Analysis: The Block faces riskiest auction without Adrian Portelli

The Block faces its riskiest finale yet after long-time bidder Adrian Portelli crossed to Channel 7.

Analysis by Danielle Collis
Reporting by David Bonaddio

With its biggest buyer out of the picture, The Block is heading for its most nailbiting finale in 21 seasons.

As a former TV producer, I’ve sat through countless dramatic reveals and finales and seen plenty of scheming behind the scenes.

But this year’s cliffhanger isn’t about stolen blueprints or builders walking off set — it’s about whether anyone will actually buy the homes.
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For several seasons, entrepreneur and LMCT+ founder Adrian Portelli was The Block’s golden boy.

He became the show’s unofficial safety net, swooping in at the last minute to purchase properties for his luxury giveaway business LMCT+.

Producers could sleep easy knowing auction day wouldn’t end in disaster.

But now? Portelli has crossed over to rival Channel 7.

Earlier this year, he purchased two suburban homes in Melbourne’s Bulleen through his company Xclusive Tech Pty Ltd and donated them to Channel 7’s My Reno Rules series.

Adrian Portelli has joined Channel 7’s My Reno Rules, leaving Nine without its safety-net buyer.

The $2.7m purchase and donation make his future with The Block unclear.

If he is contractually bound to Channel 7, it’s unlikely he’ll be back at Nine’s auction finale on October 25.

That leaves this season’s five Daylesford homes — each with price guides north of $3m — heading to auction with no guaranteed saviour.

Block co-creator and executive producer Julian Cress told the Herald Sun the stakes have rarely felt higher, but the format remains strong.

“Every season is a gamble, but the more risks we take, the longer we stay on air,” Mr Cress said.

“This year’s identical-footprint builds captured imaginations and proved just as tough as any reno season — maybe tougher.”

Nine’s head of content Adrian Swift said moving away from pure renovations had been a risk but one that delivered fresh energy.

This year’s Daylesford contestants prepare to put their homes under the hammer without a guaranteed bidder.

“Renovating is the show’s DNA, but by overlaying identical floorplans we could show how every choice — tiling, planning, layout — completely transformed a house.

“That freshness is survival.”

Mr Cress said his nerves aren’t for the ratings but for the contestants.

“They didn’t sign up just to make television, they came to make money, he said.

Mr Swift agreed the auctions were always the great unknown.
“Sometimes the most deserving couples get little, others get millions, what matters is that they walk away with life-changing results.”

Judge and Whitefox founder Marty Fox says Portelli’s exit will make auction day “unpredictable and exciting.”

Block judge and Whitefox founder Marty Fox said Portelli’s absence could reset the dynamic.
“That’s the joy of auctions, they’re unpredictable,” Mr Fox said.
“You never know who’s going to show up, how the energy will shift, or who will bid.

“That element of the unknown is what makes auction day one of the most exciting moments of the whole season.”
Mr Fox said the homes would likely appeal to “buyers with a certain net worth, people who’ve built successful businesses, had overnight wins, or need tax-effective investment opportunities.

“The tax breaks that come with new builds make them attractive as investments as well as lifestyle plays,” he said.

Portelli’s presence in recent years has masked just how fragile The Block auction process has always been.

In 2024 he bought all five homes for about $15m, with even the lowest contestant profit at $650,000.

But before Portelli, The Block’s history was littered with pass-ins and bargains struck post-show. Between 2003 and 2010, contestants were lucky to walk away with tens of thousands.

Omar and Oz set a Block record in 2022, but three of four homes failed to sell that season. Picture: Nine

Even in 2022, Omar and Oz smashed the all-time sale record with $5.586m, but three of the four houses failed to sell under the hammer.

And in recent years, Block homes have developed a reputation for bleeding value fast.

Once cameras stop rolling, builders often move in for weeks to patch defects and polish finishes left behind by contestants.

Savvy buyers know many of those fixes are only cosmetic.

Block co-creator Julian Cress says fresh risks and identical builds have kept the format alive after 21 seasons. Picture: Nine

Mr Cress said what keeps the show resonant is not headline bidders, but its contestants.
“The stars are everyday Aussies,” he said.

“People don’t want their autographs, they want to pat them on the back and say how proud they are.”
So what happens now that Portelli is out? Homes may be passed in, savvy locals may swoop for bargains, or new bidders may emerge.

But if not, this could be The Block’s biggest cliffhanger yet.

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david.bonaddio@news.com.au

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