Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze has unloaded on players who appeared to be enjoying the booze a little too much on Brownlow Medal night.
Speaking on SEN’s The Run Home on Monday afternoon, Gaze said the dad in him had led to him feeling “uncomfortable” seeing players – like Bulldog Aaron Naughton – playing drinking games on the broadcast.
“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 down she goes and let’s chuck the black glasses on’,” he said.
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“I understand I’m at that demographic now where you can get a little oversensitive to stuff that’s not that significant.
“It’s the end of the season, I get it, players are finished, they’ve worked their tails off for a long period of time, they need to be able to unwind and have a good time.
“What it does is it normalises behaviour that I think is not a good message for kids.”
Gaze pointed out that Victorian kids were this week on school holidays and were therefore more likely to be watching the Brownlow Medal coverage.
“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 out there by heroes,” Gaze added.
During his Brownlow Medal acceptance speech, Patrick Cripps mentioned Chris Judd and Ben Cousins were role models of his.
Cousins’ life, during his career and in retirement, has been littered with drug indiscretions, and he’s even spent time in jail.
“You hear Patrick Cripps talking about how he looked up to (Cousins) … 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, even if you want to have a go at a little excess, I’m not anti (that). Don’t hurt anyone, be respectful, all those things.
“But in front of the camera, drinking responsibly should be part of what they need to do.”
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