Sprint," Greene said.
“Can’t wait to go up against Harry, and hopefully the boys can impress Gout!”
In honour of this year’s sprint winner, Telstra will make a $5,000 donation to the winner’s junior football club, as part of their commitment to grassroots football.
2025 Telstra Half-Time Sprint participants
- Maurice Rioli (Richmond)
- Jed Walter (Gold Coast SUNS)
- Toby Greene (GWS GIANTS)
- Beau McCreery (Collingwood)
- Nick Blakey (Sydney)
- Jack Higgins (St Kilda)
- Murphy Reid (Fremantle)
- Harry Garside
