Connors Sports Management to become CDG Sports Management in rebrand – and more news from Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival
Connors Sports Management has got star players on its books, and on Monday it will rebrand to recognise its star partners “who’ve helped shape the business into what it is today”.
One of the AFL’s longest serving sports management companies is undergoing a rebranding.
Connors Sports Management, which was set up by Paul Connors 26 years ago, will officially change its name on Monday to CDG Sports Management.
The move is recognition of the growing influence and success of Connors’ business partners Robbie D’Orazio and Nick Gieschen aka the Jerry Maguires of AFL.
D’Orazio has been Connors’ right-hand man since 2013 while Gieschen joined the business in 2019.
They have some of the game’s biggest stars in their stable including Bailey Smith, Nick Daicos, Charlie Curnow, Patrick Dangerfield, Clayton Oliver, Toby Greene and Tom Lynch.
“This change marks an important new chapter for our team,” Connors said.
“It is a reflection of how far we’ve come and, more importantly, the people who’ve helped shape the business into what it is today.
“Robbie D’Orazio and Nick Gieschen have both played an integral role in the growth of our business and the success of our players. They have become partners in the business, great friends, and a crucial part of what makes our team so strong.
“The name CDG Sports Management reflects our partnership and the evolution of our business, but at its core, nothing has changed,” he said.
Connors was celebrating the beginning of the new era in the Crown marquee at Oaks Day with Gieschen and another CDG agent, Julian Petracca, the older brother of Norm Smith Medallist and new Gold Coast Sun Christian, who joined the company last year.
He was seen having a quiet drink with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon who was there with a posse of league types including executive Laura Kane and spin doctor Jay Allen.
More gossip from Melbourne’s Spring Racing Carnival
Horsing around
Which gambling CEO went a bit far after Monday’s ‘Call of the Card’ lunch at Crown?
After betting up a storm on the Melbourne Cup, the individual let the – shall we say ‘emotion’ – of the day get the better of him, putting the moves on a respected female staffer from a betting rival.
Not a great look at the best of times, made worse in public on the eve of the race that stops the nation. But it certainly gave punters plenty to talk about inside the member’s lounge and marquees.
Fisher brings the party to Bali, and Flemington
It was a coup by the Victoria Racing Club to get Australia’s best DJ export in Fisher to perform after the last race day of the Cup Carnival on Stakes.
What the conservative racing club probably wasn’t counting on was the big fat four-day “Fisher fest” Bali bender the energetic star was having to mark his 40th milestone this week.
Crowd surfing, crutch grinding, pink curly wig and all, and actual surfing with friends from Mick Fanning to Ellidy Pullin have seen the world’s most in demand DJ and producer, well, in his own words, rip and tear it up. But if anyone can keep going, it’s Fisher.
Fun and flair at Fashions on the Field
The only one who might be able to match the energy of Fisher is our very own Briohny Dawson.
The performer and Fashions on the Field host has more get-up-and-go than the energiser bunny. And wowzer do they need it across the Carnival inside the famed fashion competition, with heats in the promenade going all day. Fashions on the Field co-host Kris Smith asked how they kept up the pace, to which Dawson without missing a beat replied “ADHD”.
Back on the Front Lawn pavilion, the enclosure resembled a scene straight from Hunger Games’ The Captiol such was the OTT fashion, flair and fun.
Oggy, the OG of the VRC
Another shoutout has to go to the OG of VRC head of security, aka ‘Oggy’. Simon Ogden is the eyes, ears and brawn behind every visiting Birdcage celebrity from Nicole Kidman to Naomi Campbell some more, well, divaish than others. On Cup Day Oggy was all about Stevie Payne, who gets mobbed wherever he goes from adoring racing fans wanting a selfie.
Thursday it was Dorit Kemsley, who gets mobbed by a different variety, in the form of Toorak housewives, at every turn. Kemsley was enjoying the Crown pampering both inside the Birdcage marquee and at the casino, getting “the best massage of her life” as well as dining out at hotspots from Nobu to Marmont. Kemsley had an entourage around her from hairdresser to our WAGs Gabrielle Roccuzzo to make-up artists like the tireless Renee Presti, who doubles as an part-owner of Group 1 winner Mr Brightside who will start favourite in Saturday’s Champions Mile and Jade Kisnorbo.
While rakishly thin and surgical side-boob is obviously a Beverly Hills thing, so must be fake tan, which was spreading all over Kemsley’s Victoria Beckham dress faster than Oaks Cup winning horse Strictly Business.
Bad bets
Speaking of Strictly Business, there were many corporates AFL and fat cats crying into their form guides after the Crown Oaks. Many had put lucrative multiple bets which were all ending with odds-on favourite Getta Good Feeling. There was a collective groan from the Tabcorp to Crown marquee when the Danny O’Brien filly punctured over the final 200m. There’s always another race.
