Fox Footy has apologised to Cale Hooker and Essendon after airing a half-time video package that was widely criticised during the defender’s 200th game on Tuesday night.
The package showed Hooker having goals kicked on him by the likes of Lance Franklin and Jonathan Brown, rather than positive highlights of the 31-year-old’s career.
It drew the ire of Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley and Essendon great Dustin Fletcher on Twitter, while Essendon themselves put out their own tribute package in response.
Yeah....congrats on your 200th Cale...here are a couple of moments where you fell short.
— Nathan Buckley (@ncb_cfc) September 1, 2020
But really well done!! 🤦♂
Not appropriate...Do better!!
Hey @FOXFOOTY, we hear you're in need of some help.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) September 1, 2020
Let's do better to celebrate a 200-game warrior.#AFLEaglesDons https://t.co/HxRq31FScf
Hooksy 200th game and they show that at quarter time. #joke #AFLEaglesDons
— dustinfletcher31 (@dustinfletch31) September 1, 2020
Fox Footy Executive Director Steve Crawley provided this statement to SEN.
Sometimes you go in well-intentioned to give someone a compliment and you get it totally wrong. We got it totally wrong last night.
We have great respect for Cale Hooker and we are contacting both him and the club this morning. Apologises to all.