The footage had guests in stitches, though the Victorian Liberals in the room might have wished he’d joined their ranks, given their “gap year” from government – as federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley diplomatically described it.
Geelong great Billy Brownless.Credit: Simon Schluter
Ley, meanwhile, fronted up with a joke-heavy speech, including a dig at her predecessor Peter Dutton, whose popularity on election day she compared to an AFL umpire. She also revealed that she was lured to the Sydney Swans decades earlier while living in “Broady” when she fell under the spell of bad boy Warwick Capper.
Deputies, step forward
If the North Melbourne breakfast was the curtain-raiser, the Olympic Room at the MCG was where the serious power mingling took place. Footy royalty, corporate chiefs and political heavyweights packed the room. With Premier Jacinta Allan, her deputy Carroll, Steve Dimopoulos, Anthony Carbines and Jaclyn Symes all in attendance, the government could have held its own cabinet meeting.
Whereas Victorian Opposition Leader Brad Battin (another diehard Cats fan) and Ley were doing much of the heavy lifting for a lean Liberal contingent. Needing a distraction from the game, Battin kept crime – and the election – front of mind, sidling up to the state’s top cop, Mike Bush.
Premier Jacinta Allan during the AFL Commission’s grand final lunch.Credit: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos
Brownlow medallist Matt Rowell and teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout were both in hot demand for selfies.
Richard Marles seemed to be enjoying his new role as acting prime minister as he took his seat at the head table along with AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder and AFL boss Andrew Dillon, who arrived with wife Amanda – alongside her identical twin sister, Sarah, prompting plenty of double-takes.
Sprinter Gout Gout was in demand for selfies.Credit: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos
It was a big day for deputy leaders across the country: the premiers of Tasmania (Jeremy Rockliff), South Australia (Peter Malinauskas) and Queensland (David Crisafulli) all enjoyed the hospitality in the Olympic Room – leaving their deputies in charge back home.
Strange bedfellows at the ’G
Turning heads before the bounce, Labor man and Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece was spotted deep in conversation with Sussan Ley. Eyes were also focused on Victoria’s former business chief-turned-footy boss Paul Guerra, who was spotted bending the ear of SA Premier Peter Malinauskas. Whether this was Malinauskas angling to pinch Victorian events (or businesses) remains to be seen – watch out Melbourne, the Crows might be circling.
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