Matthew Lloyd reveals private texts on live TV

Matthew Lloyd, a former Australian Rules football star and current panelist on Nine's Sunday Footy Show, shocked his co-hosts during a live broadcast. While discussing a friendly rivalry between fellow footy stars Nathan Brown and Tony Jones, Lloyd displayed private text messages from their group chat on screen. The messages revealed Jones congratulating Brown on being named to the Bulldogs' best team from 2000-2024. Brown responded with a middle-finger emoji, which Lloyd joked about, saying it was a compliment from Jones. Co-host Damien Barrett quickly pointed out, "It's private messages, Lloydo!" The panel was surprised by Lloyd's choice to share those texts. Brown, when confronted about his reaction, claimed he didn't need to apologise for his response. He said he often views Jones' compliments as backhanded. The conversation then turned to the competition between Nine and rival broadcaster Seven, which has invested heavily in its own footy programs. Tensions have risen between the two networks as both vie for viewers and top commentators. Overall, Lloyd's unexpected revelation of the private messages during the show has stirred some controversy among his colleagues and highlighted the ongoing rivalry in the sports broadcasting industry.