AFL legend Barry Hall dumped from radio show after vulgar comment

He is one of the greatest AFL players in the history of the game but footy legend Barry Hall has found himself in hot water over a vulgar comment he made during a pre-match chat on Triple M.

The radio station fired Hall on the spot on Friday evening in what the station has called “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” behaviour. The former Sydney Swans premiership player was on-air with former St Kilda player Leigh Montagna when he made the comment about Montagna’s wife Erinn, who is set to give birth next week. Talk quickly turned to how Erinn had undergone a medical procedure to induce labour, when the comment was made.

Hall made a remark that implied the male doctor had acted inappropriately towards Erinn during the procedure. Meanwhile, Montagna also gave a graphic description of how the process worked. Due to the nature of the comment, Starts at 60 has chosen not to publish it. Hall was swiftly removed from the show, leaving other panellists to continue without him. Triple M announced shortly after that he had been fired.

“Tonight on Triple M Football there were unacceptable and inappropriate comments made by a member of the commentary team,” Triple M’s Head of Content Mike Fitzpatrick said in a statement. “The commentator was removed immediately from the broadcast and an apology was issued on air afterwards. Immediate action was taken with the termination of employment for one team member.”

Many listeners took to social media in support of Triple M’s decision to fire Hall.

One person on Twitter wrote: “I just heard what Barry Hall said. Wow. I’m speechless. Good on TripleM for sacking him on the spot. There wasn’t really any choice”.

Being new to working in radio I am always learning. Tonight Barry Hall showed me where the line is …. and it’s about a thousand miles from where Barry was tonight. 😬🤦‍♂️.

— Xavier Ellis (@XaviEllis18) June 29, 2018

Another said: “Being new to working in radio I am always learning. Tonight Barry Hall showed me where the line is …. and it’s about a thousand miles from where Barry was tonight”.

A third added: “I’m just finding out what about Barry Hall said on Tripple M last night. Absolutely disgraceful. In what world would that ever be okay?”

Still, there were some who didn’t believe Hall should have been fired over the comment and even questioned why Montagna, who was also involved in the conversation, wasn’t fired.

One comment read: “Omg just heard Barry Hall’s disgusting comments on Triple M. Equally bemused & irritated by the other commentators laughing along. So gross”.

Omg just heard Barry Hall's disgusting comments on Triple M. Equally bemused & irritated by the other commentators laughing along. So gross.

— Jessica Lee (@jesslee85) June 29, 2018

A further message said: “Barry Hall rightly copping his whack regarding his comments but why isn’t every person involved in that conversation, including Montagna, not getting the same treatment? Disgusting behaviour by all involved”.

What radio station do you listen to? Are you a fan of Triple M?