DAMIAN Barrett has hit back at AFL players who are holding journalists accountable for their mistakes on social media.

North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein said on The Oval Office that the media is a "necessary evil", following the social media spat between Channel Seven journalist Tom Browne and Richmond star Jack Riewoldt.

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Barrett said journalists are a very hittable target.

"I think we (the media) are held to account every single minute of every single day in various forms," Barrett said.

"If you continually get things wrong, you're not going to be surviving in this game for a week, let alone five years. There's an accountability that's always been there.

"The footballers think they've discovered media accountability in the past week or so."

Craig Hutchison said improving media access to players could eliminate the spread of misinformation.

"We hold players so accountable to every mistake and error – hard – and yet when we as media make errors, they're generally washed over," Hutchison said.

"Media owners in general I think in the modern era are too interested in feeding the beast and less interested in the absolute finite accuracy in what fed the beast.

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"Where I disagree with Todd is that he said the players are always available. That, you know, is not true. They're next to never available (and) it takes shows like The Oval Office to make them available.

"Players have got their shoulders back a bit, they're a bit more vocal about things they don't like. And because their own social followings have grown so strong, they have an ability to fight back like the never have before – and raise you some."



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Episode guide

1.30 – Todd Goldstein saying the media is a "necessary evil"

5.00 – Tom Browne v Jack Riewoldt

8.30 – Umpires silenced

15.00 – The next Bruce McAvaney

19.00 – Spin City – Hutchy as the head chef of the MCC's Presidents Lunch

25.00 – Melbourne tanking investigation still going

30.30 – Rodney Eade's coaching audio released

36.30 – The Footy Show

42.00 – Peter Burnett