Bar owner Hayden Burbank invited Dees to a grand final celebration at his Prahran venue

Before his ill-fated trip to Perth, bar owner Hayden Burbank sent a letter to Melbourne Football Club players and officials offering to host a grand final party at his Prahran venue.

Prahran cocktail bar owner Hayden Burbank sent an open letter to Melbourne Football Club officials and players offering to host a grand final celebration party at his popular Prahran venue.

Mr Burbank, 49, and financial planner Mark Babbage, 38, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to breaching Western Australia’s border rules to get into Perth to watch the AFL grand final.

But before he had set off on the jaunt, Mr Burbank emailed the Dees with a party proposal.

A close friend of Burbank, Glenn Watterson, whose venues included Heat, Underground and Inflation, said Burbank sent an invitation to his beloved football club offering to throw a free party to celebrate their 2021 season triumph.

Mr Watterson said: “Hayden wrote to the club and said, ‘We don’t know when we can open, but I would love players, wives, their families and officials to celebrate with me, on the house, free of charge”.

“That’s how generous he is,” Mr Watterson added.

Morris Jones owner Hayden Burbank, left, and Mark Babbage, right, in the rooms after the grand final.

Mr Burbank and Mr Babbage pose with the premiership cup.

Mr Watterson says passion overtook repercussions in Mr Burbank’s journey to the AFL grand final.

“Hayden has done the wrong thing but he’s a ripper bloke,” Mr Watterson said.

“Passion sometimes seeps through everything else and you don’t think about the repercussions and what could happen. I feel sorry for him, I really do.”

Mr Burbank, 49, owner of Morris Jones in Prahran, and financial planner Mark Babbage, 39, have been locked in a Perth jail since September 28.

Both men, who attended the AFL grand final on September 25, pleaded guilty at Perth Magistrates’ Court to failing to comply with Western Australia’s Emergency Management Act directions after flying into Perth from Darwin on September 22.

The duo were photographed at a grand final eve luncheon at Crown Perth, and later, inside the Demons’ change room alongside midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen after the match.

Burbank’s Facebook account has been littered with trolling and unsympathetic comments, with some saying he got what he deserves.

It’s emerged he even told close friends just a few days out from the game that he was still in Melbourne.

Mr Watterson said Mr Burbank’s westward journey to support his beloved Dees was “57 years in the making” — a reference to the last time Melbourne played in a grand final.

“His mum and dad are beautiful people, and (Mr Burbank) is a good boy who looks after his family,’ Mr Watterson said.

“There are a lot of people out there who love him, but it’s also a tall poppy syndrome of a few trying to cut him down.”

Mr Watterson, who is also a Demons supporter, said he only realised Mr Burbank was in Perth when he received a FaceTime call from the big game.

But Mr Watterson was unable to take the call.

“He’s the most passionate Dees supporter. We go to all the games and we sit in the members,” Mr Watterson said.

“We don’t have the cheese platter, though.”

Mr Burbank with Julie Bishop and Usain Bolt at the Melbourne Cup.

Mr Burbank with actor Adrian Grenier.

Meanwhile, other associates of the Toorak-raised, Melbourne Grammar and Carey Baptist Grammar-educated restaurateur described Mr Burbank as the life of the party, well connected and adept at drawing a crowd of hot models and up-market beauties to his venue.

He has also hosted gatherings and birthday parties for socialites and rich-listers such Heloise Pratt, and his deep love for the Melbourne Football Club is well known.

Mr Burbank enjoyed a successful career working in real estate, spruiking inner city buildings and offices, but the bright lights of clubland beckoned.

He started hospo life as a doorman at Toorak nightclub, Silvers.

He opened Morris Jones in 2012, taking the well-heeled crowd that frequented Greville St venue, FOG, with him.

Mr Burbank with surfer Kelly Slater.

Friends say the Morris Jones owner let passion get in the way of making a good decision. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Hayden is a good promoter, a better self promoter, and he loves the limelight and beautiful people,” an associate said.

“He knows how to attract the right people to his clubs. Anytime you walk into Morris Jones, all you see is stunning girls.”

The friend added; “He’s not a bad person, but he has a very good opinion of himself.”

Another friend described him as a “show pony” who was always dating beautiful women, and who was always willing to open the bar for the right people.

Mr Burbank’s social media accounts are peppered with celebrity encounters, including former politician Julie Bishop and iconic sprinter Usain Bolt at the Melbourne Cup, and Entourage star Adrian Grenier at a club. He also enjoys mingling with AFL players, photographed with Jonathon Patton and some of his beloved Demons.

His Facebook friends also include AFL boss Gillon McLachlan.

Ms Bishop said she recalled meeting Bolt, but added: “I have no recollection of the other person in that photograph.”

Mr Burbank and Mr Babbage face either $50,000 fines or a possible 12 months in jail.