- Hamish McLachlan’s jokes fell flat with some football fans
- Line of questioning with Patrick Cripps focused on number two
- Brownlow Medal presenter McLachlan branded ‘cocky’ and ‘clumsy’
Football fans have criticised Channel Seven’s Hamish McLachlan after the Brownlow Medal presenter asked 2024 winner Patrick Cripps a series of bizarre questions that all had the same answer.
The Channel Seven personality had one clear theme in mind on Monday night – number two – and while Carlton star Cripps politely took part, the interview left some AFL fans wincing.
McLachlan’s attempt at humor was described by one fan as “a combination of embarrassment, awkwardness, and smugness all rolled into 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 have the interviewee search for an answer.’
At Melbourne’s Crown Palladium, Cripps won his second Brownlow Medal, polling a record 45 votes to convincingly secure the coveted award.
The 29-year-old also won the game’s most prestigious individual honour, voted for exclusively by AFL umpires, in 2022.
McLachlan’s questions included: ‘How many years has it been since you won your first Brownlow?’, ‘Carlton’s last Brownlow medallist before you was Juddy (Chris Judd), how many Brownlows has he won?’, ‘How many decades has it been since he (Judd) won his first Brownlow?’ and ‘How many blokes called Patrick have won the Brownlow?’
While the answers to all those questions were “two”, the presenter tricked Cripps by asking him how many times Brownlow-winning legend Tony Lockett kicked eight goals but failed to get the maximum three votes.
Cripps again said two, only to be told the answer was 26.
Football fans have criticised Hamish McLachlan (right) after the Brownlow Medal presenter asked 2024 winner Patrick Cripps (left) a series of questions that all had the same answer.
Carlton star Patrick Cripps politely took part, but the interview turned embarrassing in the eyes of some fans (the Blues midfielder is pictured with his wife Monique).
McLachlan’s attempt at humor was harshly criticized by one fan as “a combination of embarrassment, awkwardness, and smugness all rolled into one.”
A second football fan bluntly posted on X: ‘Hamish McLachlan should be fired by cannon’
A third questioned Hamish McLachlan’s interview style, saying the bizarre questions were designed to make Cripps feel uncomfortable.
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos finished second in the medals table with 38 points, while Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters earned 29 points for third place, but, remarkably, Cripps was in an unbeaten position with four rounds remaining.
Their 45 votes, from 17 different parties, were more than three AFL clubs received in total throughout the entire season.
The Blues star has a constant desire to take his game to a new level which could see the midfielder join football legends Ian Stewart, Haydn Bunton Sr, Dick Reynolds and Bob Skilton as three-time Brownlow Medal winners.
“I had to go away and work on my game at the end of last year,” Cripps said.
“I felt like there were some areas I really needed to work on. I was left out of games too many times.”
Elsewhere, Melbourne Demons 2021 championship star Angus Brayshaw, who had to retire in pre-season due to repeated concussions, made an emotional toast on behalf of his fellow players who also hung up their boots.
Among them were Richmond superstar Dustin Martin and key Geelong forward Tom Hawkins.
Collingwood’s Bobby Hill won the Goal of the Year award and in his debut season, West Coast midfielder Harley Reid took the Goal of the Year award.
The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award was won by Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien.