ARIA Hall of Famers the Hoodoo Gurus will take to Accor Stadium in round one to headline a big big day of fun and entertainment as AFL football returns to Sydney.

The iconic Australian rock band, known for their string of pop-rock hits including Leilani, Tojo, My Girl, I Want You Back, Bittersweet, Like Wow - Wipeout and What’s My Scene, will play at half-time of Sydney Derby XXIII.

Already set to be one of the biggest games between the GIANTS and the Swans in the decade-long cross-town rivalry, round one is shaping up as a celebration on and off the field.

“It’s going to be awesome,” said Hoodoo Gurus front man Dave Faulkner.

“When this place goes off, we’re going to have a ball ourselves. We’ve got a new album coming out so we’ve been making some creative work out of having two years of layoffs in the music industry so we’re very excited about that. 

“We’ve got a tour coming up, we’re celebrating a big anniversary in the band, we just love it.”

Faulkner was joined by GIANTS ambassador, former test cricketer and Channel 7 media personality Trent Copeland and Swans ambassador and The Morning Show TV host Kylie Gillies for the announcement at Accor Stadium.

“I’m absolutely pumped,” Copeland said.

“I hear all this stuff that the boys are training the house down and killing it on the track but I’m looking forward to the boys actually getting out there and playing and building off the back of last season.

“It will be massive. My wife Kim, my son Lennon and I will be out here supporting the GIANTS and hopefully there’s lots of others there in orange ready to cheer the boys on.”

The Hoodoo Gurus are celebrating their 40^th anniversary this year with recently released new album, Chariot of the Gods, and a national tour with The Dandy Warhols in April.

Head to www.hoodoogurus.net to book your tickets and for all the details.

Don’t miss Sydney Derby XXIII at Accor Stadium on March 19 from 5:10pm.