The fiancée of 7News AFL reporter Mitch Cleary has been seen at her parents’ home with the couple’s seven-month-old daughter after he admitted kissing a Collingwood staff member while she was pregnant.
Kate Watts, a horse-racing commentator, appeared in public in Melbourne on Wednesday, September 2, as Cleary returned to the airwaves and apologised for what he described as a “really bad error in judgement”.
The incident took place during an off-season media trip to Dubai in November 2025, according to reports. Sources have said it was a consensual kiss and not an affair, and the staff member has not been named.
Watts, who gave birth to the couple’s daughter in February, appeared to put on a brave face as she left with the child. The couple became engaged two years ago and have been together for about five years.
Mitch Cleary apologises for Collingwood staffer kiss
The controversy became public on Sunday, August 30, when Watts shared an Instagram post naming the Collingwood employee and accusing her of being involved with Cleary. The post was deleted after about an hour.
Senior sources at Seven and Collingwood later confirmed that Cleary had kissed a club employee during private time on an off-season trip. They denied that the incident developed into an affair.
A Collingwood source said: “A consensual kiss took place during personal time in an off-season trip last year.”
“The staff member regrets the incident and apologises for the impact their actions caused,” the source added, while denying online claims that the woman worked in the club’s media department.
Cleary issued an apology on Instagram after the report became public, saying he was “incredibly sorry” for the hurt and embarrassment caused.
“The kiss was a terrible error in judgment for which I am incredibly sorry, and I am dealing with the consequences privately with my family and those closest to me,” he wrote.
He added that he did not want to diminish his actions, but said that “most of what has been suggested about the circumstances is not accurate”.
Cleary addressed the matter again on his weekly AFL trades podcast, The Tradies, which he presents with fellow reporter Sam McClure.
McClure asked him whether he wanted to add anything to his written statement before the programme turned to its regular football coverage.
Cleary replied: “It’s caused so much hurt, stress and embarrassment to those closest to me, most importantly Kate and my daughter.”
“I’m working through it with those around me in a private setting, because it’s a personal matter,” he said.
He acknowledged that the podcast sometimes discusses the personal lives of AFL players, saying it would not have been fair to avoid addressing his own actions.
Cleary then agreed with McClure that the pair should return to their usual subject, adding: “We are a footy show, there’s footy trades on the horizon. Keen to talk about that.”
