It was the AFL’s night of nights at the Brownlow Medal count on Sunday night.
But missing from the red carpet at the Crown Casino in Melbourne were some of the sport’s biggest names.
Football legends Dustin Martin, Bailey Smith and Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin all skipped the ceremony and were not spotted at the after parties either.
It was the AFL’s night of nights at the Brownlow Medal count on Sunday night. But missing from the red carpet at the Crown Casino in Melbourne were some of the sport’s biggest names. Bailey Smith is pictured at the previous 2021 Brownlow event
Bailey Smith, 21, walked the red carpet at the Brownlow last year, but is likely now spending time away from the spotlight following a high profile suspension.
On Sunday, his only posts to social media appeared to be sponsored content from his collaboration with clothing chain Cotton On.
He was handed a two match suspension for ‘conduct unbecoming’ after photos and video surfaced of him with a white powder substance in June.
Football legends Dustin Martin and Bailey Smith skipped the ceremony and were not spotted at the after parties either. Martin is pictured at the Brownlow event in 2017
Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin also stayed home. He is pictured at the 2012 Brownlow
‘I’m good. It’s been a bit of a challenging period there, but I think everyone goes through stuff like that,’ he said.
‘It’s been good just to strip back to playing footy when I was able to get back out there, be around my teammates. It’s been a journey, but it’s been super fulfilling.’
Images circulated online in June of Bailey holding up a bag containing white powder to the camera.
Smith walked the red carpet at the Brownlow last year, but is likely now spending time away from the spotlight following a high profile suspension
He was also filmed sniffing an unknown substance in a separate video.
According to the Herald Sun, his girlfriend Gemma Dawkins had been supporting her boyfriend amid the scandal.
When asked about Dawkins, the star remained tight-lipped.
‘I’m not gonna talk about that,’ he told a reporter. ‘I love her. She’s the best, but we’ll leave her out of it.’
Images circulated online in June of Bailey holding up a bag containing white powder to the camera. ‘I’m good. It’s been a bit of a challenging period there, but I think everyone goes through stuff like that,’ he said
Bailey was ‘quietly supported’ by his girlfriend Gemma Dawkins (pictured) after his shock white powder scandal
Bailey admitted to ‘making mistakes’ when the story broke mid this year.
‘We are extremely disappointed to have observed social media content showing Bailey Smith with an illicit substance,’ said Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains in a statement at the time.
Dustin Martin, 31, meanwhile is embroiled in a controversy of his own.
Earlier this month a wild video emerged showing the AFL superstar jiggling a topless woman’s breast as she sits on another man’s lap.
Martin meanwhile is embroiled in a controversy of his own. Earlier this month a wild video emerged showing the AFL superstar jiggling a topless woman’s breast as she sits on another man’s lap
The footage was leaked on social media and it has since been confirmed the vision is from 2015.
The AFL is said to be ‘seeking further information’ and league CEO Gillon McLachlan has described the vision as ‘a poor look’ for the competition.
In the footage, Martin can be seen carrying drinks to a table while a half-naked woman sits on the lap of another man, who has not been identified.
Martin then slides his hand under the woman’s arm from behind and grabs her breast before walking away.
The footage, which has been leaked on the eve of the AFL finals, shows the Richmond star handing the woman a drink before reaching around to fondle her chest from behind
The three-time premiership winner with Richmond was 23 or 24 at the time and club officials have conceded it ‘isn’t a good look’.
An AFL source indicated the gathering at the time was not organised by the club, the venue was not a strip club, and the club was unaware of the existence of the footage until it became public, The Age reported.
It is believed the AFL were set to talk to Martin about the matter after the elimination final against the Brisbane Lions.
McLachlan refused to be drawn on whether the Tigers star could be punished over the matter, saying: ‘You need the facts and the circumstances, I don’t have any information.’
The three-time premiership winner with Richmond was 23 or 24 at the time and club officials have conceded it ‘isn’t a good look’
‘At first pass, the video, it’s a poor look but I don’t have any further information… about Dustin’s relationship to the woman, her views, the circumstances.’
Martin was silent on social media on Sunday, his last posts from July featuring a promotion for the Drip Fitness app.
In contrast, Buddy Franklin, 35, is in the midst of celebrating an epic win, after the Sydney Swans roared to victory on Saturday.
Sydney repeated history, winning through to the AFL grand final with an epic one-point preliminary final win over Collingwood at the SCG.
Martin was silent on social media on Sunday, his last posts from July featuring a promotion for the Drip Fitness app
In front of a heaving capacity crowd of 45,608, the Swans rushed through a behind in the last few seconds to secure the 14.11 (95) to 14.10 (94) win.
They will play Geelong in a grand final for the first time next Saturday at the MCG.
Sydney’s only other preliminary final at the SCG was a one-point win over Essendon in 1996.
The start of the Swans’ current era that has featured two premierships and now six grand final appearances.
In contrast, Buddy Franklin is in the midst of celebrating an epic win, after the Sydney Swans roared to victory on Saturday. Sydney repeated history, winning through to the AFL grand final with an epic one-point preliminary final win over Collingwood at the SCG
Franklin kicked two first-half goals for the Swans, taking him to equal-third for AFL goals in finals.
‘What a finish. Wow. Well done to our boys. They fought really hard. They were a really good team. We knew they were going to come and they did,’ Franklin said.
‘It’s been an unbelievable season. Going to the grand final, that’s the most pleasing thing. That’s what we play footy for. We have to be our best next week’ he said.
While he has been silent on social media this weekend, Franklin’s wife Jestina celebrated the Sydney Swans’ win on Saturday as she watched from the grandstands.
While he has been silent on social media this weekend, Franklin’s wife Jestina (centre) celebrated the Sydney Swans’ win on Saturday as she watched from the grandstands. She was joined by Today show entertainment reporter Brooke Boney (left) and a male pal (right)
Jesinta shared this photo of Buddy along the winning score, which was 95 to 94. ‘We’re going to the grannnnnnnny,’ Jesinta wrote, referring to the Grand Finals
The model, 31, shared a number of photos to Instagram while watching the game at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Joining Jesinta to watch the nail-biting match as Today entertainment reporter and fellow Swans supporter Brooke Boney.
Jesinta also shared a photo of Buddy after winning the match, along the overall game score, which was 95 to 94.
‘We’re going to the grannnnnnnny,’ Jesinta wrote, referring to the Grand Finals.
The star later shared a photo of her two kids watching the TV at her Sydney home as Buddy led the team to a win.
The star also shared photos of her two children watching on from home
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