Excuse the puns, but the AFL is in a hub of trouble after drawing a strong backlash from media for firing one of their own journalists. Respected AFL writer Mitch Cleary published an Instagram post from Brooke Cotchin, that had earned the Richmond team a USD 32K fine for breaking COVID protocols.

“I don’t know Mitch Cleary, but I do not agree with him being stood down and I have voiced that to the AFL.”

Brooke Cotchin says sorry for breaking the AFL’s hub rules and backs the journo who was stood down for reporting her breach >>> https://t.co/YCUDZ5KZqB pic.twitter.com/LEGrtsGous

— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 3, 2020https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js