Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Tuesday 23 September
6:15 PM - 8:15 PM
At Grand Final time, AFL footballers dominate the headlines. But how do these blokiest of blokes represent the lot of the modern man?
Footy is a playing field fuelled by traditional loyalties. But this year, as in others, it’s a field marred by drug cheating allegations, sex indiscretions and questionable leadership. In this fascinating evening, through the lens of Aussie Rules Football, we ask ‘What’s the role of men as leaders – how have things changed, what can we expect, and how can (and should) men lead now?’
774 ABC Melbourne presenter Libbi Gorr pays homage to her McFeast persona to take this live, sweaty and fascinating discussion into a wiser, contemporary and excruciatingly candid zone.
With special guests including iconic Hawthorn tough man Don Scott (60s and 70s), Essendon Club legend Simon Madden (80s and 90s) and and president of the AFL Players Association Luke Ball, this is a Grand Final week event not to be missed.
A good event starts great conversations. Here’s your chance to stay back a while and meet guest speakers. Nibbles provided. Drinks at bar prices.
Recorded live for 774’s Conversation Hour and presented in association with ABC Big Ideas.
Featuring
Simon Madden
Simon Madden was an Essendon Football Club captain, 378 games holder, Norm Smith medal winner and legend of the 80s and 90s. He can tell you a lot about teams, leadership and winning.
As a duel premiership player, Simon has been coached by men’s men. But Simon also lost his dad at an early age, and was raised by an incredibly strong and resilient mother. He now works in corporate leadership and business coaching.
Don Scott
Don Scott, as a duel premiership captain of the Hawthorn juggernaut of 60s and 70s was as tough and as rough as they come. As ruckman and enforcer he was reported 15 times, yet was suspended for only 11 matches over an illustrious 300-game career.
Despite this aggressor image, Don has never conformed to a typical footballer stereotype, with a keen interest in fashion and a love of the quiet life. Now, Don lives as he did throughout childhood – following his fathers passion for horses and heavy involvement in the equine industry.
Luke Ball
Luke Ball has the rare distinction of being both a St Kilda Football Club captain and a Collingwood Premiership player. Indeed he is one of the only players in AFL history to have played in three consecutive Grand Finals with two different clubs, leaving the Saints at the end of 2009 in the era of football professionalism to pursue a fresh start with the more successful Magpie unit.
Luke’s only job since leaving school is that of professional footballer. He is the current president of the AFL Players Association and he and his newlywed wife expect their first child early next year.
Libbi Gorr
Libbi Gorr is a presenter and broadcaster working across print, radio and television. Libbi is currently a guest reporter for the ABC’s flagship current affairs program 7.30, and hosts ABC Radio Melbourne’s Sundays program. She is known for her iconic comedy creation Elle McFeast in the ‘90s and early 2000s for the ABC and Network 10.
Libbi has written two books, The A To Z Of Mummy Manners and The Bedtime Poem for Edible Children. She is a regular columnist with the food and wine magazine Selector and is a regular guest commentator on programs such as Studio 10 and The Project.