AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has laughed off suggestions Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell may have been getting paid to speak to the media after next week’s Brownlow Medal.
Reports surfaced this morning Mitchell’s management was requesting $1,000 for an interview on Tuesday morning, if the Hawks ball magnet wins the award on Monday night.
However, Mitchell has told Hawthorn he didn’t know about the financial request, while McLachlan says it simply won’t happen.
“Someone’s made a mistake there,” McLachlan told 3AW.
“Tom will do lots of media (if he wins) and he won’t be charging anyone.”
TLA, Tom Mitchell's management, released the following statement.
“In order to clarify the situation, if any of our managed players are lucky enough to win the Brownlow Medal, as per previous years, they will be available for the prescribed AFL media requirements," TLA CEO Craig Kelly said.
"Further to this, our players have always been available to media the following morning and this year will be no different.
"We apologise for the miscommunication around fees for these interviews, and also to Tom Mitchell for any embarrassment caused this morning.”