Former Hawthorn forward Ben Dixon has slammed senior journalist Caroline Wilson for doubling down on her report of a rift between senior coach Alastair Clarkson and assistant Sam Mitchell.
Dixon questioned Wilson's stance following her report on a 'mediation' meeting within the club that reportedly went sour.
Since the reports surfacing both Mitchell and Clarkson have fronted the media to suggest otherwise and state their trust in the club's coaching succession plan.
Clarkson reassured his position at Hawthorn until the end of next season in an emotional response to the ongoing speculation surrounding his future with the Hawks.
Mitchell had also taken toย SEN midweek to break his silence on the matter, stating the fiery session between himself and Clarkson "absolutely" did not happen.
The comments from Mitchell were soon followed by a retort by Wilson on Footy Classified, who looked to double down on her original claim.
"Sam should be very careful about what he says about what about his premiership coach..."
Caroline Wilson strongly stands by her report on the Hawthorn succession plan despite Sam Mitchell's comments on Wednesday morning.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/GGmn2Ha6EL
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) July 21, 2021
When presenting onย Fox Footy's First Crackย this week, Dixon criticised Wilson's comments and demanded "accountability".
โWhatโs happened this week and the direction that the media took โ and Iโll talk about Caroline Wilson that she took with Sam Mitchell, what happened at that meeting, which she called โmediationโ after Justin Reeves the CEO told her blatantly that it was not a mediation and she still went with that knowing it wasnโt the truth โ is hurtful for any Hawthorn person,"ย Dixon said, perย Fox Sports.
โYou donโt trust it, but sometimes your sources, tomato or barbecue, have an expiry date. So youโve got to roll the sleeves up, go down to the supermarket and get a new source.
"She quoted the fact that Leading Teamsโ Ray McLean was there. Rayโs there a lot of the times because itโs governance, itโs one of the roles and responsibilities.
"That meeting was to work out what the roles are so it is clear to the playing group โ and it was all amicable.
"Then you have the audacity to go back on and say โnoโ and back that up? Like are you kidding? And then give him a warning saying: โSam should be very careful about what he says about his premiership coach. Iโm hearing that heโs saying things at the football club. He should be very careful.โ
"You donโt get to issue warnings after he comes out and tells the truth."
Dixon continued his claims by lauding the characters of Clarkson and Mitchell, as well as applauding his former club.
โIn journalism, whereโs the accountability? Put your hand up, โI got it wrongโ or โmy sources let me downโ. Donโt come back and say โno itโs not right and thatโs what happenedโ when you werenโt there.
"You can only go on what Sam has said and what Alastair has said the whole way through this whole conversation.
โThe club donโt air their dirty laundry for a reason and they win flags for a reason because they are so on the same page. Because there is a perceived crack in that football club because Clarko is going to coach next year and then move on, the crack gives everyone an entitlement to go โthereโs a crack, Iโm going for itโ and theyโre going to air their dirty laundry โ no theyโre not.
"Theyโre a tight-lipped unit and if anything has been handled better than this situation, itโs the Hawthorn footy club.
"When you come out and you make a statement and someone comes out to say โno this is what happenedโ and then you refute that, no Iโm sorry youโve got to put your hand up."
