The Dutchman led a handful of drivers opting for private jets to and from Melbourne to compete in the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix last weekend.The private jet plans could have been a post-race “up-yours” to Grand Prix boss Andrew Westacott, who was critical of the drivers and their whinging about air travel down under to compete.The CEO told the drivers to “suck it up” and “stop whingeing”.The Albert Park road track is the third race on the calendar, with drivers complaining of extensive air travel to Australia in between other races.Verstappen chartered his own jet, touching down early Wednesday morning on his $15m Falcon plane; living a life of luxury as well as avoiding Australia’s airport chaos.He left his home town of Monaco the Tuesday prior to the AGPC, flying nearly 24 hours via the United Arab Emirates and Kuala Lumpur en route to Melbourne Airport.The one way trip, according to aviation experts, would have cost Verstappen in excess of $120,000 in fuel alone.Add pilots, air stewards, food, drink and airport fees and it becomes a very expensive 16,455 km trip.Red Bull’s number two driver Sergio Perez was very vocal when it came to discussing the frustrations with travel to Australia. “Just coming to Australia for a single race is quite painful for everyone.“We all want to come here, but there are ways we can improve,” the Mexican said in regards to timing.Verstappen boarded his private jet late Sunday night just hours after the race finished.He departed Melbourne at 11.44pm, seconds after seven time world champion Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes Benz teammate George Russell did, in a charted Global Express bound for Malaysia.Ferrari’s Charles Laclerc won the Melbourne Grand Prix ahead of Red Bull’s Perez and Mercedes driver George Russell.Lewis Hamilton finished a surprising fourth while Verstappen’s Red Bull caught fire on lap 39, ending his race.Australia’s airports have been in dire straits this past week with travellers forced to endure ridiculous wait times to get to their planes and collect their luggage.HOW JACKO’S ESCAPING ‘RUBBISH’ CANCEL CULTURE Mark ‘Jacko’ Jackson is a self confessed nomad driving around Australia, from town to town.In his first radio interview in 15 years, the VFL footballing legend told former AFL ruckman turned radio host Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt’s breakfast show on the Gold Coast he is now living like a “gypsy”.“I keep my head down, mind me own business and gypsy myself around the country going from place to place and just stay out of the way,” Jacko said.“People still yearn for those times where everything was free and you could say what you want.“This rubbish now where everybody takes offence because somebody said something about me, people don’t take it on the chin anymore.” Jackson’s antics became legendary during his 82 games and 308 goal career for Melbourne, St Kilda and Geelong.His wild on-field performances shocked everybody, not least those that lined up on him. But despite his behaviour Jacko became a fan favourite and marketing dream.But Jackson says our forebears would be disgusted by the new Australia and would turn in their graves.“When people say times have changed, I just think there’s some equation that’s gone horribly wrong with Australia.“Then people make comparisons about the blokes that have fought in the first and second world wars. My grandfather was one of them who fought in Kokoda.“They’d be turning in their graves in disgust and disdain to see the way Australia has turned out. It really is a disgrace.“Now I try to steer away from the cities,” the 62-year-old said.SHOULD MCGUIRE TAKE OVER AFL MANTLE? With Gillon McLachlan vacating the toughest gig in Australian sport later this year, high profile names are now bandied about as McLachlan’s heir apparent.The AFL is set to employ Sydney firm Spencer Stuart to conduct the search for a new chief executive as 49-year-old McLachlan now ponders his next move.But AFL commentator and media personality Sam Newman suggests the league do away with its expensive executive search process and appoint media mogul Eddie McGuire.Newman is an unabashed fan and friend of McGuire and tells Sheahan Ink, McGuire has been “invested in the game from his youth, he is innately qualified as opposed to head hunting applicants for effect.“Ed would be sensible, wise and credible,” Newman said.His resume reads very well. He recently stepped down as Collingwood President after 23 years, founded production house Jam TV as well McGuire Media, fronted numerous media platforms and was the former CEO of the Nine Network.He also has strong ties to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.The AFL’s 18 clubs have been pushing for a well liked football brain to join the commission.Could McGuire be the brains to take Australia’s number one sport into the new era post McLachlan and take over the reins as CEO to satisfy the clubs?The pay would be very generous, travel is a must and talking to constituents around the country and across the globe would satisfy McGuire’s hunger for power.McGuire turns 58 in October, but would Gill allow a friend and mentor the chance to create a legacy that outshines the last eight years?Commission chairman Richard Goyder has a tough decision to make between now and September.MODEL MIRANDA KERR’S EXPENSIVE ARRIVAL Snapchat celebrity Evan Spiegel and model wife Miranda Kerr paid tens-of-thousands of dollars to avoid being detected upon entry into Australia.The native Aussie girl from Gunnedah and her billionaire husband flew undetected into Newcastle’s Williamtown airport April 2 around 11pm.“The aircraft operator liaised directly with the National Passenger Processing Committee as well as border agencies to seek prior approval for processing which was granted at Newcastle airport,” Stephen Crowe, the airport’s media man told us.Spiegel’s paranoia around his travel plans have been documented in the past.Landing into Sydney some two years ago on the $90 million family Gulfstream 650 ER, the same as Kim Kardashian’s, Spiegel’s security told one camera operator on the ground, the jet’s passengers would stay on board as long as it took to avoid being identified or photographed.We’re led to believe Spiegel and Kerr paid a handsome sum to the airport to have customs and immigration work after hours in order to process their arrival papers as they stepped onto Australian soil.Our estimates would have at least eight people on the ground to welcome the social media giants back on home soil.Kerr’s family has a home in nearby Gunnedah with Newcastle’s Williamtown the nearest international checkpoint.Kerr appeared two days later at sponsor’s event in Sydney.Spiegel is rumoured to be worth $6bn as the founder of Snapchat while his wife has created a beauty empire on the back of a very successful modelling careerCELEBRITY CHEF COOKING UP PLANS IN RICHMOND Curtis Stone has nudged out a Sydney business conglomerate to win the tender for a Richmond business that is expected to see the Melburnian open his doors to another top shelf restaurant.The Bridge Rd bricks and mortar will be home to Stone’s new stoves, a far different outfit to famous chef Stephanie Alexander’s Richmond Hill cafe & Larder.Curtis Stone is currently residing in the US with his actor wife Lindsay Price and two kids.Stone’s opponents are keen to enter the Melbourne business space and earmarked the site diagonally opposite Richmond’s Epworth hospital as the perfect place to get their Melbourne operations started.And Richmond Football club’s Punt Road headquarters is just around the corner which would make it an easy walk for Brendon Gale and his executive to dine at as he ponders the soon to be vacant AFL CEO’s position The agent told Stone’s opposition that a famous Melburnian with a history of top class food would be taking the lease.Richmond Hill cafe & Larder officially closed its doors April 11, 2019.The well-known Maison Burlesque business is expected to continue running upstairs once the Stones take over.AFL PLAYERS SHIELDED FROM AIRPORT CHAOSAustralia’s airport chaos is now affecting the AFL as its players are forced onto chartered jets to fly in and out of cities to play games.The Greater Western Sydney Giants played Melbourne last night at the MCG, with the team forced to make alternative travel arrangements as Melbourne and Sydney’s airports are overwhelmed with travellers.Giants’ players and officials will land at Sydney’s Bankstown Airport in the city’s west on a chartered plane to avoid the log waits and baggage balls-up which has affected a large portion of the country.Former Melbourne football club forward Brad Green took a swipe at the AFL’s travel companion labelling Virgin Australia as ‘greedy’.Green and his family were furious and took to social media criticising the carrier for overselling flights and splitting families up. PACKER CELEBRATES EASTER IN SUN SOAKED MEXICO Casino king James Packer has swapped his Buenos Aires polo ranch for the sunny beaches of Mexico, after 30 days at his Argentinian hideaway.Packer was grieving the loss of his great mate Shane Warne, who passed away on the island of Koh Samui in Thailand in the afternoon of April 4, and spent 30 days mourning at his ranch Ellerstina.The private Packer sought time away from the hustle and bustle of Beverly Hills or the ski fields of Aspen as he came to grips with not only his, but the world’s, loss.The billionaire casino king took off in his private plane from Buenos Aires flying into Cabo this week, where he will spend Easter in his newly built $50 million mega mansion looking out over the Pacific Ocean. 2022 has been an auspicious start for the Beverly Hills billionaire and his Crown Resorts investment.His Australian casino operation is going through its biggest upheaval since its creation and has cost the major shareholder tens of millions in lost revenue after government inquiries led to big fines.Crown Sydney’s gambling floors remain closed to punters with its hotel and restaurant now open to guests.The twice married, once engaged 54-year-old’s ex wife Erica and their three kids were spotted in Bondi last week.GRUNDMANN RAISES $55K FOR THE KIDSCutlery king Max Grundmann has become a financial easter bunny for the Royal Children’s Hospital.After a personal visit to visit the sick kids that need Victoria’s help, the Maxwell and Williams owner and Collingwood Football Club investor couldn’t believe what he was seeing and there and then decided to become a supporter of the RCH.The former NBL franchise owner joined 3AW’s Cruise for the Kids with a boat trip on the Yarra whereby participants had to raise $5000 before they were allowed back on dry land.Thanks to Grundmann’s generosity and that of his friends, he managed to raise $55,842 for the hospital and presented the cheque Friday on Channel 7’s broadcast.SHEAHAN INK’S SECRET SHORTSThe wife of an AFL CEO candidate has begun spruiking her husband’s move into the league’s top job just days after Gill McLachlan announced his resignation.The unnamed wife has been telling all and sundry at the candidate’s place of work that her hubby is set for a new home at Docklands.
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