Seven’s new AFL programming strategy can be summarised as “too much footy is barely enough”.
The network is poised to launch a massive expansion of football programming, with AFL matches and related shows broadcast seven days a week. Just in time for the network’s new AFL deal which allows it to put all content on Seven and streaming service 7plus.
Monday night’s Brownlow co-host Hamish McLachlan, back from his family sabbatical in France, is expected to feature prominently, maybe with an interview show.
Nine commentator Kane Cornes is set to be bundled into the boot of a Trabant to cross the no-man’s land to Seven next year, where it has been reported he will appear on several panel shows alongside star football columnist for The Age Caroline Wilson.
When we approached Caro, in between greeting about a thousand well-wishers, she politely, directly but charmingly told CBD where to go.
Caroline Wilson was the centre of attention on Monday night.Credit: James Brickwood
The new Seven signings may be just the beginning, with more big names to come. Heaven knows where the money is coming from, given its $250 million market cap and cost-cutting redundancies.
Seven West Media officials were out in force on Brownlow night, with CEO Jeff Howard glowingly name-checked at the start of official proceedings. Reformist news division boss Anthony De Ceglie was sitting one seat away from Herald Sun editor Sam Weir, which in no way looked awkward at the centre table hosted by AFL general manager corporate affairs and UN peacekeeper Brian Walsh.
Nick Daicos and partner Arlette Amor were among the 1100 Brownlow attendees.Credit: Justin McManus
Later CBD caught up with Seven’s head of sport, Chris Jones. He was less direct than Caro, but wouldn’t spill the beans either.
ENTRY POINT
Essendon president David Barham was spotted walking into the Crown Palladium with his newest board recruit, Tony Howard, the retired judge and spouse of former Victorian governor Linda Dessau.
Seated at the power table: Naomi Milgrom, guest of Collingwood president Jeff Browne.Credit: Photo: Paul Jones
Howard and Dessau, who is now deputy chair of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation and is also a former AFL commissioner and founder of the Essendon Women’s Network, were seated at a power table hosted by AFL commissioner Gab Trainor.
Trainor also invited ALP senator Raff Ciccone, News Corp emeritus executive Peter Blunden, Telstra’s Kim Krogh Andersen and Collingwood president Jeff Browne, who brought billionaire philanthropist and Sportsgirl owner Naomi Milgrom along as his plus-one.
MAKE A DASH
Dessau and Milgrom headed for the exit together midway through the evening, possibly bound for the ladies. We were too polite to ask. If they were, the pair faced a long walk to freedom. A broken urinal sent water flooding through the toilets outside the Crown Palladium ballroom and sent the loos into lockdown. Guests had to head down the escalators and trudge all the way to the end of Crown. Seven only allowed toilet breaks during commercials and slammed the doors shut on any latecomers when the telecast recommenced.
CUTTING IT FINE
In the parallel space-time continuum of the Brownlow, it can take only a few seconds for the night to spin completely on its axis, such is the intricacies of the 24 rounds of voting.
Thus, it can be a complete flex to be the last to arrive among the 1100 players and their dates, coaches, club officials, AFL honchos, sponsors, journalists and politicians seated on 110 tables.
Dessert: Worth at least three points.Credit: Marnie Vinall
Firmly in the cutting-it-fine club were Collingwood captain Darcy Moore and his partner, Triple J broadcaster Dee Salmin, along with OG Bec Judd, who accessorised with her husband, dual medallist Chris Judd. Both couples arrived just as Armaguard was turning up to deliver the all-important silver suitcase of votes to the stage.
The Judds sat at table 45, enjoying the company of fellow Brownlow recipients Shane Crawford, Ben Cousins, Robert DiPierdomenico and John Platten. But who were meant to be the occupants of the empty seats beside Judd? It wasn’t until 8.37pm, well after the count was under way, that Nathan Buckley and partner Brodie Ryan turned up to take their seats.
Bec Judd in J’Aton Couture.Credit: Getty Images
INSTAGRAM OFFICIAL
You can usually count on a pollie to be first to sneak into a snap, but state Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopolous proved quicker than Usain Bolt off the mark on Brownlow night.
After the announcement of the round-20 votes, four rounds from the end, Patrick Cripps looked the likely winner. Dimopolous sprinted into view requesting a selfie.
Dimopolous, a CBD favourite since his spontaneous trackside DJ dancing at the grand prix this year, was graciously obliged by Cripps, with Yianni, Dimopoulos’ partner, taking the snap. By night’s end Dimmo had already made it Instagram official. Politics is all about the timing after all.
FASHION WAS THE WINNER
Winning in the fashion stakes was Fremantle player Bailey Banfield, who Harry Styles-ed the life out of the event by accessorising his dinner jacket with oversized pearls.
Bailey Banfield of the Fremantle Dockers.Credit: AFL Photos
And special credit to AFL head of football operations Laura Kane, who looked stylish on the red carpet and on the main stage for the Brownlow count in a full-skirted, off-the-shoulder orange dress by Cappellazzo Couture.
Kane replaced it after the official proceedings with a sleeker black number. In the stylist’s notebook a technique known as an AP (after-party) dress.
AFL executive Laura Kane.Credit: Getty Images
PARTY ON
It was the end of the night. Patrick Keane, AFL executive in the office of the CEO, packed away all the Brownlow voting cards in a giant Fremantle Dockers pencil case (we kid you not).
Guests trooped down to exclusive restaurant Nobu for the official after party, where even the AFL’s beta-personality chief executive, Andrew Dillon, fresh from his triumph of pronouncing, patiently queued to get in, as did AFL/AFLW tribunal chair and CBD’s personal defamation barrister Renee Enbom, KC, who was, as usual, looking the bom.
We would be keen to bring you more news from the after party but now need a nap, and clause LXVI of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the AFL state what happens in Nobu stays in Nobu.
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