A quip from AFL legend Nathan Burke about passengers on the Frankston line being “the great unwashed” during Richmond’s clash with North Melbourne has drawn a wave of criticism, with listeners quickly firing back—before Burke ultimately said he was born and ra
Nathan Burke’s trip into the MCG on Sunday didn’t last long before it became the kind of joke that doesn’t stay inside the broadcast.
Speaking on ABC during Richmond’s match against North Melbourne, the 56-year-old former St Kilda man was talking about his commute on the train into the ground—specifically the Frankston line—and joked about the company he had with him.
The comments landed during the broadcast when Joel Peterson began setting the scene, calling it “soothing on the train on the Frankston line.” Burke then took his swipe, saying: “Just calming, travelling in with the great unwashed, I just calmed myself down.”
Uncomfortable laughter followed from the booth, with Peterson responding, “Jeepers,” and Lauren Bordin turning her face away from the cameras with her hands over her expression.
Peterson pushed back immediately. “Here we were thinking you were levelling with the good people of the Frankston line, and you’ve just gone and clipped them,” he said. Bordin added, “I can already see the complaints coming through.”
Burke didn’t back away. “I am one of them, I am right in the middle,” he said—before Marc Murphy told his co-hosts he would be watching the computer and asked listeners to send their texts in.
They did. The messages came in quickly, turning the exchange from light banter into a public argument with the people of the Frankston line. Before any of the texts could even be read out, Burke declared: “I will see them on the way home.”
One listener, identifying themselves as connected to the region, wrote: “Nathan quickly eroding his man of the people tag. Residents of Moe-by-the-Sea not impressed, and I can say that being a Moe boy by birth.”
Burke was offered a rebuttal moment and asked, “What’s Moe got to do with the Frankston line,” once he was told Moe-by-the-Sea is Frankston.
After that, Burke relented and tried to close the gap. “Frankston is a wonderful spot. I grew up in Frankston, love it,” he said. “I coached local football down there, still do.”
Even then, the last word didn’t fully land. Another response came through with a blunt personal claim: that a husband who rides the Frankston line “has all his teeth,” leaving the listener unsure the Frankston line is actually “the great unwashed.”
Nathan Burke Richmond North Melbourne MCG ABC Frankston line Moe-by-the-Sea Joel Peterson Lauren Bordin Marc Murphy AFL
Frankston got cooked by a joke, sheesh.
Idk why he said that like the whole train line is “unwashed”?? Like dude you’re on public transport too. And then he “relented” but still, come on. People are gonna complain, that’s kinda what happens.
Moe-by-the-Sea thing is weird, because isn’t Moe in Victoria? Like how is that even relevant to Frankston, they’re totally different areas. I’m not saying it’s right to call people unwashed, but sounds like they just wanted drama. Also “I am one of them” like ok cool, still not a great look.
ABC really just left him to say it and then acted surprised. The whole “great unwashed” thing is classist as hell. And the teeth comment?? That was low key maybe worse than the original, like what are we doing. Next thing you know they’ll be like “it’s just banter” while everyone’s waiting for complaints to come through. I feel like Lauren Bordin was already done with it before he even tried to walk it back.