All eyes on Peter Kelly

By Alison Kinkade

I’m not sure whether you would remember what you were doing on July 10, but for local business owner and identity, Peter Kelly, it was a day he will never forget.

Spending a small fortune at a Geelong fundraising dinner on June 26, Peter bought himself the privilege of tossing the coin to the start the Cats versus Hawks AFL game at the MCG as well as the opportunity to meet both captains and view the warm up.

Well worth the money according to Peter, the package also included advertising his business on the back of the team’s “run through” banner, super screen advertising in front of 70,000 fans and the chance to nominate a mascot to run out with the team.

Peter said the banner looked fantastic and when his granddaughter Madeline and Jimmy Bartel ran through it and did a lap it was simply the best experience they have witnessed from their little granddaughter.

Representing his serviced apartment business, Docklands Private Collection, as well as Docklands itself, Peter said the advertising on the large scoreboards (prepared by local business Mediation Communications) was great.

“It was seen at least a dozen times throughout the game by the 70,000 crowd,” Peter said.

Thoroughly enjoying his time in the spotlight, Peter’s coin toss was made even sweeter when his team, Geelong, won the toss and he didn’t even need to part with a further $100.  

“When I was introduced to the umpire when he came over to me and told me what I had to do, he said you obviously barrack for the cats which I said I did. He said he barracked for the Hawks as a kid … I said I had a $100 in my pocket if it would help, he laughed and said no,” Peter said.