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Sunday February 12, 2012

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Brownlow Booze Restricted

Posted by: 3AW and Samatha Lane | 19 August, 2010 - 9:25 AM
Fevola Drunk

AUDIO: Caroline Wilson chatting with Ross and John

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SAMANTHA LANE from The Age:

FOOTBALLERS will feature in TV ads about responsible drinking, and media access to the Brownlow Medal count will be restricted even further in response to Brendan Fevola's drunken debacle last year.

By the end of the month, every AFL player will be briefed about responsible alcohol consumption, as league bosses and Crown Casino, which was fined over last year's count, finalise measures to prevent a repeat of last year's embarrassment.

Strategies to minimise overindulgence at the black-tie event that traditionally kicks off grand final week have been considered by an AFL alcohol steering committee all year.

AFL football boss Adrian Anderson told The Age that most of the recommendations, arrived at in consultation with Crown, sponsor Foster's, and the AFL Players Association, have been formalised. They include:

■ Significantly enhancing security, and deploying more staff empowered to eject guests deemed to be overly intoxicated.

■ Shortening pre-dinner drinks to avoid overconsumption of alcohol.

■ Moving the after-party further from the ballroom, to encourage guests to decide whether they want to keep socialising.

■ Applying more stringent requirements on TV crews wanting to film festivities after the count, and possibly refusing media access.

■ Serving food more often, ensuring there are more low-alcohol and non-alcoholic drinks, and continuing to charge guests who order spirits.

''The point of it, first and foremost, is that it is a celebration of football,'' Anderson said. ''We've emphasised and worked with Crown on responsible service of alcohol and asking people beforehand if they want their drinks filled. The players' association have been working with the players to emphasise that alcohol's a part of the evening but not the point of the evening.''

The televising of Fevola's drunken antics last year contributed to his ultimate sacking from Carlton.

Allegations that a female Herald Sun journalist was sexually assaulted by Fevola at the event emerged in the fallout, and Carlton also fined Fevola $10,000.

Asked about Channel Nine's The Footy Show, which has traditionally filmed at the after-party and last year enlisted the inebriated Fevola to conduct interviews, Anderson said: ''I'd just say that they would need to seek approval, as is usually the case. And approval is a privilege not a right.''

Anderson said he had highlighted in discussions with Channel Ten, this year's broadcaster, the need for ''a balanced coverage''. ''The players will be represented [according to] how they conduct themselves on the evening, and they're aware of that,'' he said.

While Fevola is not banned from the casino, or the Brownlow, Anderson said ''you don't attend unless you're invited, and the invites are usually done according to which players are considered to be in Brownlow contention at their club''.

One proposal considered by the AFL, but not implemented, was the idea of seating club officials with players. The committee resolved players should take responsibility for themselves.

Crown was fined $3000 by Liquor Licensing Victoria after last year's furore.

The fine related to the venue's continued serving of alcohol to Fevola despite the fact he was intoxicated. New conditions were also imposed on Crown.

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Blog comments Your Say

  • welcome to victoria the nanny state

    Neil Thursday 26 August, 2010 - 3:41 PM

  • How is anyone going to win the Downlow award.

    Mark Tuesday 24 August, 2010 - 2:18 PM

  • Does anyone ever consider that banning something does not make it go away? It is about time that our society grew up and learned to handle things like drinking drinking alcohol. A change of attitude is required, not more regulations.

    We can see this with the increasing numbers of teenagers taking up smoking, despite the anti-smoking lobby's hysterical attempts to ban it. They were starting to make headway, but got caught up in their own self importance and went too far!

    When will we learn?

    Luke Monday 23 August, 2010 - 4:18 PM

  • You wouldn't serve booze at a kids party - whats the difference ?

    Kelvin @ Pascoe Vale Friday 20 August, 2010 - 12:02 PM

  • the AFL is a politicaly correct joke.footballers getting p155ed and stuffing up is and should be part of growing up and playing the game,as life is....

    garry Thursday 19 August, 2010 - 9:17 PM

  • Every other caller to 3aw gets a case of De Bortoli Wine. Spot the hypocrisy.

    mylene Thursday 19 August, 2010 - 10:28 AM

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