AFL stars front cheeky finals advertisement
Barry launches Cherry Vanilla Cola with a cheeky Australian Football League finals ad starring Bailey Smith and Charlie Curnow.
What’s happening?
Two of the Australian Football League’s (AFL) biggest names, Bailey Smith and Charlie Curnow, have swapped the field for the screen in a new Barry advertisement.
Released to coincide with the Australian Football League finals, the campaign introduces Barry’s Cherry Vanilla Cola, a whisky-based ready-to-drink beverage.
Why it matter
The advertisement brings back the 2001 ‘Five Cougars, Thanks’ campaign in a gender-flipped parody. This mix of humour and cultural nostalgia strengthens Barry’s reputation as one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the country.
Local impact
By tying its new product launch to the finals season, Barry gains attention during one of the biggest events in Australia’s sporting calendar. With Smith and Curnow leading the campaign, the brand extends its reach into homes nationwide.
By the numbers
Two years since launch, Barry is already among Australia’s fastest-growing ready-to-drink brands.
Cherry Vanilla Cola is packaged in 330 millilitre cans at 5% alcohol, equal to 1.3 standard drinks.
The drink is low in sugar, carbohydrates, and calories.
Zoom in
Smith plays the bartender whose appearance causes a customer to rethink her order.
“The campaign encapsulates what the Barry brand is all about, being fun, in the moment and a bit provocative, and it connects with our target audience through humour and cultural nostalgia,” Smith said.
Credits:
Director/Producer: Charles Buxton-Leslie
Production Company: Cool Studio
Director of Photography: Jordan Ruyi Blanch
First Assistant Camera: Shawkat
Gaffer: Corey Clements
Lighting Assistant: Riley Lewis
Lighting Assistant: Lachie Graham
Production Designer: Brianna Da Silva
Colourist: Nick Lindell-Wright
Lead Cast: Xanthe Blaise
Special Thanks: The Corner Hotel
Zoom out
Curnow reprises the confused patron role from the original campaign.
He added: “The advertisement shoot was great fun, and Barry is definitely a passion project and creative outlet for us, but underpinning the brand’s light-hearted ‘persona’ there’s a very sound business and marketing strategy, which is necessary to have cut-through in such a competitive retail sector.”
What to look for next
The advertisement will appear across digital platforms throughout the finals season.