- Will help decide best on ground in AFL grand final
Footy fans have faced a huge backlash after they lashed out on social media because AFL commentator Kate McCarthy has been added to the voting panel for this year’s Norm Smith Medal.
The former All-Australian footy star turned Channel Seven commentator will join Adelaide Crows great Andrew McLeod, Hawthorn legend Luke Hodge, three-time Richmond premiership winner Jack Riewoldt and West Coast’s 2018 premiership coach Adam Simpson on the panel to decide who’s best on ground in Saturday’s grand final.
But despite McCarthy’s on-field achievements and impressive transition into the media with Channel Seven, the official AFL website and Triple M, some felt being handpicked for one of the code’s highest honours was tokenistic.
‘I’m tired of pretending we are to give her the same respect and gravitas as guys with 300+ games, premierships and awards at the absolute highest level. We do not,’ one fumed on X.
‘Pure window dressing from the AFL,’ posted another.
‘I actually like Kate McCarthy, but we all know how woke the AFL is,’ a third weighed in.
Footy fans have lashed out on social media after AFL commentator Kate McCarthy (pictured, left) was added to the voting panel for this year’s Norm Smith Medal
Despite McCarthy’s impressive transition into the media, some felt being handpicked for one of the code’s highest honours was tokenistic
McCarthy will join the likes of Adelaide Crows great Andrew McLeod and three-time Richmond premiership winner Jack Riewoldt on the panel to decide who’s best on ground in the AFL Grand Final (Will Ashcroft is pictured with the Norm Smith Medal last year)
One footy supporter made his feelings well known about McCarthy being added to the Norm Smith Medal voting panel
A second suggested McCarthy was given the game-day honour as a ‘token woman to keep the woke happy’
Another said he ‘actually likes Kate McCarthy’ – before adding how ‘woke the AFL is’
Channel Seven AFL reporter Mitch Cleary had a lot of company when he told the haters to ‘jog on’, before declaring McCarthy has been one of the code’s ‘most prominent analysts this year’
Well aware the development angered some supporters, McCarthy sarcastically posted on X: ‘Lots of people happy with this one. ‘Couldn’t be more proud personally. What an honour.’
Her Channel Seven colleague Mitch Cleary told the haters to ‘jog on’, before declaring McCarthy has been one of the code’s ‘most prominent analysts this year.’
News Corp’s Lauren Wood tweeted: ‘Death, taxes and some ‘men’ getting triggered by women in footy. Get ’em Kate.’
AFL Today’s Alex Donnelly added: ‘Imagine being mad at Kate getting this role. As if she isn’t one of the better footy minds in media.’
Earlier this season, McCarthy criticised the league for how it handled the Izak Rankine homophobic slur saga.
‘If you look at all of the policies, all of the handbooks, all of the rulings in the AFL and the words that come after anything to do with racism, vilification, any sort of discrimination around sexual orientation or gender is zero tolerance,’ she said on Triple M.
‘I don’t think we’ve seen zero tolerance play out.’
In their third consecutive grand final appearance, Brisbane are gunning for back-to-back premierships after thrashing Sydney a year ago.
Geelong last won a flag when they outclassed the Swans in the 2022 decider.
Centre bounce at the MCG is at 2.30pm on Saturday, with a capacity crowd of just over 100,000 anticipated.
