‘Not in the mix’: AFL CEO Andrew Dillon’s wife drops Brownlow bomb

Fans watching the Brownlow red carpet were left doing a double take after the AFL CEO’s wife appeared to have detonated one star’s hopes.

Andrew McMurtry

@AndrewMcMurtry

2 min read

September 23, 2024 - 10:55PM

Did the AFL CEO Andrew Dillon’s wife rule Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli out of the Brownlow running before the count had even begun?

Amanda Dillon was walking the red carpet with her husband when they were stopped by Daisy Thomas with a Channel 7 microphone.

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After some small talk with the former Collingwood and Carlton star, Thomas pressed Amanda for a tip.

“I would like to see Marcus Bontempelli, but I’ve been told he’s maybe he’s not in the mix. But we will see,” Mrs Dillon said.

The reaction was swift from fans who couldn’t believe what they had heard.

6 News’ Leonardo Puglisi tweeted: “Andrew Dillon’s wife just said Bont isn’t winning tonight lol???”

One fan wrote: “Someone tell me how Mrs Dillon knows Bonts not in the mix..??”

Another fan commented: “Wtf, Andrew Dillon’s wife actually said Marcus Bontempelli isn’t in the mix to win the Brownlow Medal.”

A third queried: “Did Andrew Dillon’s wife just put a line through Marcus Bontempelli for this count ??:

A fourth suggested: “Sportsbet spitting chips after Andrew Dillon’s wife tells us Bont is not the winner oops.”

A fifth said: “Can someone please ask Andrew Dillon’s wife, who is winning the #brownlowmedal so we can get an early night.”

A sixth commented: “Andrew Dillons wife giving away the Bont Brownlow finish before the count is peak Andrew Dillon.”

However, another fan suggested that maybe Mrs Dillon meant: “that the talk around the grounds is that he’s a long shot.”

Not the way Andrew Dillon wanted to start his first Brownlow count. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

At least the bar is open for Bont. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Before the event, while Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Collingwood’s Nick Daicos were the red hot favourites, Brisbane two-time winner Lachie Neale and Bontempelli were considered to be right up there.

After nine rounds however, it looked a long way off for Bontempelli, who had just four votes, trailing the ineligible Isaac Heeney on 19 and Cripps on 16.

The Bulldogs captain had only been able to manage two points from round 3, and one vote each in round 6 and round 9.

Bontempelli ended up finishing equal 14th in the end on 19 points, tied with Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis.

For the record, Neale was equal 12th on 22 points, while Cripps ran away with a record-breaking 45 votes, smashing the previous record of 36 points.

Daicos was second on 38 points, while Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters was third on 29 points with Fremantle’s Caleb Serong was equal fourth with the ineligible Heeney on 28 points.

Patrick Cripps has his second Brownlow. Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While it’s not over yet, it would take an incredible comeback from here for Bontempelli to be a factor in the count.

Despite the fact it Bontempelli doesn’t look like he’ll be a factor in the Brownlow, it’s been a huge year for the Bulldogs captain.

Although his side was bundled out in the elimination final by the red hot Hawks, individually Bontempelli cleaned up at the AFL Awards in August.

The 28-year-old superstar was crowned the AFL Player’s Association MVP and best captain as well as being named All-Australian captain for the first time.