The Home Ground

For this episode of The Home Ground, we’re joined by Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains. From his journey growing up in Bendigo to leading one of the AFL’s most progressive clubs, Ameet shares how the Bulldogs are reigniting the West, growing memberships, engaging new communities, and transforming their facilities for both players and fans.

In Part 2 of our chat with John Didulica, the Melbourne Victory FC Director of Football goes deep on the structural challenges facing the A-League, from million-dollar pitch costs and government funding gaps to why club models are more fragile than people realise.

He shares his vision for a true “home of football,” explains why promotion and relegation isn’t a simple fix, reflects on the COVID crisis that nearly derailed the league, and outlines the ambitious project intended to establish a potential Australian foothold in Europe.

We sit down with John Didulica to unpack the state of football in Australia. From his journey as a player, lawyer, and player advocate to club executive, John shares sharp insights on why football is thriving at grassroots level yet the A-League faces challenges. A candid discussion on governance, visibility, fan engagement, and what the league must do to grow.

Stay tuned for part 2 next week!

This week on The Home Ground, Max and Bash examine the CFMEU allegations, Victoria’s reported $15 billion infrastructure cost blowout, and the flow-on effects for taxpayers, housing supply, and construction costs. They discuss rising labour expenses, investor confidence, and whether real reform is finally coming.

Part 2 of our episode with Paul McNamee dives deep into the life of one of Australia’s most unique sports administrators. Paul reflects on his short-lived stint as CEO of Melbourne Football Club, his role helping South Melbourne push for a second-division A-League pathway, and his years as an early supporter and influencer at Melbourne Victory. From chasing Jonathan Brown to navigating divided football politics, Paul gives an insider’s view of what it really takes to shape Australian sport off the field.

On the eve of the Australian Open, we're joined by former Australian Open CEO and doubles world No. 1 Paul McNamee, one of the key figures behind the AO's modern rise to become a world-class spectacle. From naming Rod Laver Arena to bringing in prime-time men's finals, Paul shares some incredible stories.Stay tuned for part 2 of this episode next week!

For our final episode of 2025, we’re joined by political strategist and former Tasmanian premier’s chief of staff Phil Reed to unpack the Macquarie Point stadium debate. From governing a small island state to the AFL’s influence and the economic impact of major sporting infrastructure, this episode explores how Tasmania’s controversial stadium decision came to be and what it means for the state.

Melbourne’s long-awaited Metro Tunnel is open, but does the hype justify the $15 billion price tag? In this episode of The Home Ground, we break down the cost blowouts, the real transport benefits, post-pandemic travel patterns, and whether this project truly reshapes Melbourne, or leaves bigger questions about what should come next.

Graeme Samuel joins The Home Ground to take us inside the pivotal years that transformed the VFL into today’s national AFL. The rise of the AFL Commission, and the birth of Docklands Stadium, Samuel shares the stories, battles and breakthrough moments that reshaped Australian sport.

In this episode of The Home Ground, we chat with Graeme Samuel about the massive shake-up coming to Australia’s environmental and planning laws.We explore what’s broken, what’s finally being fixed and why clearer rules and faster approvals can actually lead to better outcomes for both the environment and development.It’s a straight-talking look at the reforms that will shape how Australia grows over the next decade.We also dive into the housing crisis, why supply has completely stalled, how politics, planning systems and bad incentives keep getting in the way and what real change needs to look like.Finally, we unpack what’s holding Australia back and what must happen if we genuinely want more homes, smarter policy and a country that can actually get things done.