‘You should apologise’: AFL legend, journo in heated clash

St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has demanded an apology after a “ridiculous” accusation made by a journalist live on air.

St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt has demanded an apology after his comments were called “sexist” during a heated TV exchange on Monday night.

The Saints champion and veteran football reporter Caroline Wilson exchanged verbal barbs on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters as the panel discussed North Melbourne’s abysmal 101-point defeat to Geelong on Saturday.

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Wilson said it was now up to North Melbourne president Sonja Hood and chief executive Jennifer Watt to come out and address the club’s woes in public.

Wilson said it was also up to Hood to scrutinise the club’s football department and coach Alastair Clarkson.

Riewoldt said Clarkson would not be happy if Hood decided to question the four-time premiership coach’s operations, despite the club enduring another disastrous season where they sit 17th on the ladder with just four wins this season.

Nick Riewoldt gave Caroline Wilson both barrels. Photo: Channel 7.

Hood was on a public relations drive and was full of praise for Clarkson when he was appointed coach of the Kangaroos on a five-year deal that reportedly made him the highest paid coach in the sport.

Riewoldt described Hood’s behaviour at the time “sycophantic” with Wilson taking umbrage to the term.

“That is bordering on sexism,” she said.

“If a male president had lauded getting a premiership coach … you wouldn’t call it sycophantic. I bet you wouldn’t.”

Riewoldt responded: “What are you talking about … I resent the fact you think that’s a sexist comment. That is a ridiculous thing to say.

“How is someone being sycophantic got anything to do with their gender?

“That’s ridiculous and you should apologise.

“It’s not sexist Caroline.”

Wilson said she was not going to “cop” Riewoldt’s comment.

Nick Riewoldt and Caroline at three paces. Photo: Channel 7.

“You’re making ridiculous statements like that. You’re wrong to say she was sycophantic,” she said.

“You should apologise to her Nick for calling her sycophantic. That’s ridiculous.”

The tension seemed to have simmered when the show returned from an ad-break.

Wilson last week made plenty of headlines when she put Channel 7 host Craig Hutchison on the spot asking him not to fire her on air.

The pre-planned segment, which Hutchison clearly did not know was going to happen, related to the media mogul’s awkward appearance on radio network RSN last week after he announced a raft of sackings at the station.

Earlier this month, the TV host’s SEN group purchased RSN in a $3.25 million deal and immediately set about cutting costs, including giving popular hosts Daniel Harford and Michael Felgate the flick.

Many long-time listeners of the station only learned the news when Hutchison fronted Felgate’s Racing Pulse show last Thursday.

So Wilson took the opportunity to make a cheeky plea over her own future on the Channel 7 show.

Set up by Riewoldt in a section called The Spill, the former St Kilda captain put the vague question to Wilson: “The hour on air of the Agenda Setters is the highest risk of all.”

The long-time Age reporter replied: “Well, certainly if you’re on air with Craig Hutchison.

“This is no respect, disrespect I should say, to Michael Felgate or Daniel Harford for that matter.

“But if you’re going to remove me from the show, can you please not do it with me on-air?”

Wilson delivered the jab with a straight face and Hutchison did not take it well.

“This is not something to joke about,” he shot back.

There was plenty of drama elsewhere on Monday night with Channel 9’s Footy Classified showing previously unseen footage of Giants captain Toby Greene appearing to kick Swans defender Dane Rampe in the groin region.

The new vision shows Greene lashing out, kicking directly behind him between Rampe’s legs during a heated confrontation before the start of the game.

Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd, on Monday night, told the AFL and new general manager of football performance Greg Swann the league needs to come out and make a public statement about Greene’s uncovered act.

Originally published as ‘You should apologise’: AFL legend, journo in heated clash