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Sydney Swans join Seven boycott

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The Sydney Swans are the latest AFL club to join the boycott of Channel 7, with returning defender Leo Barry refusing to answer questions from a Seven journalist.

Seven and the AFL Players Association are at loggerheads after Seven broadcast details of highly sensitive medical documents surrounding a Melbourne based club. Those documents, alleging several players had tested positive to drugs, were later revealed as stolen.

The heated exchange between Barry and Seven journalist Nick Marshall-McCormack began when Marshall-McCormack attempted to place a clip microphone on Barry’s shirt.

“You’re from Seven? Sorry mate I won’t be answering questions,” Barry said, refusing to wear the microphone.

The conference then began, with Marshall-McCormack asking the first question.

Ch 7: Are you the inspirational leader the Swans are desperate to have back this weekend?

Leo Barry: I’m not answering questions, mate. I just said that before, Okay.

Ch7: Not answering questions?

LB: No. Not with Channel Seven, so…

Ch7: Why is that, mate?

LB: I thought you’d actually turn up and ask the first question, so I’m not answering.

A journalist from another organization quickly stepped in and asked a question, with the press conference progressing as normal, until Marshall-McCormack tried again.

Ch7: The coach was talking about resting some the bigger name players, just to get a….

LB: I said mate I’m not answering. I’m not answering questions.

Ch7: It’s not a question about drugs, buddy.

Adelaide’s Brett Burton refused to answer questions from a Seven journalist yesterday, while Collingwood and the Kangaroos have indicated they would boycott interviews before and after matches broadcast by Seven.