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- The Chapman Express
Just thought I'd post my article for you guys going in my next paper. Would have been much longer but had to cut it short.
Awesome night.
CAMERAS flash, fans scream and doormen call you sir at every turn.
Pete Helliar is standing outside with what looks like his parents, while he no doubt plans out in his mind what shenanigans he will pull later on in the evening.
This is Brownlow Medal night 2008, where the big names suit up for a night of glamour and mischief.
For me, being at the Brownlow count had been a dream of mine since I was a kid, but back then I used to plan out who I would thank when I won the medal, before going on to kick a goal in the Grand Final after the siren, with the Cats down by five points.
Until this week, however, I'd never thought I would actually get to go.
So when I stepped out of the car at Crown and almost ran into Helliar and football legend Robert Dipierdomenico, the nerves, the anticipation and those dreams I had as a kid came flooding back to me.
Lining the red carpet with other eager journalists and photographers, I can't help but think how awesome it would be to walk the carpet, with all the attention on your partner for the night.
And most of the partners are stunning.
Gary Ablett's girlfriend Lauren Phillips looks incredible and comes across as the nicest person you've ever met, while Carlton youngester Bryce Gibbs' partner Lauren Sharkey upstages her shy beau, who sits back and takes in the whole experience.
``Yeah, it's my first one mate,'' he says.
``Bit nervous but not too bad at the moment.''
Then come the seasoned veterans of the count, along with legends of the game like Bartlett, Healy, Ricciuto and Matthews.
As the final few couples make their way through the front, concern wipes the faces of the Geelong Addy crew, as we realise Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood haven't made their way down the carpet.
``They're already in there,'' a Herald Sun snapper tells us.
``They must be staying here; it'd be a bit pointless to go out and come back in.''
Walking up the stairs to the media room fans yell out to us.
``Have you guys seen Jimmy? Where is he?'' they cry.
After we tell them he's already inside they can't hide their disappointment, and trudge away to make plans on how they can catch him some other way.
Then it's into the media room, overlooking the Yarra and the massive fire ball towers, which burst into action every hour just to distract you from what you're doing.
And there I am, sitting on a table with three blokes I've always admired and looked up to.
Not Ablett, not Bartel, not Corey.
It's Mark Stevens, Jon Ralph and Damian Barrett, Herald Sun journalists whose articles I've been reading since I was in High School.
We share thoughts on who'll win, we have a dig at Demetriou for stuffing up the first round of votes and I watch as all of them furiously change their stories everytime it looks like someone new will win the medal.
Then, just as soon as the count started, it's over, and we make our way back to the car for the trip back down the highway to Geelong.
As I walk out of the complex, football legend Ron Barrassi gives me a quick nod, concluding a night that had everything I hoped it would.
Here's hoping I'll be back next year.
Awesome night.
CAMERAS flash, fans scream and doormen call you sir at every turn.
Pete Helliar is standing outside with what looks like his parents, while he no doubt plans out in his mind what shenanigans he will pull later on in the evening.
This is Brownlow Medal night 2008, where the big names suit up for a night of glamour and mischief.
For me, being at the Brownlow count had been a dream of mine since I was a kid, but back then I used to plan out who I would thank when I won the medal, before going on to kick a goal in the Grand Final after the siren, with the Cats down by five points.
Until this week, however, I'd never thought I would actually get to go.
So when I stepped out of the car at Crown and almost ran into Helliar and football legend Robert Dipierdomenico, the nerves, the anticipation and those dreams I had as a kid came flooding back to me.
Lining the red carpet with other eager journalists and photographers, I can't help but think how awesome it would be to walk the carpet, with all the attention on your partner for the night.
And most of the partners are stunning.
Gary Ablett's girlfriend Lauren Phillips looks incredible and comes across as the nicest person you've ever met, while Carlton youngester Bryce Gibbs' partner Lauren Sharkey upstages her shy beau, who sits back and takes in the whole experience.
``Yeah, it's my first one mate,'' he says.
``Bit nervous but not too bad at the moment.''
Then come the seasoned veterans of the count, along with legends of the game like Bartlett, Healy, Ricciuto and Matthews.
As the final few couples make their way through the front, concern wipes the faces of the Geelong Addy crew, as we realise Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood haven't made their way down the carpet.
``They're already in there,'' a Herald Sun snapper tells us.
``They must be staying here; it'd be a bit pointless to go out and come back in.''
Walking up the stairs to the media room fans yell out to us.
``Have you guys seen Jimmy? Where is he?'' they cry.
After we tell them he's already inside they can't hide their disappointment, and trudge away to make plans on how they can catch him some other way.
Then it's into the media room, overlooking the Yarra and the massive fire ball towers, which burst into action every hour just to distract you from what you're doing.
And there I am, sitting on a table with three blokes I've always admired and looked up to.
Not Ablett, not Bartel, not Corey.
It's Mark Stevens, Jon Ralph and Damian Barrett, Herald Sun journalists whose articles I've been reading since I was in High School.
We share thoughts on who'll win, we have a dig at Demetriou for stuffing up the first round of votes and I watch as all of them furiously change their stories everytime it looks like someone new will win the medal.
Then, just as soon as the count started, it's over, and we make our way back to the car for the trip back down the highway to Geelong.
As I walk out of the complex, football legend Ron Barrassi gives me a quick nod, concluding a night that had everything I hoped it would.
Here's hoping I'll be back next year.
. Did your editor set it up or did ya just email the AFL saying where you were from?