AFL journalist Jon Anderson has taken aim at popular caller Jason Bennett, following his axing from Channel 7.
In a column for the Herald Sun on Sunday, Anderson wrote: "Maybe it came down to teamwork, where callers are expected to roughly share actual on-air time when calling."
Bennett quickly hit back at Anderson on X, formerly Twitter.
"You'd expect a professional journalist to call & ask," Bennett wrote.
"It's really not that hard. Austereo bought 7 & want to promote their own people, which is totally understandable. To blindly guess that it's performance-related is most disappointing, malicious & flat out wrong."
The Austereo references comes as Jack Heverin, a member of the company, was promoted to Channel 7's broadcast team for the 2026 season.
It comes after Bennett released the following statement on X on Wednesday.
"Since I was 4, my dream has been to call @7AFL. Realising that dream over the past 11 yrs has been a great thrill. Thanks to all on both sides of the camera who supported me. Best of luck to the team for '26 & thx for making the dreams of a starry-eyed 4-yr-old fan come true.
"So, what's next? 2026 will be busy as I continue as the @VAFA_HQ Broadcast & Content Manager, and I'm in discussions about some exciting doco projects. So if you're a production company or network looking for compelling stories and formats, hit me up. I've got a long list.
"My final thanks is to the fans. Ultimately, I'm just a fan who found his way into the box. My main aim is to help u enjoy the game, stay out of the way & let the moments speak. The love I've felt on social media over the past 11 yrs hasn't gone unnoticed. Thanks - it means a lot."
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