Anthony Albanese makes a VERY cheeky joke about Collingwood supporters at the AFL Grand Final Breakfast

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has set the tone ahead of the AFL Grand Final after a tongue-in-cheek joke about Collingwood supporters.

Albanese attended the annual Grand Final Breakfast hosted by North Melbourne on Saturday and had many in stitches after his one-liner.

The country’s leader told the crowd that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton once said Melbourne’s streets were so dangerous that people avoided eating out.

“Well, if the Pies win today you might finally be right about that,” joked Albanese, a noted Hawthorn fan.

Magpies fans are often mocked by rival supporters due to their working-class roots dating back to the 1920s.

The Magpies are the team many AFL fans love to hate (pictured, Collingwood supporters at the MCG on Saturday)

Collingwood ($1.75) is a slight favorite ahead of Brisbane ($2.10) heading into the decider (pictured, a family of Magpies fans)

They have long been portrayed as the AFL team that everyone loves to hate, much like the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL.

Professor Jon Stratton, a cultural studies expert at Curtin University, believes Collingwood’s “continued success over many decades breeds resentment and animosity.”

Former club chairman Eddie ‘Everywhere’ McGuire was another reason Collingwood was loathed by many football fans.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton later responded to the prime minister’s roast with his own joke on stage.

He started by thanking North Melbourne for their hospitality before pointing out it was a test year for the Kangaroos, who avoided the wooden spoon on percentages.

“There’s no doubt they’re on the rise, though,” he began.

‘There is of course no pressure either because after you get an AFL aid package, Albo and Alan Joyce’s deal with Qantas over Qatar looks like a rounding error.

“Next year we want to see some finals action from the Kangaroos.”