Journalist Caroline Wilson has labeled Channel 7's commentary a "boys club" following an ill-bred comment made by former Hawthorn premiership player Xavier Ellis on Saturday.

During the broadcast of the elimination final between West Coast and Collingwood, network commentator James Brayshaw questioned Ellis about his pregnant wife, Emily, following discussions surrounding players departing their hubs in favour of supporting their partners.

“Isn’t your much, much, much better half expecting?” Brayshaw asked.

Ellis responded: “Yes, at the end of the month. I’ve scheduled that in for Derby Day, so I’ll be watching the races while she gets to work.”

Wilson drew attention to the dialogue on Monday night, stating it was a "pathetic" display from the presenters.

“Channel 7 and their footy coverage has been our friend all season. They haven’t been perfect, but then, who has? Certainly not me, and they’ve made the best of a bad situation,” she said on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

“But let’s face it; some things just aren’t picked up on or analysed or covered the way they should be when most of the footy commentators are on the other side of the country.

“We saw it time and time again over a brilliant week of football. But to be fair, most of the best and biggest moments were given their due.

“But how is it in a network where Daisy Pearce has become one of the best special commentators in the country, and the face of footy news is Jacqui Felgate, that we have to put up with rubbish like this?

“Enough of the boys club, lads … it was pathetic.”

Wilson soon turned her attention to fellow Channel Nine presenters Matthew Lloyd and Kane Cornes.

“And Matthew (Lloyd), I’ve got my eye on your show on a Sunday — and you too Kane (Cornes) — so you won’t be getting off lightly if you come up with that sort of stuff.”

Ellis posted an apology to social media shortly after.

“Just caught wind of Caro’s Arrow. I want to apologise if anyone found the comments I made on Saturday night offensive. Obviously it wasn’t my intention; maybe just a poor attempt at some poor humour,” Ellis said in a video posted to Twitter on Monday evening.

“Em’s (first) labour went for 24 hours last time, and while she slept, I did indeed watch the races to pass the time. And this year, her caesarean’s scheduled for Derby Day.

“So there’s the connection. Maybe it was just a poor attempt at some humour, and I do apologise if someone was offended, and I can guarantee that Emily isn’t.

“We’re just both excited to welcome number two into the world.”