- Footy fans raise eyebrows at viral moment
A touching exchange between a star player and young fan was overheard during coverage of the AFL Grand Final post-game presentation – but some fans aren’t buying it.
The Brisbane Lions became two-time premiers after taking apart a disappointing Geelong Cats in the final quarter of the 2025 AFL Grand Final at the MCG.
After the final siren, players were called to the podium to accept their medals from young Auskick players.
Television coverage captured the sweet moment Lions star Cam Rayner accepted his medal, when one of the youngsters told him: ‘I want to be just like you.’
Rayner replied, ‘Oh, thanks, I want to be like you’, before the pair shared a high-five.
The vision quickly went viral, but it raised the eyebrows of many fans who questioned whether the seemingly off-the-cuff moment was actually scripted.
Sports journalist Mark Gottlieb posted on X: ‘The 3 times this happened seemed … forced. Microphone got turned up just in time for a cute kid to say something cute. No need to ‘create’ these moments.’
Another posted: ‘Always a fun game to pick the Auskick kids that are wearing a microphone and have been told exactly what to say.’
Some fans raised their eyebrows at the heartwarming post-match presentation
A third replied: ‘The mic’d up Auskick kids seems a little contrived and fake and an AFL marketing department roundtable idea…’
The debate continued on Reddit, with more than a few footy fans believing the moments had been set up.
‘Very cringey and feels very artificial,’ posted one user.
‘Scripted and cringe. It’s a small moment on a big day, but a great example of the AFL and their obsession with controlling outcomes,’ said another.
Rayner is the latest AFL star whose interaction with a young fan has come under the spotlight, with other players previously drawing attention for completely ignoring them.
In 2024, Brisbane star Charlie Cameron was savaged online for completely ignoring a young footy fan who tried to shake his hand after he presented him with a premiership medal.
While his Grand Final-winning teammates took the time to acknowledge the Auskick kids who put the awards around their necks, Cameron completely blanked the youngster and celebrated for the crowd instead.
Some boos rang out at the MCG as fans noticed the brutal snub on the big screen, and footy supporters were quick to tear into the sports star on social media.
The Brisbane Lions became two-time premiers after swallowing up a disappointing Geelong Cats in the final quarter
In 2023, Collingwood star Beau McCreery lost plenty of fans for his conduct on stage when receiving his grand final medal.
McCreery brutally left an AusKick junior footy player hanging when the youngster looked to shake his hand after the final siren.
The awkward moment wasn’t missed by sections of fans at the MCG, who widely booed the Magpies forward.
In what was a remarkable end to the contest, the Cats had no answers as Brisbane seemingly kicked majors for fun in the third and fourth quarters on Saturday.
The end margin flattered Geelong, who would have been confident at halftime with the score deadlocked at 36-all.
Lions co-captain Lachie Neale – who entered the decider under an injury cloud – finished with 17 touches, seven clearances, three tackles and a solo goal from 50 metres.
The veteran admitted post-game he was on edge early on as the clash threatened to be a cliffhanger.
‘At halftime it was anyone’s game,’ he said.
Brisbane are the first team to snare back-to-back AFL titles since Richmond in 2019 and 2020
‘I felt like a bit of a supporter in the first half. It was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been to come on in the third quarter, with the scores tied and (personally) coming off limited preparation… but we got it done.’
Neale also had the last laugh over many critics who loudly questioned his place in the team.
Brisbane are the first team to snare back-to-back AFL titles since Richmond in 2019 and 2020.
It was also the club’s fifth premiership since the turn of the century.
