- Rebecca Maddern made an unfortunate slip up at the Brownlows
- TV host told Jamie Elliott to ‘come back alive’ from Las Vegas
- Collingwood star John McCarthy died in Vegas in 2012
Footy fans have picked up on an unfortunate slip up from Brownlow Medal host Rebecca Maddern that brought back memories of a tragedy that rocked the AFL.
The TV presenter was on hand beside Hamish McLachlan for the glamorous ceremony in Melbourne on Monday night, which saw Carlton’s Patrick Cripps take home the illustrious prize with 45 votes.
As the evening progressed, Maddern conducted interviews with a number of footy stars around the hall, including Collingwood’s Jamie Elliott – who missed out on the Mark of the Year prize to teammate Bobby Hill.
Hill will take home $50,000 and two million Virgin velocity points and joked that he would use the prize money and points on a trip to Las Vegas with Elliott the next morning.
Maddern brought up Hill’s comments in her interview with Elliott, wrapping up their conversation by saying: ‘Jamie, thank you. It was a lovely chat. Have a lovely time in Vegas. I wish you all the best. And come home alive.’
Elliott did not laugh at the light-hearted jest, and fans quickly took to social media to reveal why.
Former Magpies and Power star John McCarthy died at the age of just 22 during an end of season trip to Sin City in 2012, falling from a rooftop at the Flamingo Hotel.
The tragedy rocked the AFL and he is still remembered fondly by both clubs.
Rebecca Maddern made an unfortunate gag that left a sour taste at the Brownlow
The TV presenter was host of the glamorous event in Melbourne on Monday night
Fans demanded an apology from Channel 7 for the innocent blunder.
‘Rebecca Maddern needs to apologise to John McCarthy’s family and Jamie Elliott for her insensitive comments about coming back from Vegas alive,’ one posted. ‘The most disgusting and heartless thing I’ve heard a ‘presenter’ say.’
Another said: ‘Rebecca Maddern telling Jamie Elliott to ‘come home alive’ from Vegas is such a f***ing weird thing to say on television.’
A third fan wrote: ‘Did Rebecca Maddern just make a joke about an AFL player to ‘come back alive’ from Vegas on a post season trip? How f**king poor taste. Expecting a full apology before the coverage is over.’
‘I can’t believe Rebecca Maddern said ‘come back alive’ to a Collingwood player going to Vegas …’ added a fourth.
However, some fans were more understanding of the slip up.
She told Jamie Elliott to ‘come back alive’ from Las Vegas, which reminded fans of John McCarthy’s death in Sin City in the 2012 off-season
‘Bec Maddern. Don’t mind her. But the Las Vegas joke about coming home alive … Not too soon but very unnecessary. IYKYK. J-Mac,’ said one.
‘She’s obviously not aware of JMac and the circumstances surrounding his death,’ reasoned a second fan. ‘It was still not a funny thing to say. I think she’ll be feeling awful.’
‘Rebecca Maddern’s come back alive from Vegas joke is just standard banter from where I sit,’ added a third fan. ‘People are wanting to see things that clearly weren’t intended, and trying to instigate controversy.’
