Journalist Caroline Wilson has labeled Channel 7's commentary a "boys club" following an ill-bred comment made by former Hawthorn premiership player Xavier Ellis on Saturday.
During the broadcast of the elimination final between West Coast and Collingwood, network commentator James Brayshaw questioned Ellis about his pregnant wife, Emily, following discussions surrounding players departing their hubs in favour of supporting their partners.
โIsnโt your much, much, much better half expecting?โ Brayshaw asked.
Ellis responded: โYes, at the end of the month. Iโve scheduled that in for Derby Day, so Iโll be watching the races while she gets to work.โ
Wilson drew attention to the dialogue on Monday night, stating it was a "pathetic" display from the presenters.
โChannel 7 and their footy coverage has been our friend all season. They havenโt been perfect, but then, who has? Certainly not me, and theyโve made the best of a bad situation,โ she said on Channel 9โs Footy Classified.
โBut letโs face it; some things just arenโt picked up on or analysed or covered the way they should be when most of the footy commentators are on the other side of the country.
"Enough of the boys club, lads."
Caroline Wilson has criticised Channel 7 and Xavier Ellis for a remark made during a broadcast on the weekend.#9FootyClassified | Watch @Channel9 pic.twitter.com/qzimS0OWTu
โ Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) October 5, 2020
โWe saw it time and time again over a brilliant week of football. But to be fair, most of the best and biggest moments were given their due.
โBut how is it in a network where Daisy Pearce has become one of the best special commentators in the country, and the face of footy news is Jacqui Felgate, that we have to put up with rubbish like this?
โEnough of the boys club, lads โฆ it was pathetic.โ
Wilson soon turned her attention to fellow Channel Nine presenters Matthew Lloyd and Kane Cornes.
โAnd Matthew (Lloyd), Iโve got my eye on your show on a Sunday โ and you too Kane (Cornes) โ so you wonโt be getting off lightly if you come up with that sort of stuff.โ
Ellis posted an apology to social media shortly after.
โJust caught wind of Caroโs Arrow. I want to apologise if anyone found the comments I made on Saturday night offensive. Obviously it wasnโt my intention; maybe just a poor attempt at some poor humour,โ Ellis said in a video posted to Twitter on Monday evening.
In reference to a segment run tonight by Caroline Wilson. https://t.co/38ljVIPZ5r pic.twitter.com/lgkE82Wnsd
โ Xavier Ellis (@XaviEllis18) October 5, 2020
โEmโs (first) labour went for 24 hours last time, and while she slept, I did indeed watch the races to pass the time. And this year, her caesareanโs scheduled for Derby Day.
โSo thereโs the connection. Maybe it was just a poor attempt at some humour, and I do apologise if someone was offended, and I can guarantee that Emily isnโt.
โWeโre just both excited to welcome number two into the world.โ
