Geelong media team bristle at Billy Brownless’ live interview with young gun Max Holmes

Geelong legend Billy Brownless reportedly ruffled some feathers following his live interview with Cats midfielder Max Holmes.

Billy Brownless and Max Holmes.

Geelong legend Billy Brownless reportedly ruffled some feathers following his live interview with Cats midfielder Max Holmes after Saturday afternoon’s AFL grand final triumph.

Holmes was ruled out of the season finale at the MCG after he was unable to prove he had recovered from a hamstring injury sustained during the previous weekend’s preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions.

It was a cruel setback for a young footballer who had played 18 games for Geelong this year.

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“I just don’t think you can take that chance,” former Melbourne footballer Nathan Jones said on Channel 7 on Saturday.

“It’s absolutely gut-wrenching for him.”

Geelong comprehensively defeated the Sydney Swans 20.13 to 8.4 (52) to secure its 10th premiership, but Holmes did not receive a premiership medal.

Max Holmes of the Cats lies on the ground after injuring his hamstring in the preliminary final.

Speaking on his “Roving Billy” segment on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show the following morning, Brownless approached Holmes at the family day breakfast and poked fun at the 20-year-old’s injury setback.

“C’mon Maxy, played all year, loved the way you went about it, could probably have a haircut,” Brownless started.

“How were you feeling, mate?”

Holmes replied: “Yeah it was a good win. Good to watch and win it.”

Brownless continued: What about you, just sitting there watching it mate?”

Holmes laughed: “Nah, that’s a bad question.”

Brownless: “I just wanted to know how you feel, I feel for ya.”

Holmes: “Nah I’m alright.”

Brownless: “Nah you weren’t happy with Gryan (Miers) getting a medal, he got a medal and you didn’t.

Holmes: “Nah, I’m very happy for him.

Brownless: “Nah, you’re cranky and having a go at him.”

According to The Herald Sun, the Geelong media team was “a little bit upset” with Brownless’ interview, but the Cats legend acknowledged his mistake.

“At the time I just wanted to acknowledge him because he’s a great kid and a great player,” Brownless, who played 198 games and kicked 441 goals for Geelong, told the News Corp publication.

“He probably felt uncomfortable with my question but I didn’t mean to do that. All I wanted to do was acknowledge him as being part of everything.”

Billy mate read the room better. Holmes interview was hard to watch

— Justin (@JustinStreet89) September 25, 2022

Meanwhile, Geelong players were accused of leaving old football fans “demoralised” in an extraordinary reaction to the club’s Mad Monday celebrations.

Cats players assembled at a Geelong watering hole on Monday where their premiership celebrations stretched into a third day.

Footy fans widely applauded the team’s over-the-top costumes, which were headlined by a dozen players, including captain Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, arriving in a retirement village bus dressed as elderly people.

Those players delivered a not-so-subtle reminder to all the critics who wrote them off this year.

Dangerfield spoke briefly to reporters on Monday morning and confirmed the gimmick was designed to stick it to the commentators that labelled the team too old and too slow to win a premiership.

The criticism has clearly been a theme within the football club this year — as was shown in the club’s social media post following the final siren in their 81-point thrashing of the Swans at the MCG.

Too old, too slow, too good 👴🏻🏆 The cup will look great down at the retirement home #Untameablepic.twitter.com/kNJPHYDQss

— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) September 24, 2022

The Cats played the final with the oldest team to ever win a VFL/AFL premiership.

The players clearly enjoyed reminding everyone of that fact.

Led by Dangerfield, a party of Cats players limped out of the bus in front of TV cameras dressed as senior citizens.

Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith also pretended to fall to the ground as he got off the bus before he was helped back to his feet by Dangerfield.

But the stunt took a twist on Monday afternoon with public discussions suggesting the players may have been out of line “belittling” the elderly.

Originally published as Geelong media team bristle at Billy Brownless’ live interview with young gun Max Holmes