3AW’s AFL caller, Rex Hunt, is in trouble over a gaffe in which an Aboriginal player was described as being “… as black as a dog”.

The comment was directed at Collingwood’s Leon Davis as Hunt called Friday night’s match against Essendon.

He said: “Tarrant’s no good. Neither is Leon … Neon Leon’s as black as a dog … the night is as black as a dog … I stuffed it up. I’ll have a rest. I knew it was going to happen … I said he was dark on his opponent. Aw, shut up,” Hunt said, clearly recognising the blunder.

Soon after, Hunt rejoined the call: “I’ll take it over here. Neon Leon, they need him to light up, but he hasn’t lit up tonight. That’s what I meant to say … it’s time I retired anyhow.”

He says he was referring to Davis’ mood on the field at the time.

3AW bosses have come straight out in his defence. Program Director, Clark Forbes, has told The Australian’s Michael Davis that it was clearly a slip of the tongue.

“Rex often says the night’s as black as a dog’s guts and he just got a bit confused.”

Hunt says he wants to ring the player to apologise:

“I want him to understand it was part of my repertoire to talk about my dog’s black guts.

“What I said sounded terrible and that’s why I stopped in my tracks. I will be telling Leon I’m extremely sorry, and I hope he plays the game of his life next week.”