AUSTRALIA’S A-list was in attendance for a grand final institution at the 44th annual grand final breakfast.

Hosted by North Melbourne football club, the event has kicked off grand final day since 1966 (an omen for Saints supporters?) and was thriving on Saturday morning.

Politicians, celebrities and football royalty broke bread at the event which carried a jovial theme but for one heart-warming moment, when wheelchair-bound Lou Richards arrived to a standing ovation.

Richards was a long-time host of the grand final breakfast and while he missed becoming an official AFL legend earlier this year, he was officially inducted as a grand final breakfast legend by host Michael Christian.

Louie the Lip may have gotten on in years but he still knew how to have the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, sharing stories about his days hosting League Teams with Jack Dyer and Bob Davis as well as telling everyone how great he was as a Collingwood footballer.

Richards’ arrival moved all in the room, not least Molly Meldrum who was seen shedding a tear at seeing his old mate. It promises to be a big day for the most famous cowboy hat in Australia. His Melbourne Storm is playing off for a spot in the NRL grand final while his beloved St Kilda might have its second ever premiership by day’s end.

Meldrum, a former St Kilda cheer squad member, famously fainted with minutes to go in the 1966 win over Collingwood and will be hoping to stay conscious should they salute this afternoon.

Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Deputy Opposition leader Julie Bishop engaged in a bit of light-hearted political point scoring. Ms Gillard praising Collingwood’s coaching handover as a model Peter Costello and John Howard could have aspired to.

The noted Bulldogs supporter also put herself in a football analogy.

 “The year of the caretaker coach and I feel like the caretaker prime minister,” Ms Gillard said.

“In many ways I’m the Darren Crocker of Australian politics. I know what it feels like to just mind the store.”

Malthouse was named football personality of the year while Channel 10 and Triple M commentator Stephen Quartermain was named media personality of the year.