Vic radio bigwigs declare truce

The fallout from naming two AFL players believed to be under investigation for
alleged rape has sent the Melbourne media into overdrive, but the two broadcasters
who started the war of words are sick of it.
"You've got to be joking," Collingwood president Eddie McGuire sighed as he spotted
the pack of television cameras and journalists waiting for him outside a Chinatown
restaurant.
McGuire had arrived at noon (AEDT) on Friday to meet Fairfax radio host Neil
Mitchell, who had infuriated McGuire and other football identities by releasing on
his morning show the names of two Magpies players questioned by police over an
alleged rape on AFL grand final night.
McGuire had blasted Mitchell as a "media crusader" and "self-important windbag" for
the disclosure a day earlier, but he is now criticising the way their dispute has
been exaggerated in the media, where it has been likened to a boxing match between
two broadcasting heavyweights.
"To be perfectly honest, this has now become of circus proportions," McGuire, who is
also a co-host on rival radio station Triple M, told the media pack.
"Can we just let Victoria Police get on with a very serious investigation and let
any media rubbish of radio wars and all the rest of it alone?
"Neil does his job and I do mine and all the rest of it, but seriously we need to
put a bit of a lid on this stuff now and let people get on with it."
TV stations failed to take the advice to heart and labelled the meeting "lunch at
high noon" while newspaper websites ran major stories on the dispute all day and
into the evening.
After the meeting, both McGuire and Mitchell agreed to disagree on the decision to
name the players, but to remain civil about their disagreement.
Whatever his reasons, Mitchell's naming of the players continues to bother many
football officials.
Speaking on the Gold Coast, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said he was disappointed at
the 3AW radio host because the two players would be damaged no matter what happened
with the police investigation.
"When you name people, it does cause significant damage to people, to their
families," he told reporters.
"Regardless of the situation with the Collingwood players, I just think it's really
unfortunate and unfair when people get named before any charges are laid."
Victorian Premier John Brumby agreed.
"Those names should not have been released and the reason for that is because
they're still undertaking investigations and there's always the presumption of
innocence," he said.
Collingwood club lawyer David Galbally QC said naming the players had placed them in
a position of guilt, while players' association chief executive Matt Finnis called
on media organisations to avoid jumping to conclusions based on unproven
allegations.
The AFL has backed the Magpies, saying the club has fully co-operated with police.
The two Collingwood players have been questioned by police, but it is not known if
they are potential suspects or witnesses.
No charges have been laid, but a police investigation is continuing after a young
woman said she was raped at a South Melbourne home on Sunday morning.
Police Chief Commissioner Simon Overland maintained that if an officer had leaked
the names to the radio station, it would be a criminal offence and worth
investigating.