An argument between former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott and veteran AFL journalist Damian Barrett escalated into a physical altercation in a New York bar, it has been revealed.

The fracas happened during the 2016 off-season just after the Kangaroos had controversially sacked AFL games-record-holder Brent Harvey, and veterans Nick Dal Santo, Michael Firrito and Drew Petrie.

The decision ended the careers of all but Petrie who played one more season at West Coast. Scott was heavily criticised in the media, including Barrett, for his involvement in the axings.

After the season, Barrett was holidaying with fellow journalist Craig Hutchison who was friendly with Brad and Chris Scott - and the twins happened to also be in New York.

Despite Barrett pleading with Hutchison to avoid organising an awkward get together, the parties met for beers at a sports bar and things were initially civil.

But Hutchison revealed in The Sounding Board podcast, which features himself and Barrett, after a few more drinks things got heated.

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Brad Scott was apparently forced into the timing of his 'mutual' departure from North Melbourne. Credit: AAP

Hutchison: The Scott brothers walk in and you give me a stare… but they’re such great company and good conversationalists and they mould in Brad breaks the ice watching baseball and for an hour and a half I don’t think anymore of it.

And then you’ve got to go and decide to review what happened over the year, don’t you? You couldn’t help yourself, you decide that you need to use that moment to actually run back over North Melbourne’s season that was.

Barrett: This is where you don’t know what happened Hutchy and I don’t know what you’re about to say next because only probably two people know what happened next and no doubt you’ll put some mayonnaise on whatever you’re about to say.

Hutchison: You poke the bear, you poked the bear… and I’m like ‘Damo it’s October don’t worry about it mate we’ve all moved on’, and you’re like ‘No, no, no Brad you said and then I said and then you said’.

And then I looked around, it’s Halloween by the way, it’s actually a week out from Halloween but all the Halloween paraphernalia was up, and I looked around and how do I best describe this? The two of you are wrestling, wrestling in the bar, not a muck-around wrestle, a fracca had broken out between you and Brad Scott and you’re tangled up in the Halloween cobwebs against the wall!

AFL journalist Damian Barrett was critical of Brad Scott during the 2016 season. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / Getty Images

Barrett: Do you reckon I was holding my own Hutch!?

Hutchison: No!… that’s a classic example of why you should not get yourself in those situations… and then you turned on me and said ‘you started this!’

BARRETT: I patched things up with Brad Scott far quicker than I patched things up with you then… I refused to speak to you until breakfast two mornings after that.

Hutchison: No, you held it against me for at least a year because you’re such a hater that you needed at least 12 months to get it out of your system!