Anthony Albanese and ‘first lady’ Jodie Haydon turn up at A-League semi-final – as PM chooses NOT to wear a scarf after being mocked at AFL game

Anthony Albanese appeared without a scarf in the A-League semi-final between Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC on Saturday evening after being roasted for his surprise post-match appearance in the dressing room of AFL club Hawthorn last weekend.

The Prime Minister’s fiancée, Jodie Haydon, wore a Mariners scarf to the match in Gosford, NSW, but Mr Albanese, perhaps stung by last week’s criticism, wore an open-necked shirt, with no scarf to protect him from the cold to protect.

Last Saturday, the Prime Minister was filmed standing close to the Hawks players as they sang the club’s theme song after their win against St Kilda at the University of Tasmania Stadium in Launceston.

While the players seemed to like Mr Albanese’s appearance, many Aussies were far from impressed.

After the Prime Minister shared a collage of photos from the match, voters demanded he focus on more pressing issues such as the cost of living crisis.

“People are struggling to pay the bills and this guy is talking about the football,” one online commenter wrote.

Anthony Albanese was roasted for his surprise post-match appearance in the dressing room of AFL club Hawthorn last weekend (pictured)

“The last time you were in Tassie I remember you being heckled with ‘let’s talk about housing Prime Minister’ and you couldn’t run away fast enough.

‘It’s gotten worse since then and here you are, back in selfie mode. God you’re uninspiring,” said another.

A third wrote: ‘Your priorities suck!’

Albanese’s visit followed a controversial announcement earlier this year in which his government pledged $65 million to expand the stadium.

The decision was made following an identical commitment from the Tasmanian government in January, bringing total expansion funding for the stadium to $130 million.

The Tasmanian Devils will become the 19th team to enter the AFL in 2028.

The Prime Minister has come a long way. cord from putting on the scarves and jerseys of various sports teams over the years.

This includes his hometown AFL side Sydney Swans, although Mr Albanese is a casual Aussie Rules observer, in contrast to his staunch support for rugby league side South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Part of Anthony Albanese’s long history of wearing the scarves of various sports teams was documented in this angry tweet (pictured)

Anthony Albanese (centre) is pictured wearing a scarf from his beloved Bunnies during the Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs match at Accor Stadium on September 24, 2022

He has often said that his single mother raised him “with three major religions: the South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Australian Labor Party and the Catholic Church.”

His tenuous ties to AFL were dismissed by Channel Nine personality Tony Jones on The Sunday Footy Show.

“I almost got sick yesterday watching the Hawthorn club anthem and it featured the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese,” he said.

“He has no interest in AFL. And there he was there… he has the scarf around him… just go away.

“Seriously, when will the Prime Minister learn to toe your line and that would normally be in the House of Representatives… Albo, you are not an AFL fan. Stay out.’

The last scarf the Prime Minister wore in the Hawks locker room prompted one angry man to tweet a series of four different team colors he has worn over the years.

The tweeter captioned the collage: ‘Talking about a fake @AlboMP is so full of c***.’

The Prime Minister has a long track record of donning the scarves, and sometimes even the entire outfit, of sports teams over the years. He is pictured warming up during the annual AFL Reclink Community Cup match at Henson Park in Marrickville, Sydney, Sunday, August 11, 2019

Anthony Albanese is pictured during the AFL match between Sydney Swans and Gold Coast Suns at the SCG on April 21, 2024

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is pictured with Collingwood AFLW player Ruby Schleicher at Olympic Park in Melbourne, Friday, September 29, 2023

Politicians are generally welcomed with open arms by the players, coaches and executives of whatever club they appear, but there are exceptions.

Last October, Socceroos coach Graham Arnold hit out at Mr Albanese over the lack of funding for football in Australia compared to other football codes.

“We see the Prime Minister and the governments, they like to come and watch the Matildas and the Socceroos with scarves on, but they have to lose them when they go home,” Arnold said.

Pictured from left to right are Jodie Haydon, fiancée of Anthony Albanese, Suns CEO Mark Evans, Swans CEO Thomas Harley and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the SCG, on April 21, 2024, in Sydney