Sydney threatening to take AFL Brownlow Medal count from Melbourne

EXCLUSIVE: SYDNEY is threatening to take the Brownlow Medal count from Melbourne when the AFL’s deal with venue host Crown finishes this year. HAVE YOUR SAY.

Brownlow medal winner Gary Ablett in 2013.

EXCLUSIVE: SYDNEY is threatening to take the Brownlow Medal count from Melbourne when the AFL’s deal with venue host Crown finishes this year.

NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres confirmed Sydney was interested in hosting the Brownlow gala event.

Having staged the AFL draft and secured the National AFL 9s Championships for the next two years, Mr Ayres said the harbour city was “more than capable of hosting the Brownlow Medal again’’.

Nat Fyfe after winning the Brownlow in 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch

“To make it even better, we are building a billion-dollar convention centre in the heart of our spectacular city that is perfectly suited for the Brownlow Medal,” he said.

“It’s an easy decision for the AFL — we’ll even save (Victorian Sports Minister) John Eren a seat at the main table.’’

Crown Melbourne’s five-year deal with the AFL for the Brownlow count ends this season. The AFL is in advanced negotiations with Crown, but is yet to strike a deal.

The AFL’s Patrick Keane confirmed the league hoped to keep the event in Melbourne.

“We would hope to be in a position soon to make a more detailed comment,’’ he said.

Chris and Rebecca Judd after Chris won the Brownlow in 2010.

Former Hawthorn president and state premier Jeff Kennett said Victorians should not pay a cent to keep the event but urged the AFL to do the right thing and keep the medal count in its heartland.

“If the AFL wants to use it as a tool to cheapen the Brownlow, it would be an abject waste of taxpayer money,’’ Mr Kennett said.

“The AFL knows as well as we do it will have no appeal in Sydney. So if the AFL wants to further downgrade the value of the Brownlow on a financial basis, so be it.’’

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