Australia AFL fans slam Brownlow Medal coverage for 'cringe interviews'

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AFL fans have slammed television coverage of the Brownlow Medal as awkward and 'excruciating' during the first ever virtual ceremony.

The coronavirus pandemic meant the event was split into small functions across Australia on Sunday night as Lachie Neale was crowned the AFL's best and fairest player for the 2020 season.

Star players gathered at six socially-distanced ceremonies including Optus Stadium in Perth, Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium, the Gabba in Brisbane and Adelaide Oval.

AFL fans criticised bizarre moments such as players handing themselves their medals and 'extremely cringe interviews' drawing out the air time.

Neale AFL's hot Brownlow favourite

Brisbane midfield star Lachie Neale is the bookmakers' tip to win his first Brownlow Medal when the AFL awards its top individual honour on Sunday night.This year's count will have a twist, being held as a virtual event with small functions for players in different cities amid ongoing coronavirus restrictions.

The 2019 Brownlow Medal was the 92nd year the award was presented to the player adjudged the best and fairest player during the Australian Football League ( AFL ) home and away season. Nat Fyfe was the winner for the second time, with 33 votes.

The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League ( AFL )

'This was one of the most underwhelming Brownlow counts/broadcasts in history with one of the most boring hosts in the history of television,' one punter said on Twitter.

© Provided by Daily Mail AFL fans have slammed the first ever virtual Brownlow Medal ceremony as 'excruciating' to watch with 'extremely cringe interviews' (2020 winner Lachie Neale pictured above)

© Provided by Daily Mail The coronavirus pandemic meant the event was split into six smaller functions around Australia on Sunday night (Gillon McLachlan pictured reading votes on the Gold Coast)

The Brownlow Medal count was streamed to the rest of the country from the Gold Coast function.

After an 'interminable vote count' Brisbane Lions midfielder Neale claimed the Brownlow with 31 votes, beating Port Adelaide's Travis Boak with 21 votes.

Neale reveals wife's sacrifice in heartfelt speech

Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale didn't forget those who helped him along the way in his heartfelt acceptance speech.Neale, 27, became the fourth Brisbane player to win the Brownlow, alongside club legends Jason Akermanis, Simon Black and Michael Voss, days after the Lions fell one game short of reaching the 2020 AFL grand final with a loss to Geelong.

Brownlow Predictor: Runaway favourite within touching distance of medal . From 2019, fans will no longer be able to subscribe to AFL Live Pass through the AFL website. However, you can still subscribe via the Apple App Store or the Google Play.

Brownlow Predictor: Runaway favourite within touching distance of medal . From 2019, fans will no longer be able to subscribe to AFL Live Pass through the AFL website. However, you can still subscribe via the Apple App Store or the Google Play.

Neale's former Fremantle teammate and 2019 winner, Nat Fyfe, addressed the 27-year-old from Perth after his win was announced.

Fyfe ended his tribute speech by saying 'it's my great pleasure to now ask you to present yourself with the 2020 Brownlow Medal.'

Despite Neale being in a room full of people at the Gabba, he was forced to pick up the medal and place it around his own neck.

Fans took to social media to voice their confusion at the awkward interaction.

'Why couldn't someone present the medal to Lachie Neale?' Sydney Morning Herald sports reporter Andrew Wu asked.

The Brownlow takes out the battle for most-boring TV, while AFL finals beat NRL

AFL continues to beat the NRL in the ratings, but the Brownlows are still the most boring viewing around.Friday night’s AFL final won by Richmond averaged 1.39 million on Seven and its digital channels, (1.09 million in the metros and 299,000 in the regions). The NRL final won by Melbourne averaged 890,000 on Nine nationally (550,000/341,000). On Foxtel, NRL final averaged 333,000, but the AFL scored a rare win with 337,000.

Fans slam Alex Lloyd for ‘horrible’ Brownlow performance. ALEX Lloyd’s Amazing was meant to be the perfect montage song at the Brownlow . It all looked perfect: Hundreds of the AFL ’s biggest stars gathered to watch a clip of the greatest moments of the season as Lloyd prepared to sing one of his

Следующее. AFL BROWNLOW MEDAL PREDICTION (2019) - Продолжительность: 8:38 True Footy 9 388 просмотров. Dane Swan Brownlow Acceptance Interview - Продолжительность: 14:55 YouMagPieTube 42 977 просмотров.

'Surely not because of social distancing, or even the optics of it. What else is the point of having an indoor gathering for a vote count?'

'A bloke presenting himself his own Brownlow is the most 2020 thing ever,' 2011 Brownlow winner Dane Swan tweeted.

Mark of the Year winner Sam Walsh and Goal of the Year winner Josh Daicos were also forced to present themselves their awards.

'Sam Walsh had to present himself the "Mark of the Year" award. Surely someone in the room could've passed it to him,' sports broadcaster Sam McInnes tweeted.

Fans also criticised the length of the Brownlow Medal ceremony in its virtual format.

'This is the worst zoom call I've ever been on,' one said.

'I've always thought the Brownlow Medal should be a media release – maybe a media conference – and nothing more,' ABC News presenter Mary Gearin wrote.

AFL 2020 review: Every club's pass mark for this season revisited

With just one game to go in the most incredible of AFL seasons, it's time to take a look in the rear-view mirror. Prior to the start of the season, we came up with a pass mark for every team. Since then, there's been a coronavirus-enforced competition shutdown, upsets, beltings, heartbreak, injuries and a whole lot more. MORE: Lachie Neale wins the Brownlow | Club-by-club Brownlow votes But, which clubs achieved their pass mark and which ones didn't make the grade? Note: Win targets have been adjusted to reflect the shortened season. Adelaide Our pre-season pass mark: Finish top 10 Uh, about that.

The Brownlow Medal function is the next big decision for the AFL . From 2019, fans will no longer be able to subscribe to AFL Live Pass through the AFL website. However, you can still subscribe via the Apple App Store or the Google Play.

The AFL Brownlow Medal airs Sunday October 18 at 7pm Live on 7mate. Share or comment on this article: Channel Seven's Jacqui Felgate makes history as the first woman to host the AFL Brownlow Medal .

'This was the year to make it happen. But clearly not even an interminable pandemic can stop the appetite for an interminable vote count.'

'Brownlow interviews are excruciating. Get on with the damn count,' sports reporter Jack Hudson added.

© Provided by Daily Mail Fans labelled the interviews throughout the ceremony as 'excruciating' (tweet pictured)