Media personalities criticise pro footballer for DJing at Melbourne's Revolver

An Australian Football League player has been criticised by hosts of a television panel show for DJing at "dubious" Revolver at the weekend.

Ben Stratton, who plays for Hawthorn in the AFL and is a member of the club's leadership group, played back-to-back for two hours in the main room from the debauched hour of 8pm at the Summer Series closing party on Sunday, headlined by a DJ Tennis five-hour set.

The three-time premiership player's place on the line-up caught the eye of presenters of AFL news talk show 'Footy Classified,' who weren't too keen on the pre-season sesh.

"I don't think it's a particularly good look, no," The Age newspaper's chief football writer Caroline Wilson said, after an article about several drug-related hospitalisations that occurred at the nightclub and in the Chapel St precinct in January was referenced.

"I just think the club in question's a dubious one. I'm not sure it's a great choice ... I don't like the look of him being in a place like that on a Sunday night," added the show's host Craig Hutchison.

Another panel member, Garry Lyon, seemed more reasonable, suggesting Stratton would be back home in bed by 10.30pm.

The Hawthorn Football Club even released a statement: "We can confirm the club was aware that Ben was DJing last night. Music is a huge passion of Ben's and as a club we look to support our players in their lives away from footy. Ben's set was from 8pm and he kept the club informed of his attendance."

Revs is often the easy target for media in Melbourne when drug-related hospitalisations occur, despite club management's best efforts to prevent harm, including posting information when a dangerous batch of drugs has been detected in circulation.

Go on, Ben. After all, dance music doesn't seem to have hurt DJ Tennis' career.

Scott Carbines is Mixmag's Australian Digital Content Editor, follow him on Twitter