- Amanda Dillon’s comment raised plenty of eyebrows
- Brownlow Medal votes are meant to be closely guarded secret
Footy fans reacted in disbelief on Monday night following an extraordinary slip of the tongue from the wife of AFL CEO Andrew Dillon as she walked the red carpet at the Brownlow Medal ceremony.
Amanda Dillon was interviewed by former Collingwood and Carlton star Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas, who asked her thoughts on who she felt would take home footy’s biggest individual award.
She bizarrely declared: ‘I would like to see [Western Bulldogs star] Marcus Bontempelli, but I’ve been told he’s maybe not in the mix. But we will see.’
It didn’t take long for fans to question if Mrs Dillon had received inside information before the ceremony began at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.
‘Sorry what? this medal is a joke,’ tweeted one fired up fan in response to the apparent faux pas.
‘Ummmmm how does Andrew Dillon’s wife know the Bont isn’t going to be winning?’ asked another.
A third weighed in with: ‘Is Andrew Dillon’s wife’s comment going to be investigated or are we sweeping that under the rug?
As is Brownlow Medal tradition, the votes – exclusively from AFL umpires – were kept secret and only revealed round-by-round during the lavish ceremony.
![Amanda Dillon raised eyebrows after she declared: 'I would like to see Marcus Bontempelli [win the Brownlow], but I've been told he's maybe not in the mix' (pictured, Bontempelli at the medal count with partner Neila Brennan)](https://right360.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/90016649-13883827-image-a-16_1727134427357.jpg)
Bontempelli ultimately ended up finishing equal 14th in the count with 19 points, tied with Port Adelaide’s Jason Horne-Francis.
Meanwhile, Carlton captain Patrick Cripps won his second AFL Brownlow Medal, polling a record 45 votes to claim the honour convincingly.
The 29-year-old also won the game’s most prestigious individual honour in 2022.
Cripps remarkably had an unbeatable lead with four rounds left.
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos finished second with 38 points, while Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters polled 29 points for third.
Melbourne’ Demons 2021 premiership star Angus Brayshaw, who had to retire in the pre-season due to repeated concussions, produced an emotional toast on behalf of his fellow players who have also hang up their boots.
They included Richmond superstar Dustin Martin and Geelong key forward Tom Hawkins.
Collingwood’s Bobby Hill won mark of the year and in his debut season West Coast midfielder Harley Reid claimed goal of the year.
The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award was snared by Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien.
