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'Absolute knob': Luke Hodge slams AFL reporter

Brisbane Lions star has slammed a veteran AFL reporter on Twitter, after he was criticised for doing media work alongside his playing commitments.

Prominent AFL writer and broadcaster Damian Barrett used his weekly ‘Sliding Doors’ column on AFL.com.au to criticise Hodge.

“If Hodgey thinks it is a good idea to combine a well-paid media contract with a football one and provide commentary during an actual game of football, then he might want to re-think it,” Barrett wrote.

“Talking dribble within-match adds absolutely nothing to the broadcast, nor his now back-to-reality and consecutive-week thrashed team.

“Focus on your footy club, the media deals can be pursued when you’re retired.”

Hodge, who won four premierships with Hawthorn before making a switch to Brisbane in 2018, was having none of it.

The dual Norm Smith medallist rubbished the suggestion that it was a bad idea, going on to claim his work was unpaid and the Lions had asked him to do it.

What an absolute knob, you think it was a paid gig?” Hodge wrote on Twitter.

“Media want players access, the club asked me to do so I did.”

Luke Hodge was interviewed during Brisbane’s Easter Thursday loss. Image: Channel 7
Luke Hodge was interviewed during Brisbane’s Easter Thursday loss. Image: Channel 7

Later, Brisbane Lions media manager Josie Fielding took to Twitter herself to confirm Hodge was indeed unpaid for his interview, and had done so at the behest of the Lions.

Interview controversy continues

Hodge’s Channel 7 interview form the sidelines attracted plenty of criticism on Easter Thursday.

The Lions star was on the sideline receiving some treatment for a calf cramp on Thursday night when he was asked for an interview with Channel 7’s Abbey Holmes.

He was in clear pain as he was lying face-down on the ground, visibly pausing to wince and spit water out of his mouth before answering the first question.

To Hodge’s credit he continued on with the interview after the treatment, answering all of Holmes’ questions without objection.