Brian Walsh, the outgoing AFL corporate affairs and communications executive general manager boss man, hosted his farewell drinks (before he skips out of AFL House at the end of the month) on one of the few Fridays when there were no footy matches being staged in Melbourne. Truly, the guy thinks of everything.
It was an All Australian turnout with the AFL’s past, present and future on hand to a) pay their respects to a sports executive nice guy and b) make sure he was really leaving this time (Walsh had previously quit during the reign of Andrew Demetriou, only to return in 2019).
Brian Walsh at last year’s Brownlow Medal at Crown Palladium.Credit: AFL Photos
One early arrival was Martin Pakula, the former Victorian major events minister who has reinvented himself as chair of not only the Australian Grand Prix Corporation but also of Tourism North East, board director of Hello World and, as of two weeks ago, chair of Crown Melbourne (truly, how can one man have so much talent?).
Enjoying the party pies and spring rolls at Richmond’s historic London Tavern Hotel were AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, AFL executive Laura Kane, former AFL executive turned Victoria Racing Club chief executive Kylie Rogers, media lawyer Justin Quill, ABC presenter Michael Rowland, Seven sport supremo Chris Jones, SEN supremo Craig Hutchison, former AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and former AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan. AFL sibling-in-chief and Channel Seven broadcaster Hamish McLachlan entered chaperoning a beer and two packets of Red Rock Deli Honey Soy Chicken – in one hand – while funnyman Titus O’Reily road-tested his grand final jokes in front of AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder.
It seems Walsh is set to enter the world of consultancy (possibly for the AFL – see what we mean?). CBD hears that the process to find a replacement is well advanced. One name in the replacement frame from the many sports journalists in attendance was Matt Kitchin, who recently left his role as head of sport at News Corp after 34 years.
One word of advice for novice attendees of functions hosted by the AFL city-state: never enter a conversation huddle about AFL governance with Age chief football writer Jake Niall and commentator Eddie McGuire without an escape plan. Or an ejector seat.
Contestants from the upcoming season of The Block in Daylesford.Credit: Nine
On the Block
It’s almost time for Australia’s favourite construction-based reality show to grace our screens. The Block season 21 starts on Sunday, this time set in the quaint Victorian town of Daylesford.
CBD was lucky enough to get an early sneak peek at this year’s finished abodes. But because we’re no fan of spoilers (and also because of a strict embargo laid down by Nine – which is also our owner), we can’t say too much. Let’s just say that they look like a million bucks.
The media preview revealed an unexpected guest: federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was spotted touring the five new properties with a practised eye. The federal member for Ballarat admitted she is an occasional Blockhead and even chimed in with some interior design tips. “Burgundy is the colour of the season,” she mused while strolling around one main bedroom.
Stalwart host Scott Cam, who lived in Daylesford for three months during production, served as a walking tour guide, singing the praises of the local area.
He eagerly informed CBD about the nearby Hepburn Mineral Springs reserve and shared his favourite dishes at local pub The Farmers Arms (the smoked trout and the gruyere croquettes are both winners, if you were wondering).
But when it came to questions about how this year’s renovations would do on auction day, Cam remained tight-lipped. You never know in this market.
Reality TV fans will recall that Adrian Portelli, aka Lambo Guy (although his favourite supercar is actually a McLaren), paid $15.03 million last season to scoop up all five of the Phillip Island renos on offer.
But CBD hears he’s been quietly asked not to make an appearance this year. Truly, the end of an era.
Notes on a Scandal
Everything is connected. This weekend, tech billionaire Richard White was dragged into the sordid scandal that has shredded what little remains of the reputation of former Labor leader Mark Latham.
Last week Latham was accused by former partner Nathalie Matthews of domestic abuse, including allegations he defecated on her during sex and drove his car at her. The NSW upper house MP denies the claims.
White, the “LinkedIn lecher”, was accused by multiple women of trading business advice for sex, and has been punished by being promoted to executive chairman of his logistics software company WiseTech Global after staging a successful boardroom coup.
The “LinkedIn lecher”, Richard White.Credit: Bloomberg
In texts revealed by the News Corp papers, Latham urged Matthews to “get the compo NDA” from White after the allegations against him surfaced last year. When White regained control of his company earlier this year, Latham suggested Matthews perform oral sex on him to celebrate.
There’s no suggestion that White and Matthews had any sexual relationship. The pair’s paths crossed last year at the International Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of Australia’s national conference in Cairns, where Matthews interviewed White about cyber-security in a video posted to LinkedIn.
“You have to build multiple ways of defending yourself,” White told Matthews.
Indeed.
Last week, Latham’s lawyer, Zali Burrows, sought to subpoena messages between White and Matthews as part of his defence against her private apprehended violence order.
Burrows, CBD readers may recall, is also representing Bruce Lehrmann in his appeal against Federal Court judge Michael Lee’s decision in his defamation case against Network 10 where his honour found, on the balance of probabilities, that the former staffer had raped ex-colleague Brittany Higgins.
Last year, Burrows told this column that Lehrmann was the most hated man in Australia. Latham, it seems, is determined to fight him for that dishonour.
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