Eddie McGuire’s campaign to make 2015 the year of the AFL fan has its first big-name recruit: David Koch.

The breakfast morning host-turned-Port Adelaide club chairman joined his fellow television star for a lunch-time business forum at the MCG on Friday.

In the often sharp-barbed world of football politics, it seems the Magpies’ boss and his Power counterpart have found a friendship, and a partnership.

As the new kid on the block, Koch said there was plenty of room for collaboration between the two clubs, with a focus to be “bringing the fun back into footy”.

“It’s been one of the pillars of what we’ve been doing for the last two years,” Koch said.

“It’s been reflected in the attendance you get at Adelaide Oval.

“The world’s so grumpy … footy’s got to be fun, a great night out.

“Every year has got to be the year of the fan.”

Whether they’re listening or not, the AFL is certainly acting, with chief executive Gillon McLachlan pledging to improve fallen Victorian attendances.

McLachlan told ABC radio on Friday morning he was working on the fixture, match-day costs and the fan experience as a way to improve crowds.

McGuire praised his leadership, saying there was an “opportunity for football to get back to what it should be about”.

“It should be a religion – it shouldn’t be a business,” he said.

“We have become very business-orientated; the whole world has.

“I’m really confident football is going to be great again.”

While McGuire and Koch work for rival networks, the pair clearly share a passion for renovating football clubs.

“David’s having the best time of his life because he’s taking a moribund club and turning them into something spectacular,” McGuire said.

“I did it in 1998 with the board of the Collingwood football club.

“It is the greatest thing you can ever do. Staying there is the hardest thing.”

The two clubs meet on Sunday afternoon in a match which could determine whether Port Adelaide can make it into the top four, and if Collingwood make finals at all.

McGuire hailed the young partnership between the two clubs, saying footy sides should leave the fighting to the field.

“Sometimes, it sounds like we’re all punching on with each other but we’re not,” he said.

“It doesn’t mean we can’t critique things … but it doesn’t mean we’re going to die in a ditch over it.”