Barry Hall squirms in awkward interview alongside Brent Staker

THERE was something very different, and very off-putting, when AFL legend Barry Hall was grilled about his most regrettable moment.

BARRY Hall said it best: “I’ve done a lot of great things in my career and I always get remembered for that incident.”

“That incident” refers to Hall punching West Coast Eagles star Brent Staker during a game in 2008. The Swans forward clocked Staker in the head off the ball and floored him, earning himself a seven-week suspension.

The footy legend guided Sydney to a premiership in 2005 but as he admits, much of his legacy will revolve around that one fateful blow.

Hall has spoken about the incident before so we already know how much he regrets his behaviour and how much he wishes he could take it all back. But there was something different when he was interviewed by Channel Nine journalist Damian Barrett for The Footy Show.

For the first time since that fateful night nine years ago, Hall was sitting next to Staker. The pair had never crossed paths until now and the awkwardness was there for all to see.

“For the first couple of seconds sitting down here it’s a bit of a shock,” Staker said. “But we’re just two men getting on with our business and life after footy.”

The most uncomfortable moment came when the two were asked to watch a video of the punch. Hall’s face was red and was rubbing it with his hand. It was clearly awkward for him and even Staker had to close the laptop down at one point.

“I don’t like it. It’s uncomfortable for me to sit here next to him and watch that,” a visibly embarrassed Hall said.

Saker shared a similar view: “To watch that first time sitting next to Barry it’s a bit of a shock.”

CHECK OUT FOOTAGE OF THE MOMENT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

"I know it's going to be the one incident they remember me for" Staker on how his footy career is being remembered. #9AFLFootyShow pic.twitter.com/MkIXBA2rx6

— The AFL Footy Show (@AFLFootyShow) June 29, 2017

Barrett told Triple M the atmosphere was “really awkward” at times and said the meeting “wasn’t friendly initially”, but believes both men benefited from the experience.

“Barry came out of it feeling better than he did going into it and I think Brent did as well,” Barrett said.

“There were times in the interview it was really awkward for both men concerned because they were sitting right next to each other.”

Hall phoned Staker after the incident but never before have they had a face-to-face encounter since the act that saw Staker’s father label the former Swans and Bulldogs player a “weak mongrel”.

The recent Hall of Fame inductee said Staker’s family was right to criticise him, and even revealed he had a falling out with his own family because of the incident.

“You spoke about the families colliding and that sort of stuff, and rightly so. They (Staker’s parents) should have said that, everything they said was true,” Hall said.

“I actually had a falling out with my family. They’re not very media savvy and they got baited and stuck up for me, so I actually had a falling out with them. Just be quiet.

“You don’t need to (support me), I’ve done the wrong thing, let’s try and move on.”

Hall admits that he had a fallout with his family following the incident. #9AFLFootyShow pic.twitter.com/2HHbvuc6XW

— The AFL Footy Show (@AFLFootyShow) June 29, 2017

Hall felt for Staker, saying it was “a low act and something he shouldn’t have to live through now” and regrets the fact younger generations have to watch what he did.

“It bothers me that kids have to watch that, young kids who followed my career and look up to me shouldn’t have to watch that,” he said.

“I’m glad we’re doing this today because I want to show people if you do something wrong you need to man up and look a bloke in the eye and it’s not acceptable.”

In a classy end to the interview Staker reassured Hall — a new father to a seven-week old boy — he harboured no ill feelings.

“I think the incident was probably worse for you. But we move on now. You’re a dad now ... don’t let this sit over your head and ruin all those good times,’’ Staker said.

“I think you will be fine.’’

Originally published as Barry Hall squirms in awkward interview alongside Brent Staker