AFL grand final 2025: Sussan Ley takes swipe at Peter Dutton over election loss at North Melbourne breakfast Rachael WardAAPSat, 27 September 2025 10:29AMCommentsComments
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has proved she isn’t afraid to score points against her own side as the Federal government “officially” picked an AFL team at the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast.
AFL royalty, leaders and high flyers were among 1400 fans who kicked off festivities early to the sound of popping champagne corks at the annual event, where humour was the first order of the day.
With Anthony Albanese overseas, Acting Prime Minister and diehard Geelong Cats fan Richard Marles delivered the Labor leader’s address and declared it a day for “partisan tribalism”.
“I hereby declare that the Federal Government is giving its full and official support to the Geelong Football Club today,” Mr Marles told the audience to laughter.
“There are those who have said to me that really in matters such as this, it’s more appropriate that the Federal Government remains impartial – but bugger that.”
He traded lighthearted blows with Sydney supporter Ms Ley, with Mr Marles joking she must be relieved her team did not make the grand final because she won’t need trauma counselling – referencing the club’s drubbing in 2024.
The Liberal leader hit back, likening St Kilda’s recent player cash splash to the Prime Minister’s credit card – but without the debt.
She even took aim at her side of politics, describing one umpire as “more unpopular than Peter Dutton at the last election”.
Confident her beloved Swans would make a comeback, she declared 2025 a gap year for her club.
“Hopefully it’s not like the Victorian Liberal Party’s gap year, which has stretched for over a decade and is fast closing in on Essendon’s finals drought,” she said.
North Melbourne President Sonja Hood got one of the biggest laughs when she revealed she genuinely didn’t care who won the grand final.
Mr Albanese’s absence was frequently noted, with Ms Hood describing his decision to meet with King Charles at Balmoral instead of going to the grand final as “un-Australian”.
“Maybe he’s just trying to get another selfie to add to the one with Trump this week,” she said.
Outgoing AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder, chief executive Andrew Dillon and Geelong great Gary Ablett Junior were among officials, star players, business heavyweights and footy fanatics in the room.
Mr Dillon’s pick for the day was Geelong while the league’s executive general manager of football Laura Kane’s response “I’ll go for the umpires” was met with a murmur.
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