THE BROWNLOW MEDAL NIGHT
Jason Akermanis 'too drunk' for Brownlow, leaves wife fuming
Fiona ByrneSeptember 23, 2009 12:00am
AFL star Jason Akermanis was a no-show at the Brownlow Medal ceremony after getting too drunk on Mad Monday, and his wife was not happy.
He was too drunk to attend -- and that left his annoyed wife Megan all frocked up with nowhere to go.
She admitted that her hubby was "not in a state to be seen in public".
The Bulldogs spent Monday afternoon toasting the end of their season at a pub in Yarraville.
But when Jason had not arrived home by 4pm, Megan realised things were not going to plan.
"I sent him a message and said, 'I hope you are on your way'. But he said he wasn't."
Megan decided to pick him up from the pub, dressed in her Brownlow frock by designer Angela Baccini.
"I brought his suit with me, ready to get him all dressed, but he was not in a state to be seen in public," she said.
"In the car he said,' I can't go,' and I said, 'You shouldn't'. We drove home."
Akermanis, the 2001 Brownlow winner, slept off his boozy afternoon, while Megan watched the count with their daughters.
She said she was disappointed she did not get to show off her outfit, which had taken weeks to arrange.
"I guess that is the most irritating thing," she said.
"I made a comment to my friend that I was going to give Jason an ear-bashing -- but my ear-bashing lasts about 30 seconds."
Akermanis offered a medal-worthy explanation: "I had planned to go (to the Brownlow), and I had a really good plan in place to get there. But it's fair to say I miscalculated a few things, and as such didn't execute the plan all that well."
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26113655-5012980,00.htmlFev stumbles through night
September 23, 2009 12:00am
IF the Brownlows was dubbed the Boozelows, then Carlton's Brendan Fevola was the sure-fire winner. Only moments after the medal ceremony, the Carlton spearhead was seen holding two Crown Lagers and a microphone while hosting Street Talk for Channel 9's The Footy Show.
And Fevola did not hold back as he simulated sex for the cameras, puckered up for some unsuspecting WAGs and bystanders, and swore black and blue while interviewing players and guests.
Accompanied by a cameraman and sound assistant, Fevola had several mishaps, including knocking a full bottle of beer out of Western Bulldog Adam Cooney's hand that went flying into the crowd.
The outrageous footballer lurched and fell on to a barricade as Carlton skipper Chris Judd and girlfriend Rebecca Twigley came tohis aid.
Holding a fist full of notes, Fevola then tried to pay a waiter more than $500 for giving him free alcohol.
"Just keep it," Twigley said to the confused waiter as she tried to steady Fevola. Even stern and heavily pregnant on-again-off-again wife Alex could not calm down the wobbly Blues player.
"Brendan, I'm telling you, stop drinking," Alex said.
"But I just did Street Talk," Fevola slurred.
"Oh yeah, that went really well," Alex said.
Richmond's Nathan Brown took over Fevola's Footy Show duties, as the Blues bad boy continued to party hard.
Fevola was seen on the balcony at the River Room, where the after-party was held, smoking cigarettes in the rain and vomiting.
Crown security kept a strict eye on him as he slapped players in the face, only to then passionately hug and kiss them.
"I love you man," Fevola said while embracing team mate Marc Murphy.
"I really, really love you."
As the party finished and the music died, Fevola took to the stage and sang DJ Otzis cover Hey! Baby acappella style to an amused crowd.
At 3:15am, security asked him to leave, but he tussled and swore with guards, before his Carlton teammates ushered him out the door.
It is believed Channel 9 chiefs are furious with Fevola's conduct and it is believed the Brownlow Street Talk segment will not air tomorrow's night show.
It is believed the wayward Blue will not be part of the top-rating, season-ending extravaganza.
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26113654-5016380,00.htmlI looked fantastic, says Brownlow 'stunner' Brynne Gordon
By Fiona ByrneHerald SunSeptember 23, 2009 08:14am
SHE has been nicknamed Flash Gordon for her daring Brownlow frock, but Melbourne socialite Brynne Gordon is standing by her unusual blue carpet gown.
Gordon, 26, the fiancee of controversial medico Geoffrey Edelsten, made a jaw-dropping fashion statement in the plunging, black, sheer, beaded, showgirl ensemble, complete with Swarovski Crystal-encrusted bra, at the footy gala on Monday.While the outfit came in for heavy criticism from talkback listeners and website readers, Gordon said she loved the frock, by US label Nurielle. "I loved what I was wearing. I felt beautiful," she said yesterday.
Gordon selected her Brownlow showstopper on a recent trip to Las Vegas.
"Geoff and I actually picked that one out together," she said.
"I just thought it was a lot of fun to wear. There are not many events that I can get that dressed up and done up for, and just have fun with the whole experience."
Gordon said the flashy frock was originally designed to be worn without the Crystal bra.
"You can wear the dress without the bra, but it is a little sheer," she admitted.
"You should have seen me in the fitting room when I first tried it on. I walked out and was like, 'Umm, I think it needs a little something more'."
Gordon said she had two more Nurielle gowns in her wardrobe.
"I bought a couple of gowns on this past trip," she said.
"One was shorter, so I thought I would save that for another event; the other gown was not as low-cut, but more form fitting."
Gordon and Edelsten will wed at Crown on November 29.
http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,28383,26113731-5013560,00.htmlBrynne Gordon looked like a cashed up hooker IMHO. She is 26 and engaged to a man old enough to be her grandfather, ewwwww plus she has fake boobies and the 'dress' was supposed to be worn 'without' the crystal bra
OMG worse than anything Cher ever walked on stage in.
CONGRATULATIONS to Gary Ablett for winning the coveted medal after being up for it three times in total.
Geelong's Gary Ablett wins 2009 Brownlow Medal, lists award as third in his list of career highlights
AAP, Mark Stevens From: Herald Sun September 21, 2009 10:50PM
NEWLY-crowned Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett has listed the coveted award behind two of his other career highlights.
He says the Cats' 2007 flag and his first game as an AFL player are probably ahead of winning the Brownlow in his mind.
Ablett also says he would hand the medal back if it meant Geelong can collect the AFL premiership against St Kilda on Saturday.
What do you think of Gary Ablett's Brownlow win? Post your comments below.
Ablett, who was highly-fancied going into last night's count, was a runaway winner with 30 votes from Carlton captain Chris Judd on 22 and St Kilda midfielder Lenny Hayes on 20.
But Ablett, who has been controversially overlooked for the best and fairest award the past two years, admitted winning this year was something of a relief and eased the pressure.
And he said he will have no trouble re-adjusting his focus to this Saturday's big match.
Ablett also said he had spoken to his father Gary since winning the medal and received some important advice.
"He just said congratulations and that it's a fantastic effort (but) just remember it's a game and there's a lot more to life than football and just enjoy it,'' Ablett said.
The Brownlow is one award his famous father was never able to snare, despite his heroics for Geelong.
Ablett Jr admitted it stung "a little bit'' late in the season when there were accusations that he was playing for Brownlow votes.
"But I think I handle things like that pretty well - you try not to read the media too much; you get pumped up one week and put down the next,'' he said.
"People are always going to have their opinions ... it doesn't faze me too much.
"I enjoy playing footy, I love getting out on that field and nothing anyone says is going to change that.''
The Cats' third-straight grand final meant Ablett and girlfriend Lauren Phillips were quickly back in their hotel room after the count and the media conference that followed.
He said his focus had now switched to trying help the Cats win their second flag in three years.
"We've prepared well, we've prepared as good as we can and we have some important players back at the right time, it's fantastic,'' he said.
"We'll be going into the game with no excuses.''
Ablett's Brownlow victory means Gary Ablett Snr is fast running out of bragging rights.
Coming on top of the 2007 premiership, the prodigal son has now landed two massive achievements not even his superhuman father could manage.
"He (Ablett Sr) would be stoked for me," Ablett said, shaking from a combination of nerves and excitement.
"I'll give him a call after this. It will be great to talk to him."
Ablett praised girlfriend Lauren Phillips for keeping him focused.
Ms Phillips joked that the task of removing all the hairpins from her hair would soon bring Ablett back to earth following his win.
"When he's trying to take all these hair pins out of my hair, he'll be back to being boyfriend, not Brownlow Medallist,'' Ms Phillips said.
"He's the one who's very grounded. Sometimes I get excited about how he goes and how he plays. He's the one who brings it back to reality.
"Fingers crossed, he'll have two medals around his neck by the end of the week.
"We'll celebrate after Saturday, hopefully."
Ablett's win was sealed with a kiss, with last year's winner Adam Cooney giving him a smooch on his bald forehead as he hung the medal over his neck.
Cooney's bizarre move on stage was fitting, given the standing of the man they call "Son of God".
The Geelong superstar was quick to point out he could not wait to return home and show his father the most coveted individual award in the game.
Ablett Sr routinely shows highlights reels at home to keep his son in his place, but Ablett Jr's list of achievements is now starting to outweigh the high marks and spectacular goals of the past.
The victory finally extracts Ablett from the list of famous surnames never to win a Brownlow Medal.
The names Carey, Matthews, Whitten, Bartlett and Dunstall are not on the honour roll and Gary Sr was considered desperately unlucky not to take Charlie home given his impact on the game. He came closest in 1993 when he polled 13 votes, five behind winner Gavin Wanganeen.
But after two narrow losses, the football gods finally delivered the correct result as an Ablett seized the AFL's most prestigious individual honour.
It was clear early in the count that this was Ablett's night, polling 12 votes in the first five rounds - the most racked up so quickly since Paul Meldrum had 12 after five in 1987.
Ablett had 22 votes to his name by Round 14, despite missing two games at that stage, and it was clear it would take something special to catch him.
He stormed home in Round 20, wrapping up the medal with three votes against Sydney, and the final two rounds of votes became irrelevant.
It hasn't been a great couple of days for the umpires. Last night, they got it right.
Ablett was favourite in 2007 and finished equal fourth and was the shortest-priced starter again last year, but had to settle for equal third.
Ablett won the AFL Players' Association MVP and was a raging favourite heading into the count.
Chewing gum, rather than downing beers, to beat the nerves throughout the night, Ablett admitted the result was a weight off his shoulders.
"I felt pressure from what the media was writing (about being favourite)," Ablett said.
Ablett said he had become better at blocking out the Brownlow talk, but said it had been a challenge.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sp.....422eni-1225777899480 The pics are from The Herald Sun in Melbourne. I have attached a selection of my favourite dresses/couples. My very favourite is Shayne McClintock and Brent Harvey mainly because she looked beautiful, natural and I am in love with the new pink shades being worn. Plus she didn't try to grab all of her partner's limelight.
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