Geelong great turned TV star Billy Brownless angered his old team when he questioned a young player who missed out on taking the field for the grand final triumph during the Cats’ family day celebrations last week, it has been reported.
Brownless was filming a segment for Channel Nine’s Sunday Footy Show last Sunday when he buttonholed young gun Max Holmes on live television – and the team’s media department was none too happy with the result, according to the Herald Sun.
Holmes, 20, was left devastated when an injury suffered in Geelong’s preliminary final win over Brisbane ruled him out of the year’s biggest game, which he was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Brownless got the Cats offside when he buttonholed Max Holmes on live TV the day after the grand final – which the 20-year-old was devastated to miss through injury
The Geelong legend (pictured with Joel Selwood the day after the premiership win) admitted he made the youngster uncomfortable as he questioned him about missing the biggest game of the year
The dreaded news that his hamstring had ruled him out came through on the day of the grand final, leaving him shattered.
Brownless got hold of Holmes at the team’s breakfast the day after their premiership win and made light of him missing the match.
‘Come on, Maxy, played all year, loved the way you went about it, could probably have had a haircut. How were you feeling, mate?’ he asked.
When Holmes replied that he was happy with the win, Brownless continued: ‘What about you, just sitting there watching it, mate?’
Holmes answered, ‘Nah, that’s a bad question.’
The Footy Show star kept going, asking how Holmes felt and saying, ‘Nah, you weren’t happy with Gryan [Miers, a Geelong teammate] getting a medal, he got a medal and you didn’t.’
When Holmes said he was happy Miers got a premiership winner’s medal, Brownless replied, ‘Nah, you’re cranky and having a go at him.’
Brownless later admitted he might have put the youngster off with his line of questioning.
‘At the time I just wanted to acknowledge him because he’s a great kid and a great player,’ he said.
‘He probably felt uncomfortable with my question but I didn’t mean to do that. All I wanted to do was acknowledge him as being part of everything.’
The Cats proved there were no lingering hard feelings over the awkward TV moment when the celebrated Mad Monday at the Wharf Shed pub in Geelong, which is owned by Brownless.
Holmes was in good spirits on Mad Monday – the day after the interview – as he arrived at Brownless’ Wharf Shed pub in Geelong wearing flippers
The midfielder hurt his hamstring in the preliminary final clash with Brisbane (pictured) and found out he’d been ruled out of the grand final on the day of the match
Holmes was seen wearing a pair of flippers to the celebrations, which featured many stars in fancy dress – with several arriving in a retirement home bus, dressed as elderly men, as a hilarious way of slamming critics who branded them too old and slow to win the flag.
However, the players were accused of ‘belittling the elderly’ after the party, when Melbourne radio station 3AW fielded calls from offended listeners.
A woman named Diana was outraged by the fancy dress celebration, saying: ‘I retired last year and I seem to be the butt of a lot of jokes lately.
‘I’m demoralised by people saying you’re old and there are old jokes on the radio. And jokes on TV and belittling the elderly. I don’t agree with it at all.
‘In this day and age, we should be better than that.’
Patrick Dangerfield helps Issac Smith after he fell off his walking frame on Mad Monday. The Cats dressed as elderly men as a hilarious comeback to critics who said they were too old and slow to win the flag
Others took to Twitter to condemn the Mad Monday celebrations.
‘Disgusted at this stunt. Those in this situation everyday because of circumstances beyond their control do not have to be made fun of by these people. This reduced my wife to tears. Living this way is not a matter of choice. Those who do would love to kick a football for $,’ commented one user.
However, other fans made the point that the players were actually taking a stand against ageism.
‘I can’t believe that Geelong players are being slammed for taking off old people. They’ve legitimately been told they can’t achieve anything because they’re too old for at least 5 years. I don’t even like the @GeelongCats, but this is ridiculous. Fair play to them,’ commented a Twitter user.
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