AFL fans furious over Rebecca Maddern’s ‘heartless’ Brownlow joke

Fans are demanding an apology from Channel 7 after an unfortunate attempt at a joke by Rebecca Maddern revived devastating memories.

There’s always a slip-up or two during Channel 7’s three-hour Brownlow Medal extravaganza but Rebecca Maddern drew the ire of footy fans after an unfortunate attempt at a joke on Monday night.

The TV presenter was interviewing Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott after he had missed out on winning AFL Mark of the Year to teammate Bobby Hill - and the $50,000 that comes with it.

While receiving the award onstage, Hill had joked about using the prize money, which also included two million Virgin velocity points, to take Elliott to Las Vegas the next morning.

Maddern engaged with Elliott in some lighthearted banter before ending their short chat by saying: “Jamie, thank you. It was a lovely chat. Have a lovely time in Vegas. I wish you all the best. And come home alive.”

Bec Maddern interviews Jamie Elliott at the Brownlow Medal count. Picture: Channel 7

Elliott didn’t react, thanking Maddern in return before giving her a hug.

But social media quickly lit up with angry AFL fans who had the most painful of memories revived by Maddern’s attempt at humour.

Former Magpies and Power player John McCarthy died aged 22 on an end-of-season trip to Vegas in 2012, falling from a rooftop at the Flamingo Hotel on the Strip.

It was a death that rocked the AFL to its core and is still remembered by both clubs each season.

There’s no doubt Maddern meant no disrespect, but some fans were still demanding an apology from Channel 7.

“Rebecca Maddern needs to apologise to John McCarthy’s family and Jamie Elliott for her insensitive comments about coming back from Vegas alive,” one wrote. “The most disgusting and heartless thing I’ve heard a ‘presenter’ say.”

“Did Rebecca Maddern just make a joke about an AFL player to “come back alive” from Vegas on a post season trip? How f**king poor taste. Expecting a full apology before the coverage is over,” added another.

“Rebecca Maddern telling Jamie Elliott to “come home alive” from Vegas is such a f**king weird thing to say on television,” wrote another.

“I can’t believe Rebecca Maddern said ‘come back alive’ to a Collingwood player going to Vegas …” added a fourth.

Rebecca Maddern on the red carpet. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

John McCarthy in action for Collingwood.

Others were a little more forgiving.

“Bec Maddern. Don’t mind her. But the Las Vegas joke about coming home alive … Not too soon but very unnecessary. IYKYK. J-Mac,” wrote one.

“Rebecca Maddern’s come back alive from Vegas joke is just standard banter from where I sit,” wrote another. “People are wanting to see things that clearly weren’t intended, and trying to instigate controversy.”

“She’s obviously not aware of JMac and the circumstances surrounding his death. It was still not a funny thing to say. I think she’ll be feeling awful,” added a third.

The main medal count wasn’t without controversy either as Patrick Cripps smashed the record by winning with 45 votes.

Cripps, 29, claimed his second Brownlow Medal and etched his name further into the record books by shattering Ollie Wines and Dustin Martin’s record of most votes polled in a single season of 36.

He wasn’t alone in breaking the record with Nick Daicos finishing second with 38 votes.

Despite Cripps’ absolute dominance, several games raised the eyebrows of those watching on with none standing out more than round 13.

Patrick Cripps polled 45 of a possible 69 votes. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Cripps had a minimal impact on the contest as he finished with 19 disposals and didn’t kick a goal. Despite that he was still awarded two votes by the umpires.

The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph wrote on X: “Patrick Cripps went at 14 per cent kicking efficiency against Essendon in round 13 with only 19 touches but still polled two votes. If he’s polling for games like that it might be hard to run him down.”

Dan Gorringe added: “They’re giving Cripps votes for 19 disposal games now. It’s in the bag.”

One disgruntled footy fan wrote: “Patrick Cripps will be a deserving winner if he gets up but there is no way in hell that he has put together the most dominant season ever in the AFL and these umpires are doing a disservice to all the great footballers that have played this great game by voting this way.”

- additional reporting by James McKern