NSW Premier Chris Minns was “a seriously smart guy … he also has an incredible knowledge of rugby league”. But Reece kept it real, musing that Minns might be lucky enough to score an invitation to the AFL Grand Final, which will be a non-event to most Sydneysiders, what with the Swans’ season of woe. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore was a “legend” who had “copped a bit over the years” but was someone who deserves “huge credit for her vision and determination”. He also name-checked Business Sydney’s Paul Nicolau and Crown Resorts chairman John Borghetti, and mused that Melbourne had “much to learn” from the Vivid festival, which should send chills down the spine of our snobbier southern neighbours. Still, Reece managed to straddle a line between enthusiastic guest and Melbourne advocate, ready to heap praise on his hometown. So when meeting hospitality baron Justin Hemmes, he cannily pointed out that while he loved his tour of The Ivy, the billionaire manbun’s biggest project was Parkade in Melbourne, the next target of Merivale’s imperial ambitions.