Fans take aim at AFL over ‘cringe’ move to mic up Auskick kids for grand final medal presentations

AFL fans have called out the league for a “cringe” move during Brisbane’s premiership celebrations on the podium.

The winning team receiving their premiership medals from the Auskick kids has become appointment viewing, with fans waiting to if any of the players snub the kids.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Rayner presented his medal.

There is usually one kid left hanging without a handshake, but that wasn’t the case this year with the Lions all acknowledging the kids.

However, there were a few other moments that appeared to be an attempt to go viral by league headquarters.

When Josh Dunkley received his medal, the little girl handing him the medal can be heard saying, “you did great, mate”.

Dunkley replied: “Thank you, appreciate it ... here’s your hat.”

When Cam Rayner was presented his medal, the kid was mic’d up and could be heard saying, “I want to be just like you”.

Rayner quickly responded, “oh thanks pal, I want to be like you” before they high-fived each other.

Co-captain Harris Andrews also got the treatment with a little girl telling him, “that’s two for you.”

The Rayner clip was shared across social media.

On the surface, they looked like heartwarming moments, but fans were quick to point out how they were manufactured.

“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,” journalist Mark Gottlieb tweeted.

“’I wanna be just like you’ ... Stop feeding these kids lines,” journalist Sam Mills added.

“Always a fun game to pick the Auskick kids that are wearing a microphone and have been told exactly what to say,” journalist Kevin Perry said.

“The mic’d up Auskick kids seems a little contrived and fake and an AFL Marketing department roundtable idea. No need for it. The excitement on their faces is plenty, a great moment of the year,” one fan added.

“Stop putting mics on the kids to recite scripted lines, it’s so cringe,” another added.

“Always cute but sounded like 3 were scripted and mic’d up…” another said.

However, fans were mostly pleased that every Lions player acknowledged the kids after last year when Charlie Cameron awkwardly snubbed his kid.

After the 2024 triumph, a Lions official appeared to tell every player about shaking the hand as he handed them the cap.

But Cameron missed the message. He got the cap part right, but left a young girl hanging when she had her hand outstretched.