AFL boss Gillon McLachlan reveals extent of arm injury at powerbrokers lunch

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has revealed what caused his arm injury as Melbourne’s top names gather for one of the city’s biggest charity events.

AFL boss Gill McLachlan arrived at the Million Dollar Lunch fundraiser with his arm in a sling. Picture: Rebecca Michael

An old injury is set to keep AFL boss Gillon McLachlan away from the polo field at the start of his retirement.

McLachlan last week had surgery to staple two tendons in his left shoulder.

He arrived at the Million Dollar Lunch for his last year as patron of Melbourne’s biggest fundraiser at Crown’s Palladium on Friday, with his arm in a sling.

McLachlan told Page 13 the issue stemmed after falling from a horse, confirming it would delay his return to the polo field this season.

“It’s an old injury,” he said. “I fell off a horse.

“It’s quite a long recovery, six to nine months, but it’s been dealt with.”

As Crown CEO Ciarán Carruthers stated, the room was full “of coin”, with Gill’s brother, the indomitable Hamish McLachlan again pulling out all his tricks as host. Alongside Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones, McLachlan encouraged heavy pocketed captains of industry and corporate bigwigs to open their chequebooks to raise much needed funds for the Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Million Dollar Lunch fundraiser for ChildrenÕs Cancer at Crown palladium for spread in P13.Sarah Jones. Picture Rebecca Michael

Heloise Pratt and Jon Stevens were also in attendance. Picture: Rebecca Michael

But it was guest speaker, cancer survivor Taylah Miranda, who really moved the crowd, receiving a standing ovation after sharing her harrowing story of battling leukaemia as a young woman.

The courageous Taylah was later soon smiling, winning the number one raffle prize of a Lexus car at the Alice In Wonderland themed lunch.

But it was Melbourne’s most generous person, the divine and glamorous philanthropist Heloise Pratt who had Taylah close to tears after donating her tickets to see Taylor Swift after bidding for the late auction prize for $30,000.

And if that wasn’t enough, Pratt, who was sitting at VRC director and Million Dollar lunch committee member Ann Peacock’s table, even promised her the Dolce & Gabbana dress from the Kim Kardashian collab collection she was wearing to the exclusive lunch, so Taylah could have someting nice to wear to see Tay Tay in concert next year.

Elsewhere, Carlton president Luke Sayers was all smiles, saying the Baggers win last Friday was all the sweeter given it was against old rival Collingwood.

Carlton president Luke Sayers. Picture: Rebecca Michael

Ricky Ponting and his wife Rianna also attended the event. Picture: Rebecca Michael

“I’m absolutely pumped and excited for all Carlton people, in particular our players, coaches and footy department who have really stuck fat,” Sayers said.

He also shelled out, and was the highest bidder for an exclusive golf package for $22,500.

The annual lunch raised over $2.8m for the Children’s Cancer Foundation.