‘Insufferable’: Channel 7 host’s ‘cringe’ exchange, X-rated Brownlow joke

Channel 7’s Hamish McLachlan has come under fire from footy fans for an awkward exchange with Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Cripps.

Channel 7 presenter Hamish McLachlan has received mixed reviews for his hosting style at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.

McLachlan relocated to the south of France and Switzerland with his family last year for a sabbatical, but returned to Seven to resume his media duties in recent days.

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He took over from Bruce McAvaney as host of the Brownlow and shared hosting duties this year with Rebecca Maddern.

But McLachlan’s interview with Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps drew a strong response on social media.

Kicking off the customary interview with the winner, McLachlan held out a manila folder full of notes before theatrically dropping it.

“I was just passed this by the head of research at Channel 7,” he told Cripps. “They’re the records you just broke.”

Hosts Rebecca Maddern and Hamish McLachlan at the Brownlow Medal. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Indeed Cripps joined an elite club on Monday, becoming just the 17th player in the league’s history to win two Brownlows, backing up his win in 2022.

The feat prompted a bizarre line of questioning from McLachlan, who peppered Cripps with a serious of questions that quickly grew tiresome.

Read the full exchange below and watch it in the video player above.

McLachlan: Twos around you. I’m going to ask you some questions, you just give me the answer.

Cripps: Sounds good.

McLachlan: How many years since you won your first Brownlow.

Cripps: Two.

McLachlan: Last Carlton Brownlow Medallist before you was Juddy (Chris Judd). How many Brownlows did he win?

Cripps: Two.

McLachlan: So how many Brownlows since he won his first?

Cripps: Been two now, yeah.

McLachlan: Last Carlton Brownlow Medallist was Greg Williams. How many did he win?

Cripps: I wish it was zero, but it’s two.

Hamish McLachlan loves the number two. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

McLachlan: What number did Diesel (Greg Williams) wear?

Cripps: He was two.

McLachlan: I see Patty Dangerfield there. How many blokes named Patrick have won the Brownlow.

Cripps: I’m guessing two.

McLachlan: How many finals series have you played in?

Cripps: Yeah, only two.

McLachlan: How many finals have you won?

Cripps: Two.

McLachlan: Biggest crowd of your career was in last year’s semi? You were playing game 180 …

Cripps: Two.

McLachlan: How many times this year have you had 40 plus (disposals)?

Cripps: It’s two, yeah.

McLachlan: How many times 40 and 14 clearances.

Cripps: Two.

McLachlan: How many jumpers have you worn at Carlton?

Cripps: Two (#16 and #9).

McLachlan: Tony Lockett, the last full forward to win. How many times did Plugger kick eight and not get the three votes?

Cripps: I’m guessing you’re saying two.

McLachlan: 26! I just wanted to mention Plugger.

Cripps went along with the gag. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

A clip of the exchange was shared on the AFL’s official Instagram account, and it’s safe to say it wasn’t well received by footy fans.

One person commented: “Is this meant to be funny or something? This is one of the worst hosted nights I’ve ever seen.”

A second said: “Hamish McLachlan as host was insufferable and made cringe-worthy comments and asked stupid questions.”

A third said: “How many minutes do I want back of my life after watching this … two.”

Another said: “How many times did Bontempelli have 32 and 2 and poll 0 votes?”, referencing the eyebrow-raising voting controversy in several games.

The coverage crossed to Cripps several times throughout the count. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

But McLachlan got plenty of laughs in the room with a cheeky response to Cripps after he explained he took a while to develop physically during his teenage years in Western Australia.

“I was tiny through my teenage years,” Cripps said.

“The boarding house wasn’t the fondest (memories) because half the boys are man childs in year eight. It was like I was still in year four in year 11.

“Going to the showers (I) was nervous. I had the towel around me, half the boys had the towel around their shoulder. it was a long five years at boarding school.”

McLachlan quipped: “I’m sure it’s over your shoulder now,” as the Crown Palladium venue erupted in giggles.

Channel 7 said its coverage of the Brownlow had a national reach of 2.9 million and a national audience of 1.36 million.

Cripps won the Brownlow with a mammoth 45 votes, ahead of Collingwood’s Nick Daicos, who finished second on 38 votes.

Both players smashed the previous record haul of 36 votes held by Dustin Martin (2017) and Ollie Wines (2021).

Harley Reid won Goal of the Year and Bobby Hill took home the gong for Mark of the Year.