Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett has labelled the AFL’s clarification on a possible ‘AFLM’ name change as “embarrassing and unprofessional” for the league.

The AFL on Wednesday clarified it had no plans for a name change after football operations manager Steve Hocking’s comments about potentially calling the men’s competition the ‘AFLM’ in the future.

In a scathing tweet, Kennett said Hocking’s comments were “thoughtless”, adding the AFL was “answerable to no one”.

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Round 18

“AFL’s Steve Hocking has got to be answerable to someone in the AFL before making thoughtless comments, that then have to be reversed,” Kennett wrote.

“Embarrassing and unprofessional for the AFL. An organisation with little administrative discipline. Answerable to no one.”

AFL's Steve Hocking has got to be answerable to someone in the AFL before making thoughtless comments, that then have to be reversed. Embarrassing and unprofessional for the AFL. An organisation with little administrative discipline. Answerable to no one. — Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) February 11, 2020

Kennett’s tweet came after Hocking’s appearance on the ABC’s The Outer Sanctum podcast.

On Saturday, Hocking was asked about the possibility of the men’s competition rebranding to fall in line with the fledgling AFLW women’s league and was receptive.

“I just think that a lot of what we’ve touched on here is just tradition,” Hocking said towards the end of a wide-ranging interview on AFLW issues, which included women’s competition chief Nicole Livingstone.

“There’s a whole range of things that we’re unpacking that have just been the way they’ve been because of 160 years of football.

“I think that’s OK.

“I don’t think we need to necessarily be looking over the fence at one another and saying whether we need to add another initial to something.

“But if in time that’s something that emerges, we are all ears at the AFL.”

However, the league issued a clarification on Tuesday after the widespread reporting of the comments.

“We had a great first round to season four of the AFL Women’s competition,” the statement released via social media said.

“AFLW has built its own powerful identity in the community and we will continue to promote its message and celebrate the league and women’s football.

“There are no plans to change the name of the AFL competition.”