Who is Tony Jones? A short history of classic moments after Novak Djokovic incident

While he’s a household name in Victoria, Channel Nine’s Tony Jones is still a new face for many in the northern states. Here’s a look at his most controversial moments.

Tony Jones at the athletics track, Stade de France, in Paris

Channel Nine presenter and journalist Tony Jones is in hot water again after he made a joke about what Serbian supporters were chanting about tennis star Novak Djokovic.

During a news bulletin, Jones made up his own lyrics to the chant.

“Novak, he’s overrated,” Jones sang. “Novak’s a has-been. Novak, kick him out. Boy, I’m glad they can’t hear me. Anyway, let’s get onto the tennis.”

As he finished his bulletin, Jones said: “Alright that wraps it up from Melbourne Park. Somehow I’m going to have to get out of here.”

It’s not the first time the 63-year-old has faced controversy at the Australian Open.

Just a few days ago Jones was in the news for labelling Danielle Collins a ‘brat’ which the American made fun of in her press conference.

Tony Jones called Danielle Collins a ‘brat’

In 2019, after Naomi Osaka’s grand slam win in the women’s singles, Jones interviewed the Japanese star and was criticised for what many saw as a patronising interview which included questions about Osaka’s Japanese heritage, how she would spend her prizemoney and a remark about her smile.

“To read into that I was being demeaning or sexist, that was really disappointing. I would have asked Novak Djokovic the same thing, it was just meant to be lighthearted,” Jones told the Herald Sun at the time.

Naomi Osaka (AAP Image/Darren England)

Tony Jones has been with the network for almost 40 years and has been a staple of Melbourne’s 6pm news as a sports reporter.

He first went viral in 2013 when he invited fellow presenter Bec Judd to his place for a barbeque which she rejected. Three years later, Jones attempted to give Judd a farewell kiss on air which was also rejected.

In 2020, Jones was forced to apologise to Sydney Swans assistant coach Steve Johnson after accidentally sledging the former Geelong star by referring to him as another former player in Stewart Dew with another awkward exchange on air.

In 2022, he took aim at the AFL live on air when they left him off the invite list to the Brownlow Medal awards night.

“If the AFL is watching, you can get stuffed, it’s a crap night,’’ Jones said.

While Jones’ style of humour has been polarising, he has also been the butt of many jokes since his interactions with Judd.

Fellow panellists on the Sunday Footy Show (AFL version) call him ‘Chompers’ (a nickname he hates) for his supposed artificially whitened teeth.

The Sunday Footy Show regularly replays the Judd awkward kiss moment and at one stage Jones walked off set as a result.

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