AFL reporter Tom Morris cops online abuse from fans for breaking Damien Hardwick Tigers quit story
Controversial AFL reporter Tom Morris is crushed by online abuse from irate fans after he broke Damien Hardwick’s shock dismissal before the coach could tell his players
- Reporter hit by deluge of online abuse
- Tom Morris broke Damien Hardwick’s story
- Morris has received support from the media
The reporter who broke the great news that triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick has left Richmond has been beset with online abuse from angry AFL fans.
Hardwick explained his reasons for the shock decision on Tuesday morning, after the most sensational mid-season coaching departure in recent memory made headlines on Monday night.
Sports journalist Tom Morris has come under fire for reporting the story before the former Tigers boss would speak to his players.
Morris, who was fired from Fox Sports last year after his “disgusting” homophobic slurs against former Fox Sports colleague Megan Barnard, has been the subject of a flurry of insults over the story.
Sports reporter Tom Morris has been berated by footy fans for his coverage of triple premiership coach Damien Hardwick leaving Richmond
Many fans were annoyed that Morris broke the news before Hardwick (pictured) would talk to his players – but Morris says he called Hardwick several times
“Tom Morris continues to be an asshole what a shock,” one Twitter user wrote.
“I wish Tom Morris nothing but pain and misery. The little mole couldn’t even bear to let Dimma go on his shield for 24 hours. Our players don’t even know it yet, shameful reporting. W****r,’ replied another.
“Tom Morris knows no boundaries, so disrespectful,” said a third.
The outcry was so great that Morris’s name was trending on Twitter in Australia.
Despite the attacks, Morris defended his reporting and received strong support from media figures.
“What has become clear, if you break a story or write a story, you can’t please everyone,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast Tuesday morning.
My only loyalty yesterday was to get the story accurate and to make sure the club knew I was following the story and that I tried to get comments from Damien Hardwick and the club. I did all that.
“It’s just absurd to suggest that I would wait until 9:15 this morning when you know other journalists would have been snooping around for this story.
The outrage online over the story was so great that Tom Morris’s name was trending on Twitter in Australia
“I always went with the story as soon as I knew it was right and as long as I could give all parties a chance to comment within a reasonable time to get back to me.”
3AW sports reporter Shane McInnes posted his support for Morris, writing, “If you really think Tom Morris was wrong in breaking Damian Hardwick’s story, you have no idea how media and journalism work. Tom got a scoop, he checked it, he checked it. That’s journalism. Waiting for permission to run it is PR.’
Reporter Vince Rugari also offered support, saying he was “baffled” by many fans’ understanding of what a journalist is.
“No wonder there is such a divide between footy fans and some sections of the footy media – it seems a great many gamblers have completely misunderstood the role of a journalist based on tonight’s reactions,” he wrote.
More than a few ex-players voiced support for Morris, including former Demons star Jack Fitzpatrick, who wrote on Twitter, “I’m baffled that Tom Morris is dealing with it for breaking this narrative. Set aside your personal opinion of him and, assuming he’s right, it’s an exceptional piece of journalism and one that any other journalist in the industry would be happy to break.’