Basketball great Andrew Gaze slams footy stars for drinking alcohol at AFL’s Brownlow Medal ceremony

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze has slammed AFL footballers for excessive drinking at Sunday evening’s Brownlow Medal – and fans have reacted by calling him a ‘sook’ and telling him to ‘p*** off’.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan had to ask for quiet during the ceremony while the stars, their partners and other guests downed drinks and enjoyed themselves – as they do every year.

There were no reports of bad behaviour from any of the big-name guests, in contrast to years gone past when superstars of the game were obviously worse for wear during the vote count.  

However, Gaze believes the amount of booze consumed at the league’s night of nights set a poor example to children who are on school holidays at the moment.   

Carlton medal winner Patrick Cripps reaches for a beer at the ceremony. He said a teammate’s mother helped him stay on the straight and narrow with the booze during the count

‘I just felt a little, and this is the dad in me, a little uncomfortable with the drinking, like it was some kind of game they were playing – skol a beer when you get a vote and chuck the black glasses on,’ Gaze said on SEN radio’s The Run Home.

‘What it does is it normalises behaviour that I think is not a good message for kids.

‘We’re in school holidays and there’s a lot of kids watching it. Again, in the big scheme of things, I’m sure most of the people there were very well behaved, but it is still a look that is being presented by heroes [to kids].

‘You hear Patrick Cripps talking about how he looked up to [Ben Cousins and Chris Judd on Brownlow night].

Basketball legend Andrew Gaze believes there is too much alcohol consumed at the event and that it sends a bad message to kids watching at home

‘To see some of those guys that young kids idolise skolling beers – they’re having a good time and I understand that … I just think if there was a way in which the players could enjoy themselves, and have a little in excess, but in front of the camera – drinking responsibly should be part of what they do.’

Gaze’s comments drew scathing responses from footy fans who believe that players should be allowed to have a few drinks and unwind at the end of season.

‘Andrew p*** off and mind you’re own business,’ wrote one Twitter user.

‘Love you Gazey but come on this ain’t it. Players had a tough season and just letting their hair down and they aren’t hurting anybody , think there should be more of a focus of the constant gambling ads throughout the coverage as that’s what sets a bad message to kids,’ said another.

Ollie Wines is pictured toasting Patrick Cripps after he succeeded him as the reigning Brownlow Medallist 

‘Players skulling beer when? What about the gambling adds & Saint Gil calling for quiet just read the count sook!’ added a third.

Carlton’s Patrick Cripps won the 2022 Brownlow Medal in a nail-biting finish and confessed afterwards that he had to thank a teammate’s mum to him for keeping him sober enough to accept footy’s  biggest award. 

The Blues skipper said he started ‘having a few beers’ when he didn’t get votes early and decided he was little chance of winning the game’s highest honour.

‘I was close and Harry McKay’s mum was next to me, so she started filling my water glass up so I skolled a few of them, so she probably saved my night,’ he explained.