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A who’s who of the sporting and political worlds gathered at Jeff’s Shed to kick off Grand Final day with the North Melbourne Grand Final Breakfast.

A time-honoured tradition since 1967, the breakfast brought together sporting and political foes (are there any other kind) ahead of the big game.

Keeping up the tradition, the VIPs were “sledged” into the room (in the words of North Melbourne President, Dr Sonja Hood AM) with a song.

Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles, who filled in for an MIA Anthony Albanese, entered to the 1990 hit “I’ve got the power”.

With his boss away, Marles – a diehard Cats fan – declared the government was ditching diplomacy for one day and backing Geelong.

Deputy Premier Ben Carroll was serenaded with The Vengabus, which seemed to be a tribute to his time as public transport minister (a role he hasn’t held for two years but details shmetails).

But the elephant in the room was Albo’s absence which was described by Hood as verging on treasonous.

“Apparently, Albo has chosen Balmoral with the King over the MCG and the Grand Final, one of the most unAustralian things I’ve ever heard,” Hood said.

“But maybe he’s just trying to get another selfie to add to the one with Trump this week.”

One of Melbourne’s newest residents, former Today reporter Alex Cullen who was dumped for accepting a $50,000 gift from Block billionaire Adrian Portelli, found himself at the head table rubbing shoulders with political power.

But he couldn’t shake that life-changing cash bonus with the sports guru described as someone who’s “always looking to make a bit of cash on the side”