REVEALED: Rock legends ‘turned down $20M offer to headline AFL final’ before Katy Perry nabbed $5M payday for the sporting spectacular

One of the world’s most iconic rock bands reportedly turned down an eye-watering $20million offer to headline the AFL Grand Final’s pre-game entertainment.

Instead, organisers turned to pop superstar Katy Perry, who took home $5million to wow the crowds with a spectacular performance at the MCG on Saturday.

AFL bosses were said to be keen to secure The Rolling Stones – made up of Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood – for the highly-sought-after headlining slot.

The rock icons, who recently embarked on a successful US tour to promote their latest album Hackney Diamonds, would have been a dream act for the AFL final.

However, negotiations reportedly hit a roadblock when the AFL baulked at the hefty price tag for the brief 20-minute headlining slot.

In the end, the decision saved organisers a massive $15million, as Perry was reportedly signed on for a comparatively modest $5million – though Aussies were still left shocked by the multi-million payday.

Radio host Ross Stevenson shed light on the negotiations, telling 3AW listeners: ‘A very senior source at the AFL told me they did ask the Stones … $20million for four songs.

‘That was the asking price, and the AFL just couldn’t meet it.’

This isn’t the first time the AFL has tried and failed to secure a global megastar for the Grand Final.

Last year, there were reports that Bruce Springsteen had turned down a lucrative offer to play the pre-game show, leaving organisers scrambling to find a replacement.

Instead, international rock ‘n’ roll juggernauts KISS ended up headlining the Aussie sporting speculator in a high-energy performance.

Perry’s 20-minute AFL Grand Final set included two tracks from her latest album 143, Lifetimes and Gorgeous, her collaboration with Kim Petras, after reports she had been restricted to just one new song by AFL bosses.

Despite slipping the new songs in, it was the hits that got the crowd pumping with Katy kicking of with a rendition of Roar before ripping into her hits Teenage Dreams, Dark Horse and Firework.

Katy also belted out a rendition of I Kissed A Girl with Tina Arena before the pair moved into a rendition of the Aussie pop star’s hit Chains.

But she caused surprise with her setlist by not singing Hot n Cold, despite it famously being the theme tune to MasterChef Australia and jokingly regarded by many as Aussie’s true ‘national anthem’.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the AFL and Rolling Stones for comment.