- The retired players were honored in a traditional caravan
- For some reason Olympic and Paralympic athletes were included
- AFL fans were furious and had some theories as to why.
Football fans were left scratching their heads after a host of Olympians were included in the AFL Grand Final caravan normally reserved for retired players and champions of the sport.
While a host of retired players and Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Cripps were present and accounted for, fans were surprised to see the addition of other athletes too.
Australian Olympic and Paralympic stars Alexa Leary, Mollie O’Callaghan, Ariarne Titmus and Emma McKeon also paraded around the MCG in the Toyota Hilux.
‘I don’t understand why we honor our Olympic athletes, it’s not about them! It’s about footballers moving forward,” one viewer posted.
“I’m surprised Raygun wasn’t part of the final big caravan,” another joked.
‘I’m sorry, but the Olympic Games are not related to football. Why are they there with prizes and players who retire? asked another.
Olympic swimmers Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus salute during the lap of honor ahead of the 2024 AFL grand final.
Olympian Mollie O’Callaghan and inspirational Paralympic Games star Alexa Leary were also present
Others questioned why Olympic and Paralympic athletes were selected and not champion athletes from other codes.
“Might also parade NRL Sydney Roosters’ Jared Waerea-Hargreaves,” one posted.
‘Can anyone explain why the AFL is removing Olympic athletes? Next they will have a Lionel Messi motif,” added another.
The biggest anger came from football fans who felt AFL legends were disrespected in favor of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin, recently retired Melbourne AFL premiership player Ben Brown and Collingwood senior defender Nathan Murphy, who was forced to retire early due to concussion, were notable absentees.
“So Ben Brown doesn’t deserve to be honored, an absolute icon of the game, but we’ve got Olympians here walking around?” asked a fan.
“I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and that maybe Murph refused to be part of the caravan, but IF they really decided to make fun of the Olympic athletes for a major player who retired due to blows to the head, then that would be a shame.” , another raged.
Ben Brown, who had a long and distinguished AFL career, was curiously not present.
Collingwood defender Nathan Murphy, who had to withdraw due to concussion, was also not present.
“I understand there would be contracts with Toyota on the number of cars, but why do we have Olympic athletes when there weren’t 20 retirees in the caravan?” another viewer asked.
“Guess I have to show off a lot of Toyota Hiluxes at the #AFLGF pre-match, so that’s why we have random Olympians?” questioned another.
‘I think the Olympic and Paralympic athletes did a great job. But this is not a day for them… This is a day for the AFL and this convoy is for the retiring stars and great achievers of the sport. Also, why weren’t there that many retirees there? “I don’t like this inclusion at all,” posted another.
Others defended the move by the AFL, especially the Paralympics.
“Seeing so many of our brilliant athletes performing a lap of honor on the ‘G’ on GF Day is the tip of the iceberg of what they deserve,” one viewer posted with the hashtag #AUSParalympics.
“Nice to dodge Australian Olympians on the ‘G,'” another posted.