Almanac Footy: Can the Brownlow review learn from the old Cazalys?

 

 

 

As I continue to read media reports giving a big ‘thumbs down’ on the Brownlow Medal night, there have been two immediate thoughts that come to mind:

 

1. The telecast of the Brownlow Medal is the most boring night of the TV calendar. Always has been, regardless of any recent add-ons; and
2. I remember the engaging, jam-packed format of the old Cazaly Awards, circa 1973-1981 on Channel 9.

 

The whole concept of watching a vote count is boring! (Even at local club level.)

 

As for Matt Rowell winning the Brownlow, I’m a very strong supporter of Rowell being awarded the player of the season. You may recall that I placed Matt Rowell in the Centre of the Oz Footy List Manager (OFLM) Team of the Year (TotY) 2025. For all the ‘Colliwobble’ supporters ‘whinging or whining’ that Nick Daicos should have won it, I say that Daicos could have won in 2024, where he had a similar chance to the winner, Cripps, but didn’t. Again, I listed Nick Daicos in the centre of the OFLM TotY 2024, with Cripps in the old Ruck-Rover position.

 

For those who don’t remember, or are too young to, the Cazaly Awards was an annual telecast by GTV9, created by the Truth newspaper. The telecast included various awards, (Mongrel Punt, 2024) being:

 

1. Gold Cazaly – best player of the season (voted by newspaper writers);
2. Silver Cazalys – team of the year, by position (voted by newspaper writers); and most popular player at each club (voted by fans).

 

Gold Cazaly winners, chronologically, were: K. Bartlett (1973), K. Bartlett (1974), L. Matthews/S. Newman (1975), G. Moss (1976), L. Matthews (1977), G. Wilson (1978), G. Dempsey (1979), K. Templeton/G. Dempsey (1980), and R. Ashman (1981).

 

A couple of times, in the cases of Moss (1976) and Templeton (1980), the winner of the Gold Cazaly and the Brownlow were the same; however, in most other cases, the Gold Cazaly identified the better player.

 

Of course, the Cazalys ended in 1981 because, as we thought then, and still think now, Channel 9 has never really had a strong and enduring connection to Aussie Rules Footy, and prioritises rugby league instead.

 

If the AFL wants to seriously reform the Brownlow, I say let’s combine the best features of the Brownlow and Cazalys into one spectacular night.

 

1. Continue to award the Brownlow, as an umpire’s award, without the vote count;
2. Revive and award a Gold Cazaly, voted by the sports-writers;
3. Award Silver Cazaly’s – team of the year, by position (voted by sports-writers); and most popular player at each club (voted by fans);
4. You could also have some add-ons for Most Courageous Player (voted by sports-writers).

 

I must admit that I prefer the transparent voting of sportswriters rather than I do the secret appointees within the AFL Administration circle.

 

1. Who trusts anyone within the AFL Administration circle?
2. Does anyone trust the current AFL MRO?
3. Does anyone trust any of the present or past AFL Rules Review committee?
4. So, that’s why we need the transparent voting of sportswriters.

 

Where would the sportswriters committee come from:

 

1. Two from print media, one from the Age network, and one from the Herald-Sun network;
2. Two from radio media, one from the SEN network, and one from the ABC network;
3. Two from online media, one from the CODE network, and one from another ….;
4. Six on any selection committee is probably the largest number on any manageable committee.

 

From this jam-packed format, more players would receive awards during the night. Also, as there would be many more awards being presented, the demeanor and behaviour of the audience would be better. And, finally, the TV viewing audience may be more persuaded to stay viewing the awards, rather than watching something else and merely flicking back to the Brownlow to get an update.

 

Cheers!

 

 

To read more by Micky McTigger click HERE.

 

 

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