'You d***head': AFL great's brutal spray for Port Adelaide rookie

Port Adelaide rookie Mitch Georgiades puts his head in his hands after bungling a wide-open shot on goal.
Port Adelaide rookie Mitch Georgiades could only put his head in his hands after blowing a wide-open shot on goal last weekend against Hawthorn. Pictures: Getty Images/Fox Footy

Port Adelaide rookie Mitch Georgiades knew he’d messed up when his dribble kick into an open goal missed the mark - but the resultant media pile-on probably didn’t help.

Former Hawthorn great turned media commentator Jason Dunstall labelled Georgiades a ‘d***head’ for his clumsy miss, adding to the 18-year-old’s misery - despite the Power’s 10-point win over Hawthorn.

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Dunstall has had a long-running joke segment on Fox Footy program ‘Bounce’ program, in which he berates players who opt for a dribble shot on goal, when a conventional drop punt would likely have ended in a goal.

He didn’t spare Georgiades, who could do nothing but hold his head in his hands after his dribble kick from 15m out strayed wide.

Egged on by co-host Bernie Vince, Dunstall eventually erupted into a tirade the Port Adelaide youngster won’t soon forget.

“You have to look the player in the eye and say listen here Mitch, you d***head,” Dunstall said.

“If you think after playing just a handful of games, you have the right to say ‘everyone, look at me, have a look at Mitchy boy! I can do the fancy stuff! Watch me dribble it through! Woo hoo! I’m a freaking cowboy!’

“What about sparing a thought for your coach, Kenny Hinkley.

“He’s gone in to bat for you, and all you’ve done is pulled your dacks down and backed one out on all his best plans.

“You’re trying to win a premiership at Port Adelaide — you nearly cost them that flag! You can just piss off if that’s what you think you’re going to do!”

AFL set for significant job cuts

Close to 20 per cent of roles across the AFL nationally will disappear as part of a significant restructure due to the financial effects of COVID-19.

The AFL announced details of its planned restructure - with a new structure to come into effect on November 1 - on Monday, which included multiple changes to and reductions in its staffing.

The league had previously stood down about 80 per cent of its workforce in March.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is pictured.
The AFL have announced a reduction of roughly 20 per cent of jobs within the league, in an effort to save money. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

"For our industry and game to emerge stronger from this ongoing COVID-19 challenge and the increased uncertainty we face over coming years, we need to significantly change our business model for not only the AFL but the wider football community," AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said.

"We have very clear priorities that we need to focus on, and I am confident that we have made the right decisions around the structure needed to deliver on those key priorities."

The governing body's impending job cuts follow football department redundancies across AFL clubs in recent weeks.