Luke Hodge whacks 'absolute knob' Damian Barrett over Sliding Doors column

Tom Naghten

Luke Hodge whacks 'absolute knob' Damian Barrett over Sliding Doors column image

Bring your popcorn. Sit down. Luke Hodge versus Damian Barrett. 12 rounds for the AFL round five war of words championship.

The pair of footy heavyweights have been trading barbs of late and it's getting pretty spicy.

It all started on Friday, when the prominent journo called out Hodge for his mid-match interviews in the Lions' big loss to Collingwood.

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The veteran Brisbane defender gave Channel Seven's Abbey Holmes some insight into the match as his side went down by 62 points at the Gabba on Thursday night.


In his weekly column on on afl.com.au, Barrett appeared to question the 34-year-old's priorities.

"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 ..." Barrett wrote.

"Then he might want to re-think it. 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."

The original version also said that Hodge would never have considered doing the interviews while under the coaching of Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.

Hodge took to Twitter on Friday, not happy with Barrett's piece, labelling the journalist an "absolute knob."


 

The stoush wasn't done there though, with Hodge appearing on Triple M's The Rub on Saturday to explain his position to the man they call 'Purple'.

"Purple, it's not about you mate, not everything is about you," Hodge said.

"I have no issues with your point of view, as I've said, you've been around football, you know the game styles and you understand football pretty well.

"Your opinon was fine, everyone's got an opinion and you didn't like it, that's no problems at all and I've got no issue with that.

"What I didn't like was your Sliding Doors, where it wasn't really an opinion, you were having a dig at me and a lot of the facts were wrong.

"I've got two games with Channel Seven, and trust me, what I get paid - you take out tax, management, accommodation - I wouldn't be able to afford one of the wheels on your muscle car, that's how little I get paid.

"I have not had a contract with a media company since Channel Seven in 2012. I'm booked in to do two games this year for personal development if I want to pursue the media in the future.

"The second one you had which was incorrect, where you said: 'I wouldn't do that if Clarko was the coach.' Totally incorrect.

"In 2017 I wore a mic for a whole game, this one I had two interviews where it would have been about a minute all up. I wore a mic for 120 minutes, so you're wrong there."

Hodge also reminded Barrett that he did a similar thing last season when the Lions were 0-8.

Brisbane won that match and Hodge said he was lauded for providing insight to the viewer.

"As far as you having a personal go at me in your Sliding Doors, that's what I was a little angry at and that's where the 'knob' call came from," he said.

"You should know, you worked in Brisbane for a number of years, we need to promote AFL in Brisbane as much as any team does."

Whack!

 

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.