Brian Lake adds his name to a long list of former AFL footballers to have appeared on reality TV
BRIAN Lake can add an Australian Survivor podium finish to his long list of career achievements and he joins an illustrious group of former AFL players to have appeared on reality TV.
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THREE premierships, a Norm Smith Medal and a third-place finish on Australian Survivor.
It’s been some sort of career for Brian Lake.
While plenty were underestimating the crafty defender when news first broke he would be on Survivor, the former Hawk and Bulldog won plenty of fans for his ability to (almost) outwit, outplay and outlast the other contestants.
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Lake now joins an ever-expanding club of former AFL players to take the plunge into reality TV.
How does he compare to those who have gone before him on Big Brother, The Mole, Celebrity Apprentice and plenty more?
Recap which AFL players have been the big winners (and losers) in the reality TV world.
Ryan Fitzgerald – Big Brother (2004)
The biggest mystery in Australian television hasn’t come from Home and Away, Neighbours or even Blue Heelers. Instead it is easily how Ryan Fitzgerald didn’t win his season of Big Brother.
In a series that featured housemates nearly coming to blows, post eviction protests and one contestant wrongfully booted off, Fitzy was still by far the most entertaining cast member.
While Trevor Butler was declared the winner, and drove away with a cool one million dollars, Fitzy didn’t have to wait long to even the ledger.
He walked straight into a radio gig in Adelaide and, unlike the majority of reality TV contestants, his media career has gone from strength to strength. He now hosts a national radio show on Nova and has worked on multiple TV footy shows.
Darren Jolly – The Block (2014 + 2015)
From boiled lollies to chocolates – it was one hell of a ride for Darren Jolly on The Block.
Competing with his wife Deanne, the Collingwood and Sydney premiership player first appeared on ‘The Block: Glasshouse’ and the result was somewhat of a disaster.
After months of work the pair made…$10,000. Of the four couples, they finished in equal last place, $425,000 behind the winners. OUCH!
Don’t feel too bad for them though. The Jollys returned with a vengeance for ‘The Block: Triple Threat’ one season later.
Their second development sold for a staggering $2.290M, which was $835,000 above its reserve. They also pocketed $100,000 as the winners of the season, taking their total winnings across two seasons to $945,000.
Surely no footballer has won more cash from reality TV!
Brendan Fevola – I’m a Celebrity – 2016
Brendan Fevola went on ‘I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’ with one goal – to repair his public image.
Mission accomplished, Fev!
While on the show, the two-time Coleman Medal winner opened up about all the controversial moments from his football career and it proved to be ratings gold.
Fev’s popularity continued to grow right throughout the series and he was eventually crowned the season two champion.
Following his victory over the likes of Anthony Callea, Shane Warne, Dean Geyer and Havana Brown, Fevola was quickly picked up by Fox FM to join its breakfast radio program which has proved a ratings winner ever since.
I’m a Celebrity (The Rest)
The Channel 10 producers certainly love a footballer.
And while Fev will go down as the only winner, plenty of others have tried to match his exploits.
In season one, Barry Hall finished runner up after being pipped by late arrival Freddy Flintoff.
Meanwhile, in season three Dane Swan also finished second, this time to former Australian Idol winner Casey Donovan.
He may have more flags than the rest put together, but former Hawk Josh Gibson had a tougher time in the jungle.
Despite being an early favourite, Gibbo failed to make the top seven in his season. He did outlast Bernard Tomic though, so that’s a win.
Ed Lower – Big Brother (2013)
After 42 games and 16 goals, Ed Lower’s football career with North Melbourne ended in 2010.
But it certainly wasn’t the last time we saw him on our TV screens.
In 2013 the South Australian made a triumphant return to the big time as a contestant on the 10th season of Big Brother.
While from an entrainment point of view he didn’t reach the lofty heights of Fitzy, Lower actually came out on top for total time in the house.
He made it to the second last week, lasting 94 days, 11 more days than Fitzgerald.
The Celebrity Apprentice
On the set of Celebrity Apprentice, wins have been hard to come by for retired AFL footballers. In fact, it might be time for a rebuild.
They gave it their best shot though, with the likes of Dermott Brereton, Shane Crawford, Jason Akermanis and Warwick Capper diving head first into the boardroom between 2011 and 2013.
But just like Collingwood on the last Saturday in September, there was no fairytale finish.
The boys lost out to Julia Morris (2011), Ian Dickson (2012 – how did this happen?) and Stephanie Rice (2013).
Crawf did the best of the quartet, making it to the final in season one.
However, Capper was seeking a priority pick after being “fired” in the very first episode of his season.
The Channel 9 producers ditched AFL players altogether for season 4.
Robert Dickson – Survivor (2002)
The very first season of Australian Survivor was 16 years ago on Channel 9 and featured former Hawthorn and Brisbane player Robert Dickson.
Following a 19-game AFL career, Dickson was a natural in the tough conditions. His tribe dominated the series before a brilliant alliance switch at the final six carried him to the $500,000 grand prize.
A talented film director, Dickson worked on a number of AFL projects post Survivor including The Passion to Play, Shane Crawford Exposed and The Essence of The Game.
However, in sad news that shattered the AFL community, Dickson passed away after a car accident in 2009.
Dancing with the Stars (The winners)
It was one of realty TV’s ratings juggernauts in the early 2000s and plenty of AFL players had a crack at coming away with the chocolates.
However, only the smooth moving Anthony Koutoufides and David Rodan had what it took.
That’s right, we are talking about Dancing with the Stars.
The AFL fraternity had to wait until season five to crack a winner, with Kouta beating out Australian chess player Arianne Caoili and runner Tamsyn Lewis in the final.
After an eight-year drought, it was David Rodan who got team AFL back on top, defeating Lynne McGranger (aka Irene from Home and Away) and singer Ricki-Lee Coulter.
But they weren’t the only ones to hit the dancefloor.
Dancing with the Stars (The others)
When we said plenty of other ex-footballers showed off their moves, we meant it.
Across 15 seasons, another six players did their best to impress the judges.
Brendan Fevola found things a little easier in the jungle while Peter Everitt may have been cursed with two left feet.
Brodie Holland – 4th (2005)
Paul Licuria – 3rd (2008)
Peter “Spida” Everitt - Last (2009)
David Wirrpanda – Quit (2010)
Brendan Fevola – 4th (2012)
Jude Bolton – 7th (2015)
Michael Laffy – The Mole (2001)
At first glance, Michael Laffy might not be the biggest former footballer to hit the reality TV circuit.
But he was one of the most successful.
The former Tiger not only appeared on, he was the star of the second season of The Mole.
While everyone else was desperately trying to win money, Laffy was actively working against the group to sabotage as many challenges as possible.
He knew exactly what he was doing, costing the eventual winner $100,000 from the total prize.
Robert “Dipper” DiPierdomenico – Excess Baggage (2012)
Not all reality TV ideas turn into ratings juggernauts.
Unfortunately for Dipper and the crew from weight loss show Excess Baggage, the viewers didn’t get behind this one.
The show debuted on Channel 9 however, was quickly moved to GO.
Dipper lasted nine weeks before coming in third place. Ajay Rochester was crowned the “Excess Baggage Champion”.
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