AFL 2020: Christian Petracca and Jayden Hunt counselled after ‘inappropriate’ touching
Melbourne stars Christian Petracca and Jayden Hunt have been counselled after being caught touching each other inappropriately on the field. Do you think they crossed the line? Have your say.
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Melbourne players Christian Petracca and Jayden Hunt have been counselled over touching each other’s bottoms in a team huddle only weeks after the AFL’s Richmond groping scandal
The pair have apologised and agreed it was an inappropriate look after the Demons spoke to them about the action as the three-quarter time huddle broke up in the victory over Essendon.
As Goodwin addressed the team Hunt grabbed Petracca’s bottom and then Petracca returned the favour in a monumentally stupid gesture given the context of Richmond’s actions involving Mabior Chol.
The players had multiple cameras trained on them and were at the back of the group so were easily spotted.
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Both players are AFL veterans who should have realised the context of their actions, as innocent as they were.
Melbourne said on Sunday it had “addressed the issue with both players, who have apologised and assured that such behaviour will not occur again”.
Demons captain Max Gawn said the players knew they had acted inappropriately.
“As AFL players, we are role models and have a responsibility to showcase the right behaviours to the wider AFL community,” he said.
“On this occasion, we have clearly fallen short, and we own that this is not acceptable.
“Christian and Jayden know that this was an inappropriate act, which is not in line with our expectations, or that of the competition.
“As a playing group, we understand and respect the example we need to be setting, and will continue to reinforce this going forward.”
The AFL has suggested it will beef-up its respect and responsibility code after Richmond’s Nick Vlastuin and Jayden Short were caught touching Chol’s privates during the team song.
Carlton’s Michael Gibbons was also censured after inappropriately touching a cameraman embedded with the Blues during a team song in the Darwin win over Gold Coast.
Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson told Fox Footy on Saturday night: “I can’t believe we’re sitting here talking about it after everything that happened in regards to the Richmond players and the media around that.
“Now we’re seeing it again with two other players. When are they going to learn, the players?
“Just play the game, that’s all you’ve got to worry about. Play the game, play it well and get on and celebrate. None of this other stuff, it’s honestly ridiculous.”
Former Hawthorn star Jordan Lewis was similarly mortified.
“Players need to be aware that we live in a different environment now.
“If it’s not mentioned on commentary, certainly social media will pick it up, and then when it gains traction the club and the AFL have to address it. They don’t need to be attending to these types of matters in such an important part of the year.
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“Just don’t leave yourself open to this sort of criticism.”
The AFL is yet to respond to the incident. But said after the Tigers furore: “The actions of players touching several teammates inappropriately during post game celebrations and/or during club theme songs is not in keeping with either club, community or AFL expectations.
“The behaviour is inappropriate, unacceptable and juvenile. AFL players are professional athletes and set the example for the hundreds of thousands of kids playing football across the country.
“It is the responsibility of each club and the players themselves to ensure this inappropriate behaviour is not repeated.”