New premier, not-so-new PM, old rocker: Inside the AFL grand final lunch

If the MCG is the centre of the universe in the last Saturday in September, then the AFL commission lunch must be the nucleus of that universe.

It’s hard to move more than a few steps in the MCG’s Olympic Room, where the lunch is held, without bumping into one of the nation’s political, sporting or business leaders such is the clout of the AFL.

In attendance this year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and brand new Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the AFL grand final breakfast.Credit: Simon Schluter

AFL chair Richard Goyder presided but stuck to talking about football rather than embattled Qantas, which he also chairs.

Goyder noted he had been to a fair few farewells for departing AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan – with more to come.

Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes and his son Ryan were at the top table across from commentator Bruce McAvaney.

Business attendees included Toyota Australia boss Matthew Callachor, Seek co-founder and AFL commissioner Paul Bassat, Virgin chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka as well as diehard Pies fan and NAB chief financial officer Nathan Goonan.

AFL power brokers were thick on the ground including former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and his wife Carla, Port Adelaide chair David Koch, Tigers boss Brendon Gale and Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains and his wife Catherine.

Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley was there, bemoaning Richmond’s absence from the finals, along with former Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop.

Other politicians in attendance included Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto, newly appointed Deputy Premier Ben Carroll, Sports and Tourism Minister Steve Dimopoulos and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas with his wife Annabel.

Guests drank Mumm champagne and ate poached banana prawns cooked by chef Curtis Stone alongside more traditional beers and party pies.

Exclusive pre-match entertainment at the lunch came from Jimmy Barnes who gave the prime minister a hug after singing his classic Flame Trees.

Incoming AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, outgoing chief Gillon McLachlan and AFL chairman Richard Goyder arrive ahead of the 2023 AFL grand final.Credit: Paul Rovere

McLachlan highlighted the amount of time he and his incoming replacement Andrew Dillon had known each other, saying it was one of his longest lasting relationships.

“I’m told we just celebrated our opal anniversary [and] in typical male fashion we both forgot,” he said.

McLachlan thanked Goyder and had a dig at his woes as chair of Qantas. “There is a lot that is thankless in running the AFL commission, but not as thankless as running an airline,” he said.

McLachlan said hundreds of people had asked him for grand final tickets this week.

“The demand is (like) Taylor Swift like except by adults,” he said. “Not even Meatloaf could murder this moment.”

McLachlan paid tribute to Albanese for agreeing to help fund the new AFL stadium to be built in Tasmania. He also highlighted the AFLW and Gather Round as key achievements during his tenure. The ill-fated AFLX was not mentioned.

McLachlan also made fun of himself and the length of his farewell. “This week I’ve stopped for hundreds and hundreds of selfies. Sometimes even with other people,” he quipped.

All before the first bounce.

Lunch attendees were gifted prime allocated seats for the game.

Football royalty Chris Judd and celebrity wife Rebecca Judd – watched the game next to Eddie Betts, just in front of Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson.

The close game had Betts — who had time for a selfie with the PM — jumping in his seat and furiously scribbling down his Norm Smith medal nominations at the end.

Six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen and towering seven-time NBA All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge were among the international guests.

Trailblazing Australian big man Luc Longley, a devoted Fremantle supporter who won three NBA titles himself with the legendary Michael Jordan, was showing his old Chicago Bulls teammate Pippen around.

It would’ve proved impossible for an AFL newbie like Pippen to turn away from Saturday’s high-octane, back-and-forth decider.

Ex-San Antonio Spur Aldridge seemed to have a guide help him through it too, albeit one slightly more qualified than Longley: West Coast favourite Nic Naitanui was spotted sitting alongside him.

But for many it was just as much about the networking as the football, with PwC’s former chief executive, Carlton Football Club president Luke Sayers, spotted trying to squeeze in some time with the new premier.

The party continued afterwards with cocktails and Collingwood supporters in the room in high spirits.

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