Hayden Burbank let passion for the Dees lead him to bad decision

A close friend of Hayden Burbank says his dedication to the Demons ran too deep and led him to a bad decision.

A former nightclub king and close friend of alleged WA border breacher Hayden Burbank says passion overtook repercussions in an ill-fated trek to the AFL Grand Final.

“Hayden has done the wrong thing, but he’s a ripper bloke,” Glenn Watterson, whose venues included Heat, Underground and Inflation, told Confidential.

“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, remain locked in a Perth jail until a court appearance on October 13.

Mr Burbank and Mr Babbage, who attended the AFL Grand Final on September 25, each face three charges of providing false information to border authorities.

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.

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.