Animal rights activists put AFL WAGs on notice for Brownlow Medal

News.com.au

a day ago

AFL WAGs have been put on notice ahead of the 2025 Brownlow Medal.
The league's night of nights gives the partners behind the players the opportunity to shine bright as they stroll down the red carpet.
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But change could be on the way.
In a letter penned to the AFL, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have called for the league to implement a ban for the ceremony in September.
The activist group wants every single WAG to avoid wearing anything containing feathers or fur.
'The Brownlow Medal awards the fairest and best, but there's nothing remotely fair about birds being live plucked, factory farmed and killed for their feathers,' PETA's Senior Campaigns Advisor Mimi Bekhechi said.
'We urge the AFL to make real birds' feathers as unwelcome on the Brownlow red carpet as cheating is on the field.'
The letter also added that wearing gowns with feathers 'is a betrayal' to the animals of which several teams are named.
'Several AFL teams are named after birds. Allowing attendees of the Brownlow Medal Celebration to wear the cruelly obtained feathers of these sensitive, clever animals is a betrayal,' the letter from PETA stated.
'The most beautiful thing the belles of the (foot)ball can wear is compassion.'
The latest move from PETA comes after they called on the Brisbane Broncos to retire their long-time mascot, Buck.
Since 2010 Buck has been a fan favourite, with pundits cheering and celebrating him every time he gallops onto the field with trainer and rider Natalie Siiankoski.
In May they penned an open letter to the Broncos calling for his immediate removal stating it is simply wrong to put the horse through 'the stress of being a mascot'.
Despite their hopes, the Broncos wasted no time in shutting down the request by stating Buck wouldn't be going anywhere.
'Buck is an iconic, much-loved and much cared for member of the Broncos family and has been for a very long time,' the Broncos said in a statement to news.com.au
'We have no plans to retire Buck, and our game day staff will continue, as we always have, to work with his rider Nat and the stadium to ensure the highest level of safety, for both Buck and our fans in stadia.'
If it was up to PETA, the axing of Buck is not the only change the Broncos would make, with the non-profit organisation urging the NRL club to also change its name and badge to stop glorifying rodeos while also giving a nod to their indigenous roots.
'The team could even adopt the name the 'Brisbane Boomerangs' after the impressive Aboriginal weapon — a nod to the team's fostering of Indigenous talent and commitment to equality,' PETA's letter stated.