It's the traditional start to the biggest day on the sporting calendar, and this year's Mazda North Melbourne Breakfast was one of the best yet. 

The 53rd edition of the breakfast welcomed sporting personalities, politicians and celebrities, with Richmond and GWS fans out in force at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Comedian Dave Thornton brought the energy early, with the challenging 8am time-slot not stopping the laughs from the big crowd.

Of course, the blue carpet introductions are a memorable part of the breakfast every year, and the 2019 edition proved no exception.

Among the many big names to line the head table, Gillon McLachlan.

"After successfully campaigning to keep Stephen Coniglio at his Greater Western Sydney outfit, it’s been revealed our next guest is being employed to ensure Britain stays in the European Union, has received a call from Channel 10 to get Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris and Matt Preston back, and  helped Australia retain the Ashes …. please welcome a real influencer, not the type you find on Instagram, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan," Dwayne Russell read, as the song 'Stay, by Jackson Brown played.

Treasurer of Australia, Josh Frydenberg MP, opposition leader Anthony Albanese, North chairman Ben Buckley and GIANTS chairman Tony Shepherd were among the guests, alongside sporting stars such as Dale Weightman, Jo Weston, Kate Doughty and Melanie Jones. 

Football and politics can be an interesting mix, but Frydenberg delivered plenty of laughs. 

"I didn’t think GWS could win, until I opened the papers this morning and saw that Newspoll has them 10 points behind. Given our recent experience, I think they’re a sure thing," he said. 

Likewise, Albanese.

"Today we have two great teams, it was indeed touch and go for the Giants last week. Literally, the emphaiss was on the touch there," he said.

"That game for the ARC was what the election result was for opinion polls."

The event saw a celebration of retiring AFL stars Dale Thomas, Tom Boyd and Tyson Goldsack, before Aussie rockers Wolfmother turned up the volume to finish the morning, with a high-energy set featuring their hits Joker and the Thief, and Woman. 

Photos by Sustainable Image.