Footy star turned TV commentator Abbey Holmes reveals what happened when she played against Sunrise’s Mark Beretta

Former Adelaide Crows premiership player Abbey Holmes has told what happened when she played against Sunrise presenter Mark Beretta in a charity football match.

Holmes, who is now an All-Australian selector and Channel 7 presenter, appeared on the popular AFL panel program The Front Bar on Wednesday and spoke candidly about her glittering football career.

She explained that her idol during her active career was AFL legend Andrew McLeod, because of the way he made football look “so effortless”.

Holmes, the first player at any level of women’s football to score 100 goals in a single season, was once tied with McLeod for the Slowdown Medal, awarded to the best player on the field at Adelaide’s annual charity match.

Host Sam Pang asked Holmes about the 2014 event and how well she played.

‘Well, I was playing Mark Beretta, so I think I kicked six. [goals] “I went to see him that day and had a good time,” Holmes laughed.

Pang joked that he couldn’t figure out whether that was a good thing or whether she should have kicked the Seven breakfast show star much harder.

Mick Molloy joked that he would have tackled Gold Award-winning television host Larry Emdur to the ground and given her a double tap.

Holmes revealed she scored six goals while being flagged by the Channel Seven star (pictured) during Adelaide’s annual Slowdown charity match

Earlier this year, Holmes caused controversy by giving football star Lachie Neale a seemingly innocent kiss on the cheek after interviewing him following a round 13 match between the Lions and Bulldogs.

The two, who are friends off the field, sparked a debate over whether the kiss was appropriate, with some commentators arguing that it crossed a line.

Holmes responded by describing the reaction as “deeply disturbing.”

“Jules Neale … ​​sent me a message this morning saying, ‘I hope you’re OK – this is ridiculous,’” Holmes said at the time.

Leigh Matthews, the three-time Premier League-winning Brisbane Lions coach and former Hawthorn star, also weighed in and defended the club for the innocent act.

“You assume they know each other really well,” Matthews said.

‘Because normally you only give a kiss on the cheek to someone you know well, otherwise you shake his or her hand.

Holmes (pictured during her playing days) is now an All-Australian selector and Channel Seven presenter

“I would shake hands with a woman I don’t know very well. The kiss on the cheek is normally for someone you know very well. I don’t know how well they know each other.

‘I assume they know each other very well, otherwise it’s something very special and that’s why we talk about it.’

Matthews went on to say he had never seen the move after a match before.

“It’s a first. I’ve never seen it before. Have you ever seen it? That’s why we’re talking about it. It’s quite unusual.”