Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel calls out Barry Hall

BROWNLOW medallist and Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel has blasted football’s “blokey culture” in the wake of crude on-air comments made by Barry Hall, which resulted in his immediate sacking from Triple M on Friday night.

BROWNLOW medallist and Geelong legend Jimmy Bartel has blasted football’s “blokey culture” in the wake of crude on-air comments made by Barry Hall, which resulted in his immediate sacking from Triple M on Friday night.

Bartel strongly denounced Hall’s remarks while he was taking part in 3AW’s Sunday AFL football broadcast, calling them “vile and disgusting”.

HALL SACKED BY TRIPLE M AFTER VULGAR ON-AIR COMMENT

OPINION: HALL’S NOT THE ONLY ONE TO BLAME FOR HIS SLUR

Barry Hall at Adelaide Airport yesterday. AAP Image/Dean Martin

Hall’s comments were made while he was speaking to Leigh Montagna and the Triple M Friday night football radio crew about his pregnant wife’s labour.

There have also been calls for Montagna to also be sanctioned for his role in the aired conversation about his wife.

The Herald Sun’s calls to the Triple M broadcast team, who could be heard laughing at Hall’s comments, went unanswered yesterday.

“It upsets me and disappoints me that we’re still in this day and age having these sort of attitudes and behaviours and language views being played out,” Bartel said.

“It was disgusting and vile and I was always taught you never say things that you wouldn’t want said to your mother, your sister, your daughter or your wife. And that’s a pretty good golden rule for how you should treat people in life.

“Now if you feel comfortable that’s the appropriate language and behaviour that you want to put in the public domain — which the radio does — we actually need a real adjustment on the attitudes towards women in society. And that’s the really disappointing thing about it.”

Lauren Brant. Picture: Jerad Williams

Last night Hall’s partner Lauren Brant took to social media to again defend Hall saying he was involved in a “silly conversation on air where he made a stupid comment.”

“Although it was completely wrong, it was not intended to be a malicious statement and there was absolutely no thought or substance behind it,” she said.

“He fully admits that it was unacceptable, completely regrets it and has done his best to apologise for the offence he has caused.”

Brant said she and her son were being unfairly attacked as a result of Hall’s comments.

She also said she’d addressed the issue with him.

“We have sat down and had a very long and honest conversation about how his actions have warranted a national response,” she said.

“We both know there is a problem and understand that people are trying to change it but solely vilifying Barry for this incident is not going to fix it. You have the wrong man for that.”