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Function

MCC Library Footy Series: Deal Maker

Wednesday August 19, 2026
2:00PM
Scott Clayton in conversation with Peter Ryan
Bookings open soon
Bookings open 9:00am AEST on Tuesday June 9

Details

Date: Wednesday August 19, 2026

Time: 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Location: MCC Library, Level 3, Members’ Reserve

Dress: Members’ Reserve dress standards

Access: Open to Full, Restricted and Provisional members who may bring up to 3 guests

About

What really goes on behind the closed doors of AFL list management?

The AFL trade period and national draft are the most consequential moments on the football calendar. Careers are made, dynasties are built and mistakes can set clubs back a decade.

After more than 40 years inside the system, legendary recruiting manager Scott Clayton lifts the lid in his new book Deal Maker, written with acclaimed journalist Peter Ryan. From building the Gold Coast SUNS to engineering the move of Gary Ablett from Geelong, Clayton has been at the centre of some of the game’s most defining decisions.

Join Scott Clayton in conversation with Peter Ryan for a special event presented by the Melbourne Cricket Club, in collaboration with Hardie Grant.

The second event in the 2026 MCC Library Footy Series

Inclusions

  • Afternoon tea served at the MCC Library
  • Complimentary copy of ‘Deal Maker’ to have signed and take home

Pricing

Standard

  • Member Adult 18+

    $30

  • Member Under 18

    $30

  • Guest Adult 18+

    $30

  • Guest Under 18

    $30

Access

Bookings open: 9:00am AEST Tuesday June 9

Bookings close: 5:00pm AEST Wednesday August 12, unless sold out prior

Cancellation cut-off: 5:00pm AEST Wednesday August 12

If after booking you find you are unable to attend, please email mccfunctions@mcc.org.au or phone (03) 9657 8888.

About the Authors

Scott Clayton is a highly respected figure in Australian rules football, currently serving as a future talent consultant for the Tasmania Devils as they prepare for their 2028 AFL entry.

He played 160 games for Fitzroy (1981–1990) in the VFL/AFL, primarily as a tagger. He won the club's Best and Fairest award (the Mitchell Medal) in his final season in 1990.

Clayton is renowned for assembling the core of Brisbane’s triple-premiership squad (recruiting legends like Michael Voss and Jason Akermanis).

He has also held key list management and recruiting roles at:

  • Western Bulldogs: Instrumental in drafting club icons like Robert Murphy and Adam Cooney.
  • Gold Coast SUNS: Served as the inaugural list manager, building their first squad from scratch.
  • West Coast Eagles
  • North Melbourne: Most recently spent five years with North Melbourne before joining the Tasmanian expansion team in May 2025

Peter Ryan is a senior sports journalist at The Age in Melbourne, where he has been a key reporter since October 2017. He is widely recognised for his investigative depth and analytical commentary on AFL and horse racing.

Before joining The Age, Ryan built a significant career within the sports media landscape. He served as an online journalist and reporter for the official AFL website, covering match-day news and league developments.

Ryan also held roles as a senior writer and editor at the Slattery Media Group, contributing extensively to the AFL Record and authoring the book Side by Side, which chronicled the history of the Collingwood Football Club. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Labor and Industrial Relations from the University of Melbourne.

Ryan is known for tackling complex "off-field" issues that impact the game. In 2022, he won the Best Opinion and Analysis award at the Australian Football Media Association (AFMA) awards.

He recently co-authored a special investigation into salary cap rorts at the grassroots local football level and he frequently covers AFL Tribunal hearings, such as the homophobic comment case involving St Kilda's Lance Collard. He is also a regular voice on the Real Footy podcast and is known for his high-ranking performance in the AFL media tipping leaderboard.