AFL and Triple M quiet after Barry Hall’s vulgar comments with questions still unanswered, Mark Robinson writes

THE AFL and Triple M have gone quiet after Barry Hall’s vulgar comments on radio despite many questions remaining unanswered, including why the comments were allowed to go to air and whether there will be action against those in the studio, Mark Robinson writes.

RADIO silence is usually a time for panic when you’re live on air, but it’s perfect when you go to ground off air, like everyone did on Monday.

Radio ga-ga became radio na-na in regards to Barry Hall and Triple M.

The AFL is standing by its broadcast partner and will not punish Triple M for the Hall debacle on Friday night.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan on Monday chose not to comment about the “rape joke” that played out on prime-time radio and the widespread condemnation which followed.

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McLachlan clearly did not want to criticise the league’s media partner, although it can be said he was mortified by the conversation that led to Hall’s immediate sacking.

The lack of response from McLachlan on Monday, combined with the failure of Triple M and Friday night host Mark Howard to make a comment, suggests this looms as another incident both organisations hope will blow over.

The AFL said on Saturday Hall’s comments were “abhorrent’’ and that they supported Hall’s removal.

Barry Hall was sacked by Triple M for vulgar comments made on air.

The AFL likes to beat its chest about respect and responsibility towards women and McLachlan on Monday had an opportunity to make an even more powerful statement, one that would lead the news cycle and ensure everyone understood, specifically women, this was a very serious situation.

Instead, and while Triple M on Monday played its rock-n-roll favourites, the only noise coming out of the AFL was tumbleweeds bouncing off the hallway walls.

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There are serious questions directed at Triple M:

1. Why wasn’t the audio dumped by the producer or panel operator?

2. Did the producer think it was acceptable banter?

3. Why did Triple M say Hall was sacked instantly when Hall was on air 30 minutes later?

4. Will host Mark Howard, reporter Damian Barrett and commentator Nathan Brown face disciplinary action for their role in the segment?

While the angst has mostly been directed at Hall for his comments, there is a level of fury directed at those who were also on air and “egging” on the discussion.

The Australian newspaper columnist Jacquelin Magnay tweeted at the weekend: “Re those cretinous comments by Barry Hall. Why haven’t all those in the Triple M studio been sacked? Whoever thought discussing a woman’s pregnancy & medical procedure on a football show was horribly misguided. The egging on was sickening, the laughing reprehensible.”

At least Hall had the courage to condemn and apologise for his commentary, which has been accused of sexualising Montagna’s wife’s pregnancy, let alone it being a graphic description of rape.

The infamous conversation began just after 6pm on Friday, when a discussion between Hall, Montagna, Howard and Barrett evolved on the looming birth of Montagna’s child.

All indications are a conversation about the baby had taken place before the show started, in what is known as a pre-show meeting.

Then it gets grubby.

Leigh Montagna with Nick Riewoldt during the retirees motorcade at last year’s Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein

Brown and Barrett were highly critical of Hall’s comments on radio and TV on Saturday and Sunday, but neither made mention of their roles in the discussion.

Triple M refused to make further comment on Monday, pointing to a press release on Saturday, where Triple M head of content Mike Fitzpatrick described the comments as “unacceptable and inappropriate”.

Head of Triple M football Lee Simon said all requests for interviews had to go to crisis manager Lucy Rowles, who texted the Herald Sun to say Fitzpatrick was “not available for further comment”.

Howard also did not return calls on Monday.

To be fair, Triple M on Monday invited comedian Meshel Laurie on to its breakfast program to talk about her twitter post at the weekend, which detailed her stance about “why rape jokes matter”.

It’s a serious subject and thankfully someone was doing the talking.

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