Prime Minister fires off zingers to crowd at North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has compared himself and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to the feuding Gallagher brothers from pop band Oasis as he addressed footy fans at the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has likened himself and federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton to the brawling Brit pop Oasis brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, in a bizarre start to Grand Final Day.

Speaking at the time-honoured North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Saturday morning, Mr Albanese fired off zingers in his speech to the more than 1400 guests at the sold-out event.

The breakfast is in its 58th year.

Noting that the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast was an important tradition on Grand Final Day, the PM added “and so far this century the only way to get North Melbourne and Grand Final into the same sentence.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attends the North Melbourne Breakfast. Picture: Josie Hayden

He went on to describe himself and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton as an unusual double act.

“Over the years there have been many famous double acts that have done a great job of mixing footy with comedy: Sam Newman and Trevor Marmalade on The Footy Show, Sam Pang and Mick Molloy on The Front Bar, Andrew Gaze and Jason Dunstall on Bounce, but instead this morning you get me and Peter Dutton.

“We are more like the Gallagher brothers from Oasis.

“Two blokes with a long history of fighting each other, putting aside our differences, getting together on stage and giving all of you watching at home what you really want, the chance to stop watching, get up and make yourself a cup of tea.

“Don’t look back in anger, in fact, don’t look at all.

“Consider our contributions not so much speeches, but more like an ad break.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Josie Hayden

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Josie Hayden

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon with Shaynna Blaze and Michael Tobin. Picture: Josie Hayden

Brisbane Lions chair Andrew Wellington. Picture: Josie Hayden

Sydney Swans board member Belinda Rowe. Picture: Josie Hayden

More than 1400 guests turned out to enjoy a gourmet breakfast with VIPs including Bob Ansett, Shaynna Blaze, Scott Boland, Lord Mayor Nick Reece and Deputy Premier Ben Carroll.

A tradition at the breakfast is each of the 18 VIPs on the head table being introduced to the room with a song referencing a highlight or lowlight in their year.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who was at the breakfast with his Sydney Swans supporting fiancée Jodie Hayden, walked the blue carpet as the song I Need A Dollar by Aloe Black played.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton headed to the top table with the tune Radioactive by Imagine Dragons playing.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon arrived in the room to the song Dumb Things by Paul Kelly.

Bob Ansett talks to Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece. Picture: Josie Hayden

Minister for Sport Steve Dimopoulos, Deputy Premier Ben Carroll and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nicholas Reece. Picture: Josie Hayden

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood, Jodie Haydon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Jen Watt. Picture: Josie Hayden

North Melbourne President Sonja Hood and Western Bulldogs President Kylie Watson-Wheeler. Picture: Josie Hayden

Jen Watt and Sonja Hood at the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast. Picture: Josie Hayden

Shaynna Blaze at the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast. Picture: Josie Hayden

Other VIPs included Dr Sonja Hood, president of the North Melbourne Football Club, Laura Kane, Brisbane Lions Chairman Andrew Wellington, Sydney Swans director Belinda Rowe, Premier Jeremy Rockliff, deputy premier of Victoria, Ben Carroll, Kangaroo’s player Harry Sheezel, Australian soccer notable Archie Thompson, cricketer Scott Boland, Olympic swimmer Meg Harris, and The Block judge Shaynna Blaze.

One of the most popular people at the breakfast was Bob Ansett, 91.

Ansett is a former president of the North Melbourne Football Club.

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff. Picture: Josie Hayden

Australian swimmer Meg Harris. Picture: Josie Hayden

Josh Kennedy holds the Premiership Cup. Picture: Josie Hayden

Australian Cricketer Scott Boland. Picture: Josie Hayden

Former soccer Player Archie Thompson. Picture: Josie Hayden

North Melbourne president Dr Sonja Hood noted the music choices in her speech.

“Welcome to all of you who’ve just walked the blue carpet with me. A gentle sledge by a faceless voiceover, followed by eating your breakfast in front of 1400 people. If that doesn’t say ‘A-lister’ I don’t know what does,” she said.

“Welcome to both the Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. I didn’t think we had much in common – but when I was writing this speech I realised that actually all three of us are trying desperately hard to turn around an underperforming organisation.

“The Prime Minister has tried to reshuffle his way out of his – I can tell you from experience, that’s a card you don’t get to play as often as you might like.

“The leader of the opposition and I have both gone for a different approach, binding our respective futures to a powerful yet volatile energy source. For Mr Dutton, it’s nuclear fission, for me, it’s Alastair Clarkson. Let’s hope yours is less explosive than mine has been.”

AFL chairman Richard Goyder arrived to the tune of Come Fly With Me, while Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece arrived to We Built This City by Starship.

Originally published as Prime Minister fires off zingers to crowd at North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast