AFL great Brian Taylor grills reporter over coverage of Conor McKenna COVID-19 saga
AFL great Brian Taylor has ripped journalist Tom Browne over his reporting of Essendon star Conor McKenna's COVID-19 tests throughout the past week.
Taylor's jab at Browne came after he defended his reporting of the Bombers defender's ever-changing COVID-19 status, which has left many confused after he tested negative just days after testing positive to the virus.
"Some Essendon fans in particular seem frustrated that the media has reported these inconsistent tests," Browne said on Seven's AFL coverage.
"All the tests reported throughout the week have been accurate. There's no accuracy issues there, it's really been a health issue in terms of the inconsistency of the tests.
Taylor was not happy with his counterpart's reporting of Essendon star Conor McKenna's COVID-19 saga AAP
"In terms of the language of the clubs, they do tell some constructive truth at times, it's up to journalists to find out the truth. That's what we have to do."
However, the former Richmond and Collingwood great did not want a bar of Browne's reasoning, calling for journalists to be held accountable for their reports.
"I don't see anything you said there that really matters," he said in response.
"To me, it's about the accountability of the media, and not just journalists, but footballers like myself that are in the media.
"How someone can come out last week and say that a handful of players tomorrow are going to be out of the Essendon Football Club when did not happen?
"Where is the accountability for that? We've got to be very careful. Players like myself have come out and commented on McKenna as well without really knowing the facts.
"It is best to be right rather than first. I know you have an insatiable thirst to be right, Tom, but you have an even more insatiable thirst to be first."
Taylor's takedown of Browne came after the reporting on McKenna's COVID-19 status was slammed by AFL Players' Association president Patrick Dangerfield.
Patrick Dangerfield labelled the coverage of McKenna from the media 'disappointing' Getty
"I think it's been pretty disappointing in a lot of respects in terms of how Conor has been treated in the last few days," Dangerfield told SEN's Whateley.
"He's been treated like a criminal at times. If he had caught it, he's caught one of the most contagious viruses there is and yet we treated him the way that we did.
"Hopefully we can re-align ourselves in terms of how we deal with the player that is going to contract it.
"I think it's been good to see some in the media come out and put their hands up saying they went too hard, too early. I hope that we all learn from it."
