Eddie McGuire’s big call on Brownlow Medal
Eddie McGuire says now is perfect time for the AFL to shake up the Brownlow Medal, with the Collingwood president making a shock call on where and when footy’s night of nights should be held.
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Eddie McGuire has urged the AFL to bring the Brownlow Medal forward and hold it straight after the home and away season ends.
Usually staged on the Monday night before the Grand Final, the Collingwood president says footy’s night of nights should take place straight away in Queensland so all the players who are in hubs can attend.
“I think that it’s time now for the AFL to make the call to move the Brownlow Medal to the
Monday after the end of the home and away and have it in Brisbane,’’ he said.
“Because everyone is going to be there.
“With the restrictions, or lack of them in Brisbane, you could actually have a full Brownlow Medal count with all the best players.”
McGuire said on his Triple M Hot Breakfast show that by Grand Final week only two teams will remain. The Brownlow, won last year by Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe, is usually held at Crown.
“By that stage 16 teams will be out of business,’’ he said.
“It’s a bit like the Australian Open, by the time you get to the final there’s only two players left from all the players, everyone else has gone.
“It might be now the time to make the decision and have the Brownlow on the Monday after the last home and away game.
“Imagine the outfits the girls would be able to wear because it’ll be quite warm up there.
“Having it in there I think makes perfect sense now. Even if they don’t get the Grand Final, (Queensland) probably deserve to get the Brownlow Medal.”
Brownlow medallist Shane Crawford also said it makes sense to hold the Brownlow in Queensland.
Crawford, who won the 1999 Medal at the only Brownlow staged interstate in Sydney, said:
“There were only about five from each club there, so I couldn’t quite experience the night with them,’’ he told the Sunday Herald Sun.
“This would be different as all the teams will probably still be on the Gold Coast. It could be special in that situation.”
Channel 7’s Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin had flagged a Brownlow reimagined with a red dirt carpet in Uluru but logistically that seems unlikely now. He said the Gold Coast was favourite to host the Brownlow.
“I reckon the sentimental favourite would have to be Queensland … you think about where all the teams are going to be,’’ he told Triple M on Saturday.
“(Gold Coast) have done an amazing job in giving everyone comfort it could be done there.”
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