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How to deliver the perfect speech after winning the Brownlow Medal

IT is the key to every Brownlow Medal speech. Remember to thank your date. It sounds easy enough but it doesn’t always go off without a hitch.

Nat Fyfe won the 2015 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Colleen Petch.
Nat Fyfe won the 2015 Brownlow Medal. Picture: Colleen Petch.

IT is the part of the night when the Brownlow Medal winner is called upon to stick the landing.

The votes have been counted, the medal has been presented and all of Bruce McAvaney’s curly questions have been answered.

The only thing left to do is thank the loved ones.

It sounds simple enough and should go off without a hitch, right?

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If this year’s winner is looking for some pointers, this is how the professionals have nailed it in the past.

In the moments directly after winning there will be cheers, handshakes and pats on the back coming from every angle.

But it is important the winner doesn’t leave their date hanging.

While Fremantle star and last year’s winner Nat Fyfe may have forgotten that, he did remember to thank his date, teammate Michael Barlow, up on stage.

“He’s been great value, Mike. I needed someone pretty sturdy to carry my bags the last couple of days so he got the call-up.”

The thank you was quite generous given only a little while earlier Barlow had broken Fyfe’s walking stick while celebrating polling a vote of his own.

Collingwood champion Nathan Buckley showed why it is important to thank all the special people in your life. From your family to your … club president.

After his win in 2003, Buckley saved a special mention for Pies boss Eddie McGuire who had clearly been thinking about the night for a while.

“Ed, thank you mate. Ed actually told me that if I happen to get up tonight that he was going to pash me, like Madonna and Brittany Spears,” Buckley told the crowd.

“I’m just thankful he hasn’t planted one on me yet.”

Happier times. Nathan Buckley is congratulated by Mick Malthouse after winning the 2003 Brownlow Medal.
Happier times. Nathan Buckley is congratulated by Mick Malthouse after winning the 2003 Brownlow Medal.

McGuire, who was hosting the night for Channel 9, didn’t rule it out.

“It is still early Bucks, don’t worry.”

While some winners pull out a joke to lighten the mood, others have taken the chance to recall touching stories about their loved ones.

For 2008 winner Adam Cooney, this involved telling the crowd how he proposed to partner Haylea using a burger ring.

“I wasn’t going to make the mistake of buying her a ring that she did not like and I know she likes burger rings. I thought I’d slip one on her,” he said.

“We have upgraded from the burger ring which is good. I think she went out the next day and picked out a ring and rang me up and said come and pay for it. I was happy to do that.”

Adam and Haylea Cooney at the 2008 Brownlow Medal.
Adam and Haylea Cooney at the 2008 Brownlow Medal.

Cooney also took the chance to save on a phone call and thank some of his other biggest fans.

“I haven’t rung my nanna for a couple of weeks. Sorry Nanna, I will ring you soon, I promise. To my other grandparents as well, I probably don’t ring you guys enough too. Sorry.”

Another Magpie, Dane Swan, proved that when lost for words, bring everything back to football.

The talented Pie showed even a romantic tale can relate to what happens on the field.

After his record breaking win in 2011, Swan was asked about his relationship with girlfriend Taylor Wilson.

“We met in a bar actually, funnily enough,” he said.

“That’s unlike me. She was actually visiting out from the States and I just happened to run into her out at a bar and I couldn’t get rid of her. Now she is here four years later. She is the hardest tag I’ve had.”

Dane Swan with girlfriend Taylor Wilson after winning the 2011 Brownlow Medal.
Dane Swan with girlfriend Taylor Wilson after winning the 2011 Brownlow Medal.

It isn’t just the winners that need to be on their toes.

Players are often fronting up to the Brownlow Medal not long after attending a Mad Monday or post season drinks.

It is important for dates and teammates to work together to make sure no man is caught out, unlike Cat Matthew Scarlett.

Originally published as How to deliver the perfect speech after winning the Brownlow Medal

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/how-to-deliver-the-perfect-speech-after-winning-the-brownlow-medal/news-story/29d85f3ea1127d9c9382d6e69e096c8f