Gonna be a good night

THE Black Eyed Peas were missing rapper will.i.am at the MCG, so they unveiled new recruit gill.i.am.

Better known as AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, this most unlikely rapper was made an honorary band member ahead of today’s Collingwood-West Coast grand final and was presented with a special guernsey.

The American group will perform alongside Jimmy Barnes as the pre-game entertainment, with the Australian rock legend also fronting the post-game show.

Band members Taboo, apl.de.ap and newcomer Jessica Reynoso checked out the MCG alongside Barnes on Thursday — will.i.am arrived yesterday. Taboo did not fake any AFL knowledge, laughing off a couple of football-specific questions with “hmmmm, so the Black Eyed Peas ...”

“We’re going to watch the game, we’re definitely going to immerse ourselves in the competition, we just love sport,” he said.

Barnes grew up in Adelaide as a Port supporter and loves his AFL.

“Whoever’s winning is going to celebrate, whoever’s losing is going to forget about it — we’re just going to get out there and kick arse,” he said of the postgame show.

Barnes is well aware about last year’s show, when Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt joined The Killers on stage.

“I made the mistake of saying on radio that all the footballers could jump up with me,” Barnes said. “I’m going to have to set up about 10 mics on the side of the stage and who knows? We might even turn some of them on.”