The Age Kicks Off AFL Season At Premium Cocktail Event In Melbourne

  • The Age's AFL season launch
  • The Age's AFL season launch
  • The Age's AFL season launch
  • The Age's AFL season launch
1 / 4
Jo Balfour
By Jo Balfour



The honourable John Eren (Victoria’s Minister for Tourism and Major Events, Minister for Sport and Minister for Veterans), welcomed the new AFL season at a high-profile, invitation-only cocktail event hosted by The Age at Melbourne’s newest luxury event space, Mercedes me.

Eren’s address included the anti-scalping legislation, which is set to be debated imminently with the government looking to protect events like major musicals and concerts from scalpers – football is also on the agenda.

“We are the only news organisation in this town old enough to have been there for the very first match in 1858,” Mark Hawthorne, publisher of The Age, said.

“We were here for the formation of the league, we have reported every single season and every grand final, and this season we have reinvested in our football team.

“We have welcomed Jake Niall back into the fold as our chief football writer, replacing the legendary Caroline Wilson, who remains a key columnist. Martin Blake is back, Warrick Green is back, and Peter Ryan has joined our team from AFL.com.”

Michael Gleeson, senior sports writer for The Age, led a panel that included perspectives and predictions ahead of the start of the 2018 AFL season from The Age’s chief football writer, Jake Niall; dual Brownlow Medallist, premiership winner and columnist for The Age, Chris Judd; and The Age’s chief sports columnist and associate editor, Greg Baum.

“As always, we eagerly await the AFL season opening and it was a privilege to host this prestigious event with some of the most knowledgeable and experienced sporting and sports reporting talent around, as well the honourable John Eren MP,” Alex Lavelle, editor at The Age, said.

“It reflects the emphasis we place on providing Australia with the greatest insight into sports, and AFL in particular.

“This year, we’re particularly excited to see how people interact with our new platform which focuses on placing our award-winning content and imagery front and centre.

“It also gives our audiences the chance to really feel part of the AFL community via the commentary feature we’ve introduced, so we expect some lively debate online.”




Please login with linkedin to comment

AFL The Age

Latest News

Choose A Path Less Trodden This Cannes In Cairns
  • B&T Exclusive

Choose A Path Less Trodden This Cannes In Cairns

Don’t be basic. Think creatively and you shall reap the benefits of Cannes in Cairns. “We want brands!” “We want the CMOs!” We heard you and we acted. The content slate at this year’s Cannes in Cairns, presented by Pinterest, is packed to the rafters with some epic brands and top marketing talent. But that’s […]

Cannes In Cairns MC Keeva Stratton Shares Her Top Session Picks
  • B&T Exclusive

Cannes In Cairns MC Keeva Stratton Shares Her Top Session Picks

Self-professed nerd and one of four top Cannes in Cairns, presented by Pinterest MCs, Keeva Stratton has a front-row seat to some fascinating minds and fierce debates. But who should you put on your must-see, must-hear list? Here, B&T grabs five with the Quip agency founder, who will be helming the lecture in the Rainforest […]

Nielsen Data Reveals Brands Spending Big To Attract Aussie Tourists
  • Advertising

Nielsen Data Reveals Brands Spending Big To Attract Aussie Tourists

Nielsen Ad Intel data has revealed that the travel and tourism industry spent more than $153 million on advertising in Australia in Q1, 2024 – an increase of 8 per cent from the previous quarter, with TripADeal the biggest spender, followed by Virgin Australia, then the Flight Centre-owned Ignite Travel. As many Australians return from […]