MEMBERS ON SPORTING STAGE - Melbourne Cricket Club

VES UP TO THE HYPE
made for another memorable grand final day at the MCG.
centre stage. The pre-match entertainment
concluded with a motorcade farewell to a
number of football retirees, including the
evergreen Robert Harvey.
MCG icon partner Coca-Cola Amatil
again held their Grand Final Brunch at the
MCG, transforming the Olympic Stand’s
rear atrium space into an atmospheric
dining room. Former Test cricketer and
media personality Max Walker was MC
and MCC chief executive Stephen Gough
dropped by to address the function and
outline what goes on behind the scenes at
the home of football.
It was also a special day for MCC event
services manager Ken Parker, presiding
over his 22nd and last grand fi nal before
he draws stumps on his career in
mid-December. We’ll feature more on
Ken’s life and times at the ’G in our next
newsletter.
It was the biggest of big days for the
MCC events team, with early birds
arriving at 4am and the last to leave
shutting the doors well after 9pm. The
day’s success was a credit to the entire
event management team, as well as the
thousands of event staff members, the
membership and customer services team,
caterers, emergency services personnel and
match offi cials who ensured that a great
day was had by all.
The match itself was a ripper. After a
bone-crunching fi rst half, Hawthorn
stormed home to record a momentous
26-point victory. Captain Sam Mitchell
and coach Alistair Clarkson held aloft the
club’s fi rst premiership cup since 1991.
Clarkson’s post-match acknowledgment
of the MCC’s role in making the day a
success for all involved was appreciated
by those who put the day together.
DECEMBER 2008
MCC NEWS 13