Gillon McLachlan congratulates Patrick Cripps at Carbine Club Grand Final Luncheon

Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps has met with Gillon McLachlan after the AFL chief executive’s controversial comments about his dodged suspension.

Patrick Cripps. Pic: Carly Ravenhall

Gillon McLachlan has offered his personal congratulations to Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps at the Carbine Club Grand Final Luncheon at Crown.

The AFL boss had expressed disappointment about the Carlton star dodging suspension late in the season, but assured Cripps he was a worthy winner.

“I saw that game in Round 23 where if he didn’t have three votes I just would have called it out for him,’’ McLachlan said.

“He wanted the ball, took it on and I think a lot of people appreciate the way he plays.

“I just think he’s been one of the worthier winners.”

Patrick Cripps. Picture: Carly Ravenhall

Ann Peacock and Gillon McLachlan. Picture: Carly Ravenhall

McLachlan was interviewed by his brother, Channel 7 commentator Hamish, with many laughs during the amusing chat in a star-studded room of guests.

Cripps was interviewed on stage, as was Bachar Houli and AFL legends Brent Harvey and Tony Shaw.

Among the crowd were Jeff Browne, John Bertrand, Kieren Perkins, Nicole Livingstone, Ann Peacock, Sam Kekovich, David Parkin and AFLW stars Jess and Sarah Hosking.

McLachlan reflected on his time in the position ahead of his imminent departure, saying he was most proud of getting through tough Covid times in 2020.

John Bertrand and Jeff Browne. Picture: Carly Ravenhall

Sarah and Jess Hosking at the Carbine Club Grand Final Luncheon. Picture: Carly Ravenhall

Hamish also asked: “If you had unlimited funds could you make (the score review) accurate?”

Gillon replied: “Despite every dickhead who comes up to me telling me they’ve got a solution.... there’s no technology I know that would get above the post in that Richmond one. The game finds a way, there’s always a point where someone has to make a decision and that’s the beauty of sport and the game.”

Gillon also told the story of how on a trip in the US he had locked in Foo Fighters to perform at the Grand Final with the help of late music icon Michael Gudinski.

“The manager is some fruitloop guy, he walks in and he sits on the floor and starts playing with a slinky,’’ Gillon said.

“We go downstairs, Dave Grohl the rockstar was cooking a barbecue, we had sausages and bread, we shake hands, think we’ve done it. I said Michael is that how it works? He says ‘that’s rock n roll baby’ and they completely backed out of a deal a month later and dicked us. That was that.”

Co-host Brian Taylor started the day with a ‘Roaming Brian’ across the tables.

When he went to former footy hard man Mal Brown, he said:

“You were the king of the WAFL at one stage, weren’t you?”

Brown replied: “It’s better than being queen of the AFL Brownlow”, leaving many shocked and gasping in the room.