North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast
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The North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast is a breakfast function organised by the North Melbourne Football Club on the morning of the AFL Grand Final. The breakfast marks the traditional beginning to Grand Final day and is one of the biggest social highlights on the Australian sporting calendar. Watching the event is a ritual for many footy fans and the function plays a huge role in the pre match build up for the Grand Final.
History
The first Grand Final Breakfast was held in 1967 at the Southern Cross hotel, as a valuable fundraising event. The inaugural guest speaker was the VFL's Administrative director Eric McCutchan. The event rose to prominence in the 1970s when the breakfast began to be televised across Victoria, and was officially endorsed by the VFL as the official pre-match Grand Final function. Since then the event has grown into a significant money raiser for North Melbourne, and the guest list has grown to include Prime Ministers, State Premiers and other celebrities.[1]
Event
Although many clubs hold their own Grand Final Breakfasts, the North Melbourne Breakfast was the first breakfast and is currently the only breakfast to be officially endorsed by the AFL. This ensures a guest list that reads as a 'who's who' of Australian business, sport, entertainment and politics. The breakfast includes a Grand Auction, with all proceeds being donated to the Starlight Children's Foundation.[2]
Quotes
Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke described the event as “one of this nation’s great traditions”.
Paul Keating referred to the function as “a tradition in itself”
Prime Minister John Howard described it as “a tremendous institution …. and the most eclectic gathering of people you could possibly imagine”.[3]
Venues
See also
- Champagne breakfast
- Index of breakfast-related articles
- List of dining events
- NRL Grand Final Breakfast
References
- ^ The Clubs – The Complete History of Every Club in the VFL/AFL ISBN 0-670-87858-8
- ^ http://www.starlight.org.au/WhatsOn/Pages/AFLGrandFinalBreakfast.aspx
- ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20020808135032/http://www.thegrandfinalbreakfast.com.au/index.cfm?link=moreinfo
- ^ "Getty Images". Getty Images. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Dennehy, Luke (25 September 2010). "GF Breakfast before the bounce". News Corporation. Herald Sun. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Silmalis, Linda (29 September 2012). "Abbott's star turn at North Melbourne Grand Final breakfast". News Corporation. The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "Iconic Breakfast on sale". North Melbourne Football Club. North Melbourne Football Club. 27 May 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Twomey, Callum. "Record crowd at North Melbourne GF breakfast". AFL.com. Australian Football League. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ "Grand Final Breakfast". Etihad Stadium. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Guthrie, Ben (27 September 2014). "A Grand beginning". AFL.com. North Melbourne Football Club. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
- ^ Whiting, Michael (3 October 2015). "Laughs on the menu". North Melbourne Football Club. AFL.com.au. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ "Iconic Breakfast on sale". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ Whiting, Michael (1 October 2016). "North hosts Grand Final Breakfast". Retrieved 20 February 2017.
- ^ "Mazda North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast wrap, 2017". North Melbourne Football Club. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Amber (29 September 2018). "PM recognises 'religious' AFL Grand Final". Coastal Leader. Retrieved 16 July 2019.