Australian track superstar Gout Gout is set to spice up this year’s Grand Final sprint, should he choose to accept the AFL's proposal to line up alongside some of the league’s fastest athletes over the 100m trip.
The AFL has reportedly pitched the idea to the 17-year-old phenom, who is currently overseas in Monaco ahead of his Diamond League debut on Friday night.
Born in Ipswich, Queensland, the youngster is the Oceania world record holder over 200m, having also claimed silver when representing Australia at the World Under 20 Championships last year.
While some consider it a longshot, the chances of Gout greeting the starter on September 27 aren’t completely farfetched, thanks to his long-standing relationship with Channel 7.
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“The Grand Final Sprint is a favourite tradition of the day, and we are always looking at ways to amplify the race and the public interest in it,” AFL spokesperson Jay Allen told CODE Sports.
Allen added the league would make any announcements closer to Grand Final Day, leaving open the possibility of Gout at the very least being the guest starter should he choose not to don the spikes.
Should Gout actually lineup, at half time, a handicap system will likely be put in place to give the likes of reigning champion Beau McCreery a fair chance against a teenager who just last year broke Peter Norman’s long-standing, 56-year 200m record.
Often compared to Usain Bolt, the addition of Gout may not rival the pre-game entertainment of Katy Perry at last year's Grand Final, but it would certainly provide some intrigue to an event that has sorely needed a facelift for some time.