It might've been a school night, but that wasn't stopping any of Australia's ruling class from witnessing Novak Djokovic's sixth Australian Open victory on Sunday night. Thankfully the Chairman's Lounge wasn't too bleary-eyed on Monday morning, with Andy Murray ceding the title in a third-set tie-break just after 10.30pm. 
In their usual spot on the northern baseline of Rod Laver Arena (and in addition to Rod himself) was Tennis Australia's contingent, led by president Steve Healy and his Svengali Harold Mitchell (who, during the first set, absolutely monstered a Connoisseur ice-cream - from a distance, thanks to our new Leica binoculars, we clocked it as Murray River salted caramel), with their returning guests including Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, federal Health Minister Sussan Ley and Meriton billionaire Harry Triguboff (who also got stuck into the Connoisseur). New faces in the group were Australian Olympics boss John Coates, Victoria's governor Linda Dessau and her husband, County Court Judge Tony Howard, women's singles great Margaret Court and her Liberal (not liberal) husband Barry Court (another connoisseur of the Connoisseur), and TA's board adviser Don "Don't Argue" Argus (he's already overhauled Cricket Australia, so should we expect him to pop up at the ARU next?).
Optus held court, again, at the corner of the same baseline, led by chairman Paul O'Sullivan, Singtel director Peter Mason, former director Graham Bradley, and behind them chief lobbyist David Epstein with a bevy of the federal Liberal party room's rising stars: Major Projects Minister (and former Optus exec) Paul Fletcher, Assistant Minister Alan Tudge (laden with Optus merchandise) and intelligence committee chairman Dan Tehan.
ANZ Banking Group's seats were just across the next aisle, where Hancock Prospecting's Tad Watroba was getting among it again, fittingly resplendent in a burnt orange polo, with Fairfax Media director Hungry Jack Cowin and Toll billionaire Paul Little.
Next was the prime strip of UBS seats at the net, occupied by the Swiss investment house's rainmaker Matthew Grounds. His guests included Westpac chairman Lindsay Maxsted, Suncorp chief Michael Cameron, Telstra's chairman Catherine Livingstone and chief executive Andy Penn, Transurban CEO Scott "the Hair" Charlton, TPG Capital managing director Ben Gray, new Santos chief Kevin Gallagher and federal Communications Minister Mitch Fifield. Imagine the bigwigs who didn't accept Grounds' invitation!
Grounds' competitors were out too - if not with quite the same show of force. We also sighted Goldman Sachs' investment banking head Christian Johnston (not far from Tabcorp chief executive Elmer Funke Kupper) and Gresham managing director Charles Graham.
On the next corner was Emirates vice-president Barry Brown with Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans, not a stone's throw from former Queensland premier Anna Bligh, former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty, Audi managing director Andrew Doyle and Packer family matriarch Ros Packer in the front row.
Then there was the usual roguish Seven milieu: Seven Group CEO Ryan Stokes with his good mate Josh Frydenberg, of federal cabinet fame, Seven commercial director Bruce McWilliam with Trade Minister Andrew Robb and AFL chief Gillon McLachlan next to Seven West Media CEO Tim Worner, who vehemently denies a report that he consumed frozen appletinis at the 2013 Australian Open. We stand by our story.
Around the traps, but in no fixed location, we also spotted Assistant Treasurer Kelly O'Dwyer and hubby Jon Mant, Indigenous leader Warren Mundine, SEEK co-founder Andrew Bassat, chef Guillaume Brahimi and Australia's most shameless self-promoter, Alex Malley, being mercifully unheard, but at least recognised.
FYI we made it back to Rockpool by 11.07pm.