WATCH: Peter Dutton added to pages of epic sporting fails by politicians

A stunned Peter Dutton has learned what so many of his predecessors and opponents also found out the hard way: mixing sport and politics is rarely a good idea. SEE THE PICTURES

A stunned Peter Dutton has learned what so many of his predecessors and opponents also found out the hard way: mixing sport and politics is rarely a good idea.

Laughter turned to shock after the “thunk” noise of a footy sailing off the Opposition leader’s boot straight into a TV cameraman was followed by blood gushing from the poor guy’s head.

Only seconds earlier the kids had been jostling each other trying to mark the ball.

After impressing the local junior AFL players with his one-handed mark and passable drop punt kicks at Cazalys Arena on the outskirts of Darwin, Dutton ended up giving journalists the best pics of the campaign.

He solemnly shook hands with the injured cameraman – who was in good spirits after being patched up with a comically large bandage administered by a handy AFP officer.

The wide-eyed kids watched on as Dutton’s minders watched on helplessly, there really was nothing anyone could do.

Not so great sporting moments by politicians: John Howard, Bob Hawke and Tony Abbott in action.

Dutton joins a not-that-exclusive club of political leaders who learned too late it’s often better to leave the ball sports to the professionals, or in the very least, the kids.

His overzealous drop punt was still a far cry from Scott Morrison’s campaign gaffe when he infamously bulldozed a young Tasmanian soccer player in the final days of the 2022 campaign.

John Howard, too, was ridiculed after he delivered one of the worst bowls the nation has ever seen during a tour of earthquake ravaged Pakistan in 2005 - with none of the three balls thrown making it to the batsman.

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Kevin Rudd was both celebrated and maligned for his obsession with down ball, though in his case the mocking was fuelled by an excess of prowess at the classic schoolyard game, rather than a lack of skill.

He even called himself a “global handball king”.

And who could forget when Bob Hawke’s eye ended up in a bandage after a cricket ball smashed into his glasses while batting during a game between the prime minister’s staff and the press gallery.

Political gaffes move well beyond the sporting ones though.

While Anthony Albanese was the first to take a tumble this election, he is not the first and won’t be the last to slip up — both literally and figuratively.

Who could forget when the PM was unable to remember the national unemployment rate, the official cash rate for interest rates, details over sovereign borders or having to be handed a fact sheet from an adviser to remember the six key points of his own policy.

Little wonder former PM John Howard described him as being out of his depth this week, unlike former Labor PM Paul Keating or Bob Hawke.

Dutton, to be fair, has also had his share of awkward moments.

His inability to execute an elbow shake with South Korea’s Foreign Affairs Minister was one of them.

Here are some more cringeworthy moments in Australian politics. Let us know others we’ve missed in the comments.

Angus Taylor’s self-administered pat on the back

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor was busted in 2019 for commenting on his own Facebook post, praising the good work he decided he was doing.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor was busted in 2019 for commenting on his own Facebook post, praising the good work he decided he was doing. Picture: Supplied

Forgetting he was not logged into his burner account on social media, Mr Taylor – the then-energy minister – praised himself in the lead-up to the election.

“Fantastic. Great move. Well done Angus,” he wrote… to himself.

The comment was quickly deleted, but not before the eagle-eyed among his followers spotted the faux pas.

Mark Latham’s death-grip handshake

What is often considered one of the worst handshakes in recorded history took place in 2004 between Mark Latham and John Howard.

What is often thought of as one of the worst handshakes in recorded history took place in 2004 between Mark Latham and John Howard. Picture: Supplied

Media immediately leapt upon the viciousness of the handshake, noting how Latham gripped Howard’s hand in a vice-like manner and yanked the then-prime minister toward him, looming over him.

Bill Shorten’s supermarket quiz

On the campaign trail in 2016, Bill Shorten was participating in a supermarket shop with local punters, making small talk.

On the campaign trail in 2016, Bill Shorten was participating in a quotidian supermarket shop with local punters, making small talk. Picture: AAP

The small talk he opted for, however, likely still haunts him to this day.

Chatting to constituents and grocery shoppers alike, the most scintillating conversation Shorten could summon was to ask: ‘What is your favourite kind of lettuce?’.

At the time, his gaffe was compared to trying to meet the word count of an essay you don’t understand — in other words, filling in blank space any way you can.

Scott Morrison’s failed try

While spruiking a marginal seat in Tasmania in 2022, former prime minister Scott Morrison made the fateful decision to play a game of soccer with some local kids.

While spruiking a marginal seat in Tasmania in 2022, former prime minister Scott Morrison made the fateful decision to play a game of soccer with some local kids. It looked more like rugby league in the end. Picture: Jason Edwards

In what became the moment of the election – and an award-winning photograph – Scomo was snapped accidentally tackling a young child during play.

He immediately checked on the boy’s welfare and was undoubtedly relieved to see he was fine, but the damage was done – not to the child, just to Scomo’s reputation.

Jaymes Diaz’s Titanic of interviews

Liberal candidate Jaymes Diaz gave an interview in the lead-up to the 2013 election that did nobody any favours – least of all him.

Liberal candidate Jaymes Diaz gave an interview in the lead-up to the 2013 election that did no one any favours – least of all him. Picture: Supplied

Diaz somehow answered reporters’ questions so poorly that his own team bundled him away from the microphone, lest he answer any more.

Questioned about the Coalition’s ‘six-point plan’ to stop the boats, Diaz repeatedly failed to be able to identify what, in fact, those six points were.

Tony Abbott’s pungent penchant for onions

Former prime minister Tony Abbott made Australian history when he visited Tasmania in 2015 and bit into a raw onion.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott made Australian history when he visited Tasmania in 2015 and bit into a raw onion. Picture: Supplied

Impressively, Abbott did not flinch from the taste.

However the moment was instantly pounced upon by social media, with the hashtag #oniongate immediately jumping to the top of trending posts.

The ABC even unearthed footage from 2011 of Abbott gnawing on an unusually large spring onion in Queensland, showing that when it comes to root vegetables, he knows what he’s doing.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan later took a bite himself out of Tony Abbott’s playbook.

Scott Morrison’s secret maestro skills

In a moment that had most of Australia frozen in front of their TV screens, Scott Morrison infamously showed off his ukulele skills on national television.

In a moment that had most of Australia frozen in front of their TV screens, Scott Morrison infamously showed off his ukulele skills on national television. Picture: Nine

As part of an interview with 60 Minutes, the former prime minister strummed and sang to April Sun in Cuba by Dragon.

In doing so, a song that might have once inspired nostalgia for the late 70s and early 80s was irreparably changed for many.

Originally published as WATCH: Peter Dutton added to pages of epic sporting fails by politicians