Page 13: Brownlow cash grab... and Tom isn’t happy

DIRTY deeds are being done anything but dirt cheap around the hallowed Brownlow Medal, with AFL agents offering up their players for cash and Instagram posts.

The hallowed Brownlow Medal. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith

DIRTY deeds are being done anything but dirt cheap around the hallowed Brownlow Medal, with AFL agents offering up their players for cash and Instagram posts.

Brownlow favourite Tom Mitchell’s management, TLA, asked radio stations to pay $1000 plus GST for interviews if the Hawks midfielder wins the coveted medal. It’s all a bit grubby for the highest individual honour as the code’s best and fairest player. Especially so when the player is none the wiser.

Tom Mitchell and Hannah Davis. Picture: AAP Image/Daniel Pockett

MORE PAGE 13

MANAGER ISSUES APOLOGY AFTER REPORTS MEDIA WERE TOLD BROWNLOW INTERVIEW WOULD COST $1000

Mitchell outsourced his management to TLA to look after all things Brownlow-related and is said to be very “disappointed” by the cash grab. His longtime manager, Phil Mullen from Kicking On Sport, says he and Mitchell had no idea about the fee-for-interview grab until yesterday, when an item ran on 3AW.

“Players don’t always hear about these things until they happen,” an unhappy Mullins told Page 13.

AFL chief Gill McLachlan was quick to tell Neil Mitchell “some mistake” must have been made. Cue Craig Kelly, head honcho of TLA, to quickly issue a groveller for any embarrassment the uproar had caused.

The carefully written statement did not dispute the greedy grab.

“If any of our players are lucky enough to win the Brownlow Medal, as per previous years, they will be available for the prescribed AFL media requirements,” Kelly said.

“We apologise for the miscommunication around fees for these interviews, and also to Tom Mitchell for any embarrassment caused.”

THE news comes after Page 13 discovered TLA was also offering Mitchell to another of its clients, Tissot watches.

He will be one of several of the league’s top players to enjoy the Tissot Brownlow Suite for exclusive drinks before the medal count at a Crown Towers Crystal Villa.

Mitchell will be hand-delivered an $11,000 bottle of Sullivan’s Cove Single Malt Whiskey and players given a watch of their choice.

But wait, there’s a catch. Sigh, isn’t there always?

In return for the gift, the watch brand asks for a commitment, an Instagram post and story making sure to tag @TissotOfficial on the night.

None of this is illegal, but there is a growing trend of player agents getting the most they can out of their players, who are often paid for public appearances, especially in the lead-up to the grand final.

It feels a bit on the nose. Actually it pongs. Let’s not forget the ACCC is probing potential conflicts of interest over TLA’s raft of projects as the beneficiary of many AFL events contracts, including the VIP September Club, next week’s grand final lunch and the Brownlow after-party.

Nat Fyfe the morning after winning the AFL's Brownlow Medal. Picture: Twitter/Patrick Keane

Page 13 hears the company is even organising this year’s grand final sprint.

When Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe won the Brownlow in 2015, a photo of the Dockers star, relaxing shirtless with the medal the next morning, went viral with nary a dollar to be seen while he did countless interviews.

But spare a thought for 1980 Brownlow favourite, Richmond’s Geoff Raines. He didn’t poll a vote on the AFL’s night of nights.

The footy shills may find they are grabbing, or should that be grubbing, at nothing.