- Hamish McLachlan’s ‘banter’ didn’t go down well with some football fans
- The line of questioning with Patrick Cripps revolved around the number two
- Brownlow Medal presenter McLachlan was called ‘smug’ and ‘clumsy’
Football fans have criticised Channel Seven’s Hamish McLachlan after 2024 Brownlow Medal presenter Patrick Cripps asked a series of bizarre questions that all had the same answer.
Channel Seven’s identity had a clear theme in mind on Monday night: the number two. Although Carlton star Cripps politely played along, the interview left some AFL fans shuddering.
McLachlan’s attempt at humor was described by one fan as “a combination of embarrassment, awkwardness and smugness all in one.”
A second posted on X: ‘Hamish McLachlan should be fired from a cannon.’
Another said: ‘Hamish’s interview style is not to ask questions… but to make a statement and then leave the interviewee searching for an answer.’
At the Crown Palladium in Melbourne, Cripps won his second Brownlow Medal, with a record 45 votes, convincingly taking home the coveted prize.
The 29-year-old also won the game’s most prestigious individual award, awarded exclusively by AFL referees, in 2022.
McLachlan asked questions including: ‘How many years ago did you win your first Brownlow?’, ‘The last Carlton Brownlow medal winner before you was Juddy [Chris Judd]how many Brownlows has he won?, ‘How many decades ago was he [Judd] ‘Did he win his first?’ and ‘How many guys named Patrick won the Brownlow?’
Although the answer to all those questions was ‘two’, the presenter led Cripps astray by eventually asking him how many times Brownlow winning legend Tony Lockett scored eight goals, but failed to receive the maximum three votes.
Cripps again said two, but was told the answer was 26.
Football fans have criticised Hamish McLachlan (right) after 2024 Brownlow Medal host Patrick Cripps (left) asked a series of questions that all had the same answer
Carlton star Patrick Cripps played along politely, but the interview became painful in the eyes of some supporters (the Blues midfielder is pictured with his wife Monique)
McLachlan’s attempt at humor was mercilessly described by one fan as “a combination of embarrassment, awkwardness and self-satisfaction all in one”
A second football fan bluntly posted on X: ‘Hamish McLachlan should be shot out of a cannon’
A third questioned Hamish McLachlan’s interviewing style, saying the strange questions were designed to make Cripps uncomfortable
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos finished second in the medal table with 38 points, while Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters was third with 29 points. Surprisingly, however, Cripps was unbeatable with four rounds remaining.
His 45 votes, from 17 different matches, were more than three AFL clubs received in total during the entire season.
The Blues star has a constant urge to take his game to the next level, which would see the midfielder join the ranks of football legends Ian Stewart, Haydn Bunton Sr., Dick Reynolds and Bob Skilton, who have also won the Brownlow Medal three times.
“At the end of last year I had to go away and work on my game,” Cripps said.
“I felt like there were a few areas I really needed to work on. I was getting pulled out of games too many times.”
Elsewhere, Melbourne Demons star Angus Brayshaw, who was forced to sit out pre-season training due to repeated concussions, held an emotional toast on behalf of his fellow players who have also hung up their boots.
Among them were Richmond superstar Dustin Martin and Geelong striker Tom Hawkins.
Collingwood’s Bobby Hill won the Goal of the Year award and in his debut season, West Coast midfielder Harley Reid won the Goal of the Year award.
The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award was won by Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien.