Top Melbourne broadcaster Neil Mitchell has defended his decision to name two AFL players he says are involved in a police rape investigation, after a fury of criticism against him.
Speaking on his 3AW morning program, Mitchell said his decision to name the Collingwood players was not based on chasing ratings.
"This was about consistency and fairness. All this talk about chasing ratings is nonsense," he said on Friday.
Mitchell also said he would attend a longstanding arrangement to have lunch with Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire on Friday.
"It's a long standing arrangement ... we can disagree and still talk to each other," he said.
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McGuire led the backlash against Mitchell's actions on Thursday and called him a "media crusader" and a "self-appointed, self-important windbag" for naming the players.
Collingwood club lawyer David Galbally QC said naming the players had placed them in a position of guilt, while players' association chief executive Matt Finnis called on media organisations to avoid jumping to conclusions based on unproven allegations.
The AFL has backed the Magpies, saying the club had fully co-operated with police.
The two Collingwood players have been questioned by police but it is not known if they are potential suspects or witnesses.
No charges have been laid but a police investigation is continuing after a young woman came forward saying she was raped at a South Melbourne home on Sunday morning.
