AFL executive Travis Auld to marry former AFL staffer Megan O’Reilly

One of the leading contenders to replace Gillon McLachlan in the top job is preparing to tie the knot.

AFL’s chief financial officer and general manager of broadcasting and clubs Travis Auld with Megan O’Reilly at the Brownlow. Picture: Getty

Travis Auld, the AFL’s chief financial officer and general manager of broadcasting and clubs, has a lot riding on his boot.

He is one of the leading contenders to replace Gillon McLachlan in the top job, a gig akin to godliness in footy-obsessed Melbourne.

But first he will tie the knot with girlfriend Megan O’Reilly, whom he met while working at AFL headquarters.

O’Reilly was head of people at AFL House before being promoted and moving on to Melbourne & Olympic Parks as head of people and culture, Orwellian speak for human resources.

The couple stepped out together at the Brownlow on Sunday night.

It will be Auld’s second walk to the altar, with McLachlan and other AFL heavyweights to attend.

Auld was formerly chief executive of the Gold Coast Suns and chief operating officer at the Essendon Football Club.

Hopping visit to the airport

Even the Flying Kangaroo is abandoning Qantas. Not figuratively, but um, literally.

As Aussie bigwigs arrived at Tullamarine for the AFL Grand Final, after a two-year absence from its rightful homeland, a kangaroo was seen bouncing around outside the airport carpark.

The Australian’s cricket writer Peter Lalor posted the video to social media and it’s not the first time a roo has jumped into the headlines.

Normal scenes at Melbourne airport this morning. (Captured by nephew) pic.twitter.com/LYAnPJcYVq

— Peter Lalor (@plalor) September 22, 2022

The terminal is close to bushland and although the runways are guarded to ensure the animals don’t hop into the path of an aircraft, staff said they sometimes made their way into airport buildings.

Meanwhile, fresh from their newly-inked broadcasting deal with the AFL, Seven honchos including CEO James Warburton and owner Kerry Stokes along with Foxtel’s Patrick Delaney are to appear at the AFL Grand Final Commission room luncheon alongside Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Victorian Governor Linda Dessau is also an invitee. Dessau caused a commotion this week when she reportedly got lost between the Qantas chairman’s lounge and the boarding gate at Melbourne Airport, delaying the flight by almost 30 minutes and angering passengers waiting for her to be granted priority access. Dessau’s staff later told The Australian’s Margin Call there was no such delay. Scenes!

Walking down the Brownlow aisle

While many of the players’ WAGS again mistook Brownlow night for a bridal party, perhaps due to designers hoping to show off their (mostly given out red carpet freebie) couture to up-and-coming brides who make up much of their income, it wasn’t the case for the coaches’ wives and girlfriends.

It was, however, a case of blink-and-you’ll-miss-them on the ruby rug for a speedy Richmond coach Damien Hardwick and girlfriend Alexandra Crow. But kudos to Geelong coach Chris Scott’s wife Sarah for rocking a blue sequined pant suit and coach of the year Collingwood’s Craig McRae’s wife Jodie nailing the pink theme in Alex Perry.

Chris Scott and wife Sarah. Picture: Getty

Damien Hardwick and girlfriend Alexandra Crow. Picture: Getty

Hutchy shows his true colours

Craig Hutchison can be known for sitting on the fence when it comes to footy issues, such are the SEN honcho’s many contacts at AFL House. But the Cats fan took this quite literally at his South Yarra pile, with his front house and fence adorned in GF merchandise of both Swans and Cats colours, not to mention a premiership cup hanging from the gate resembling the Griswolds’ lampoon vacation-lit Christmas house. Tis’ the season for Hutchy to be jolly!