Andrew Dillon has today questioned the intelligence of Australian Football fans in response to backlash around the Wildcard Round. A new addition to the fixture for 2026, the Wildcard saw teams in positions seven through ten on the ladder playoff for a spot in the Elimination Finals. Carlton and Footscray won their respective Wildcard games, with Cartlon losing their Elimination Final to Geelong last night.
Critics of the Wildcard concept have taken to social media this morning to point out the predictability of the team who had last week off running over the top of the team that came off a six day break following an intense Wildcard game.
Addressing these comments at a press conference in front of AFL House before three junior reporters, Mr Dillon had this to say, “Really, are they stupid? Are they new to capitalism? The Wildcard games pocketed us millions. As if we’d cancel them just because some pissant from Lygon Street thinks it’s unfair.”
Questioned over whether the AFL would use the increased profits from those games to bolster grassroots clubs and invest in the future of Australian Football, Mr Dillon said, “I can’t comment on governance issues here sorry.”
Veteran broadcaster Gerard Whateley, in one of his trademark commentary box diatribes, questioned whether Adelaide could be to blame somehow. “If it comes to light that the AFL has misappropriated funds, I think it’s worth asking the question about how that might be the Adelaide Football Club’s fault. At the end of the day, we all know that they have a rancid culture over there, repeatedly refusing to bend the knee to the AFL’s unimpeachable authority. Their players are racist and homophobic and their coach is bald. So I think Mr Dillon would be well within his rights to lay the blame there.”
In an awkward moment for Mr Whateley, a mic was left on after the recording, capturing this bombshell, “That should keep that fuckwit Dillon off my back for five minutes. The shit I have to say to make sure 360 stays on the air. Good God.”
