Singer Jackson Thomas 'murders' national anthem

Former The Voice contestant Jackson Thomas has been accused of 'murdering' the national anthem after taking centre stage at the annual EJ Whitten Legends Game.

Thomas, who finished second in last year's singing talent show on Channel 9, was invited to perform the Australian anthem to help kick-off the annual charity match in Melbourne.But if the fans at Etihad Stadium were judges on the show, it's arguable that he would have failed to turn a single chair after inexplicably botching the lyrics.Thomas sang the second verse instead of the first in a stuff-up that immediately raised eyebrows at the ground before triggering a backlash on social media.

Jackson Thomas just murdered the national anthem at the EJ Whitten Legends game. #EJLegends15 #AFLFootyShow #singingcareermaybeover

— DMS (@dsmith774) June 30, 2015

@jacksonwthomas @TheVoiceAU @EJLegendsGame @Channel9 try learning the lyrics ya Goose! @Hixay @rohdog17

— Wooly (@Woolywoosh) June 30, 2015

@Woolywoosh @jacksonwthomas @TheVoiceAU @EJLegendsGame @Channel9 @rohdog17 Too many Breezers b4 the game! MakeJamie Fox sound like Pavarotti

— Simon Hicks (@Hixay) June 30, 2015

While it wasn't immediate clear whether Thomas, who has a unique operatic style, had intended to put his own spin on the anthem, he later took to social media himself to admit to the mistake. "I am truly sorry for my performance tonight," he wrote on Twitter."I lost my train of thought & started singing the second verse. Sorry I let everyone down." The annual Legends Game is played in honour of former football great Ted Whitten who died of prostate cancer.All money raised from the match helps fund the battle against the disease.