Football fans are applauding a Brisbane Lions staff member for his heroics after the full-time siren sounded at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
The Brisbane Lions bounced back from the heartbreak of last year’s grand final in stunning fashion, beating Sydney by 60 points to claim their first AFL premiership in more than two decades.
A Lions staff member became a hero during the celebrations by reminding players to shake the Auskick boy’s hand when they received their premiership medal.
“Brisbane ‘SHAKE THE KIDS HANDS’ guy deserves a medal,” one fan posted on X.
“I love the Brisbane Lions staff member who, while handing out caps to players, sternly reminds them to shake hands with the kids,” posted another.
“This man making sure the players put the hats on the kid’s head is the real f***er and finder in Brisbane,” wrote a third.
“100%, every team needs this guy to gently remind them not to forget about those kids,” another responded.
Unfortunately, Lions star Charlie Cameron got caught up in the moment and completely ignored the young football fan who tried to shake his hand after he presented him with a premiership medal.
Football fans praised a Lions staff member who reminded each player to shake hands with the Auskick children who put their awards around their necks.
Some boos were heard at the MCG as fans noticed the brutal snub on the big screen, with football fans quick to criticize the 30-year-old striker on social media.
‘Charlie Cameron chasing the boy. Ban the country road,” one wrote, referring to the John Denver song that plays when Cameron scores a goal on the team’s field.
“It’s pretty embarrassing that the @brisbanelions guy handing out the caps has to remind all the players to shake hands with the kids and of course Charlie Cameron is the only one who doesn’t,” added another.
‘The guy who handed out the caps to the Lions players was BOG (best on the ground). Unfortunately, Charlie Cameron let him down. Exit interview is imminent,” wrote a third.
“It’s so upsetting for the kid who gave his medal to the 23rd player, Charlie Cameron, that Charlie didn’t shake his hand and the player was so emotional.” Don’t they tell you what to do with the medal? Another angry fan commented.
‘Forget Oscar McInerney, the real tragedy is the girl who went to shake Charlie Cameron’s hand and was snubbed. Flog,” one fan wrote, referring to Lions ruckman McInerney, who missed the game due to injury.
Charlie Cameron lost fans when he snubbed the youngster who put his grand final medal around his neck
The Brisbane Lions claimed victory in the grand final on Saturday at the MCG
Cameron’s act came after Collingwood’s Beau McCreery did exactly the same thing after last year’s grand final.
The veteran of 155 games did not have a great game when his team achieved its first flag since 2003.
He missed a couple of easy shots on goal in an unusually wayward display, and one of his shots caught attention in the Channel Seven commentary booth because it was such an easy chance.
However, he kicked a goal from the right of the boundary early in the match as the Lions began to pull away from the Swans early in the match.
One medal winner who performed in fine style was Will Ashcroft, who took home the Norm Smith medal for best on land.
He racked up 30 possessions and scored a rare goal as the Lions swept Sydney.
Ashcroft took 14 votes to win ahead of Lions co-captain Lachie Neale (eight), while team-mate Callum Ah Chee had seven and Kai Lohmann one.
The 20-year-old is the youngest Norm Smith medalist since Carlton’s Wayne Harmes was crowned the inaugural winner aged 19 in 1979.
“I can’t believe it,” Ashcroft told the Seven Network, after sublimely capping his return from an ACL injury.
‘As difficult as it was to miss last year, I set a goal for myself.
‘I set a goal for myself in the second half of the year and to come back and play in my first final (series).
“To be here and then win, my God, it’s incredible.”