Collingwood star Beau McCreery has been slammed online over an awkward moment in front of millions at the AFL Grand Final presentation.
The 22-year-old appeared to snub a young fan handing him his medal after the Pies downed Brisbane in a nailbiter for the ages.
Fans immediately tore into the 22-year-old as he bolted away from the young boy holding his hand out for a handshake, running back to his teammates in celebration instead.
The scene sat in high contrast to Nick Daicos’ heartwarming moment with a young boy in a wheelchair who presented him his medal. The Collingwood fan told him he “should be very proud” as he handed him his silverware.
“Thank you so much, I appreciate it,” Daicos said as he patted the youngster on the head.
At last year’s grand final, Geelong Cats Tom Stewart defender copped similar backlash for his treatment of a young Auskicker during the final medal presentation at the MCG.
It has become a cherished tradition for the 23 Auskicker of the Year nominations to present the premiership medals to the victorious players at the season finale, but Stewart absolutely botched the exchange after Geelong’s 81-point victory over the Sydney Swans.
After a young girl draped the medal around Stewart’s neck, the four-time All-Australian ignored her handshake offer and triumphantly raised his arms in the air.
To make matters worse, the 29-year-old accidentally knocked the young girl’s hat off her head before hustling off the podium.
Speaking on Channel 9’s Sports Sunday the following morning, Stewart apologised for his mistake and declared that he’d like to give the Auskicker a gift.
“I just want to reach out to the young girl who gave me my premiership medal yesterday,” he said on Sunday morning.
“I got a bit overwhelmed and bit excited and ended up knocking her hat off her head.”