‘You’re being pedantic’: Waleed Aly drama gets frosty over ‘horrific’ AFL act

Popular football caller Kelli Underwood has been grilled by Waleed Aly during a prickly exchange on Sunday.

Kelli Underwood has been grilled by Waleed Aly during a prickly exchange on Sunday.

The pair traded words over the AFL’s concussion dramas after the divisive issue was brought up on ABC Offsiders.

The popular Fox Footy commentator appeared more than a little ruffled when the Project star took issue with a comment made about the AFL’s decision to suspend Jimmy Webster for seven weeks.

The St Kilda player was referred directly to a tribunal hearing after his sickening bump left North Melbourne’s Jy Simpkin knocked out during a pre-season match earlier this month.

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Aly appeared to slap down Underwood’s statement that Webster was “lucky” to have avoided a more significant suspension.

Underwood said it was “unbelievable” that Simpkin went through with the contact despite the AFL making it clear to players that high contact from bumps will be met with heavy suspensions.

It was not a good look. Picture: Channel 9

“That’s intentional. That’s the issue here,” Underwood said.

“I think he was lucky to get seven.”

Aly responded later in the same Offsiders segment: “I want to go back to how is he lucky?

Kelli Underwood: Have a look at the current climate. Angus Brayshaw has just retired because of concussions.

Waleed Aly: Agreed.

KU: They get told. It’s been rammed down their throat’s in the pre-season, ‘Do not do this’. And then he does it in a practice game. He could have snapped the guy’s neck back. It’s horrific.

WA: You’re now arguing that concussion is serious. I agree with that. There’s no argument about that. How is seven “lucky”?

KU: Because times have changed. When Barry Hall did his punch and got seven (weeks) we were all outraged.

Veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson entered the conversation to say she was supportive of the seven week ban, saying the AFL has lifted the bar from last year when Simpkin’s act would have received a 4-5 week ban.

Kelli Underwood hosting ABC Offsiders. Photo: IView.

Waleed Aly being pedantic. Photo: ABC Offsiders.

WA: Seven is a huge wack of the season. So, if the aim of this is to create deterrence so that players do not do this, seven does the job. No player is going to go out of the contest and say, ‘Is seven weeks worth it? Yeah’. They are not going to do that. So the job’s done. Do you want to ban him for life?

KU: No, seven seems like he got off lightly, in a sense when you consider that Simpkin had three concussions in the last twelve months and that might be his last one. He might then be forced to retire.

WA: Agreed. What penalty would you like him to have?

KU: I am not saying there is a certain penalty. I am just saying seven, in this day and age, was lucky.

WA: Were you surprised the AFL only asked for eight?

KU: No.

WA: But if you are not surprised that they asked for eight ...

KU: You are being pedantic now, Waleed.

The show quickly moved to a new topic of discussion.

Webster has several times made public apologies to Simpkin.

“I went into the hearing completely open to accepting whatever consequence the Tribunal delivered,” Webster said.

“I wish to reiterate my remorse and again apologise to Jy for my actions.

“I will take this time on the sidelines to reflect on my actions and work hard to keep it out of my game.”