MUCH like cracker night, and John Williamson, Brownlow Medal night was a real big deal when I was a little kid.

It was a pure celebration of the year past. A celebration of the players, their part time commitment to the game and brown velour.

An award that could be won by rucks, forwards, backs and midfielders alike.

Now it’s almost about anything but.

Finals Week 1

It’s about selling us the lure of betting addiction. It’s selling us the red carpet, the judgement that comes with it.

MARTIN WINS 2017 BROWNLOW

LISTEN! BRETT GEEVES: BROWNLOW HIPOCRACY

It amazes me that in a PC mad world, we place such a heavy focus on the ‘look’ of the players’ partners.

You can guarantee that some trashy magazine, or newspaper, will have a collection of fashionistas rating the player’s partners out of 10. And then they’ll pick the worst and best dressed.

Winners will receive gushing superlatives, losers the indignity of being judged for throwing together an outfit after work and/or dealing with the kids’ commitments, carting them off to grandmas for a sleep over so Mumma can get her once yearly booze on.

In 2006, former WAG Cassie Lane — partner of Alan Didak — was voted worst dressed; which was bloody remarkable, because she looks a picture of health.

She is an attractive woman in a pretty white dress.

Why the need for the woefully unwarranted humiliation of this young lass who no doubt fretted over this night the entire year?

“I think the Brownlow just reflects our societal values” says Cassie on reflection. “One where men are revered for their masculinity, skills and talents, and the women are celebrated — or denigrated — for the way they look”

Footballer Alan Didak with girlfriend Cassie Lane in the dress that was criticised at Brownlow Medal in 2006. Source: News Limited

And it’s hard to argue with given the continual commercial rise that sees expectation and scrutiny placed on their ‘look’ each year.

You can’t imagine how daunting it is for the partner of a player who leads a life that doesn’t involve daily pay for hashtags #fitspo #yolo #blessed #nofilter #struggleisreal.

Of course, there are those partners who chase the opportunity of an event like this. It is their time to work. Fashion bloggers and Instagram For Pay are professions now recognised by customs officials.

But it is time to ease up the scrutiny on anyone who doesn’t get paid for eight weeks work to prepare for an evening like the Brownlow, or the Dally M, or the AB Medal, or any other over exposed red carpet event where judgment takes place.

Only furthering the point around the extremeness of the unhealthy chasing of fame, please spare a thought for Natalie Sady, the professional fashion blogger, with no ties to the AFL, who once appeared as a contestant on The Bachelor in pursuit of camera time and career progression, who was told only Monday morning that her invite to the Brownlow Medal had been reneged on.

Natalie’s Instagram message: “An incredible amount of effort goes in to walking the red carpet. Tonight I was due to walk the Brownlow red carpet. With the help of many amazing people I had pulled something truly special together. Unfortunately due to one persons mistake that only came to light this morning, myself and some others have been left in the lurch and without the tickets offered to us.” Source: Instagram

Natalie Sady. Picture: Natalie Sady/Instagram Source: Instagram

For anyone that can spare a bob or too, she has set up a gofund me page for her losses that include:

• A week of shopping for shoes

• Manicure

• Pedicure

• Spray tans

• Cancellation fee of a make-up artist

And while you and I worked all day for the man, Natalie Sady slept, in preparation for a night on the booze, that she should rightfully be paid for.

She says he is torn between anger and incredible disappointment…. that her non-impact on the AFL this year, would not be recognised.

If you would like to see the dress she would have worn, or her favourite linked black lingerie and bikini, you can do so on her Instagram.

Surely this story of fame hunting, by someone with no ties to the game, proves that the level of exposure offered the Brownlow red carpet is at an unhealthy level.

After the epic first year success of the AFLW, there has to be an increased level of respect shown towards women, particularly those who aren’t seeking the individual fame of chasing careers in the spotlight of the fashion industry.

It is time for the AFL to make a stand on the judgement that comes from football night of nights, because right now, it is grossly out of line with the game’s case to be the moral and social compass.