AFL Media journalist Mitch Cleary has been stood down indefinitely by the league after he posted the screenshot of Brooke Cotchin's Instagram story on twitter.

Brooke Cotchin was found to have breached the AFL's COVID-19 return to play protocol when visiting a day spa, a move which saw the Richmond Football Club fined $45,000.

The AFL's decision has come under extreme criticism overnight as the integrity of AFL Media and their ability to remain independent from the league is called into question.

Brooke Cotchin's post had been see by thousands, and her name had already been mentioned on radio as having breached the guidelines, meaning Cleary was simply reporting on a matter that was already known to the public and of public interest.

It is believed the AFL see Cleary's obligations as an AFL employee outweigh his duties as a journalist, bringing the entire AFL Media organisation into question.

The AFL didn't name Cotchin in its release on Friday night and the AFL website did not name her in its online report.

Fellow journalists from all over Australia have thrown their support behind Cleary, who was absent from his usual Saturday night video show with ex-Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes.

AFL Media bosses have regularly boasted of how they are prepared to cover both AFL clubs and the inner workings of the AFL.

But their independence and ability to report freely on the goings on at AFL House is now under question given the AFLโ€™s response to something that was clearly in the public interest.

Former AFL Media head of content Matt Pinkney said of accusations of a conflict of interest several years ago: โ€œYes, we get a bit of misinformation put out there by our rivals but thatโ€™s OK. I hope people will see in time that we can be trusted as a credible news source. Thatโ€™s our aim over the next few years.โ€