Time On: Channel 7 footy reporters deny rivalry, Bailey Smith leaves his mark on Bulldogs fan

The state of the relationship between Channel 7 reporters Tom Browne and Mitch Cleary has sparked much chatter in the footy world.

Tom Browne says his relationship with Mitch Cleary is ‘very harmonious’.

The dynamic between Channel 7 football reporters Tom Browne and Mitch Cleary has been the focus of much chatter within the footy world.

On their podcast The Sounding Board, Damian Barrett and Craig Hutchison have admitted to being obsessed by it, giving almost weekly updates on how they’re both tracking and who has their nose ahead on the news breaking front.

Browne has moved quickly to clear up any talk of friction between the pair who were both seen enjoying the Grand Prix action on Friday in the Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge.

“We are like Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas. We get on very well,’’ Browne told Time On.

Mitch Cleary.

“We have a very harmonious relationship.”

Rising star Cleary backed up the sentiments of Browne, the chief football reporter.

“We get on very well. We find it funny how people are so interested.”

On Triple M Friday night, host Mark Howard asked Browne about the situation with Cleary after claiming that he had knifed previous chief footballer reporter Mark Stevens.

“Mitch is clearly going to be harder to fend off but it’s going very well at the moment,’’ Browne insisted.

“It doesn’t make a great headline but seriously we work really well together. It’s great we’ve got a couple of good journalists in there having a crack.”

Can’t keep Kane down

A new footy feud has erupted between Kane Cornes and Cameron Ling.

Both former taggers, it’s Cornes who is more known for his outspoken views — one of which was his comment made in 2019 about Port’s Connor Rozee being a better player than Carlton’s Sam Walsh.

On his podcast, The Al and Lingy Show, Ling last week had a crack at that comment: “Didn’t he (Kane Cornes) say it was a disgrace that Sam Walsh was picked over Connor Rozee … That’s been made to be not even close to being right. Connor hasn’t made that jump yet.’’

Cameron Ling took aim at Kane Cornes.

Cornes responded to Ling’s crack on the Sunday Footy Show. Picture: Sarah Reed

Cornes fired back on the Sunday Footy Show.

“He had a crack didn’t he. He came after me a little bit, Lingy.

“For the first time he had an opinion. We’re taggers, we stick together, just the Walsh and Rozee stuff people like to bring up from time to time. Which I’ve admitted, how many times about 15, that I got that one wrong. It’s all part of it.”

Bailey revs up the star power

The biggest name at the Grand Prix wasn’t Geri Halliwell in the end. It was Bulldogs star Bailey Smith.

Smith, who has the most followers of any footy player on Instagram, found himself strolling along the grid on Sunday and mixing in with F1 heavyweights.

Bailey Smith with Dylan Alcott, Christian Horner and Marcus Bontempelli at the GP.

Bailey Smith signed a fan’s leg at the Grand Prix on Sunday night.

He posted a picture with Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott, his captain Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Horner, the husband of Halliwell and boss of Red Bull racing.

When he left the track Smith had a throng of fans wanting his autograph with one man even asking him to sign his leg. That’s star power.

Brian Taylor was surprised with a footy-inspired 60th birthday cake on Friday night.

Wowee Barge is 60

Brian Taylor celebrated his 60th birthday on Sunday and the milestone didn’t go unnoticed — the Channel 7 commentator was surprised with a cake and his family on the ground at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.

His sister Michelle had flown over from WA.

Taylor had insisted it would be a low-key affair.

“There’s no celebration, we’re going to Walhalla up to the cottage and we’re going to spend three or four days there in the woods,’’ he said. “Just family.”