Mitch Cleary scandal twist as fiancée retreats to her parents' home with their baby: We reveal the big AFL and media names on the Dubai junket where he kissed a Magpies staffer

The fiancée of 7News AFL journalist Mitch Cleary has been spotted at her parents' home with their seven-month-old daughter after he admitted to kissing another woman while she was pregnant.

The high-profile footy reporter, who broke stories on the Swans scandal, has been on the other side of the headlines this week after he admitted to the off-season kiss with a Collingwood staffer, whom the Daily Mail has chosen not to name.

Incredibly, the indiscretion was made public by Cleary's partner, horse racing commentator Kate Watts, in a since-deleted Instagram post on Sunday in which she named the Magpies employee.

The Daily Mail understands it was simply a kiss and not an affair, and that it occurred during a media junket in Dubai last November.

A day after the story was picked up by the wider media - with the Mail first to name Cleary as the man at the centre of the storm - Watts was pictured heading to her parents' home with her child in tow, dressed in black slacks with a blue blouse.

The new mother, who gave birth in February, appeared to put on a brave face amid the scrutiny surrounding her fiancé, who made a grovelling apology about his indiscretion on Wednesday. 

The Mail can now reveal that his kiss with the Pies staffer, who contrary to online rumours is not a member of the club's media department, took place at a junket that was attended by several big names in media and Collingwood players. 

Sporting stars Darcy Moore and Isaac Quaynor were at the gathering, as well as footy-playing brothers Josh and Nick Daicos.

The Herald-Sun's gossip columnist Jackie Epstein was also in attendance, as well as Cleary's Seven colleague, senior television news cameraman Damian Shine. 

Cleary returned to the airwaves on Wednesday morning, just hours after he admitted to his lapse of judgement in response to the Mail's exclusive report naming him.

Having previously issued a remorseful statement on his Instagram, he issued a second apology for his indiscretion on his podcast about AFL trades, The Tradies.

Cleary spent the first two minutes addressing the scandal on his weekly podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow AFL reporter Sam McClure.

'Before we start the regular part of the pod, Mitch, it would be disingenuous to us and to our listeners and our fanbase without addressing what's happened in the last 24 hours, of which you've publicly made a statement,' McClure began.

'Do you want to add anything to that statement at all?' 

Cleary replied: 'Yeah, I made a really bad error in judgement on a night out last year and I'm dealing with the consequences of that.

'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.

'And I just... those around me, the thoughts of everyone involved, are at the forefront. I've got to wear that and I've got to work through the consequences as part of it.'

McClure was keen to not dwell on the subject, adding that it was now a personal matter for Cleary and his family.

'We're here to talk footy,' Cleary agreed, before acknowledging how their show sometimes touches on the personal lives of sports stars - something critics have seized upon in the wake of the scandal.

'We cross over on trades and that sort of thing in terms of the personal lives of people, so it wouldn't be fair if I didn't come on here and address that I made a major error,' Cleary added.

'But we are a footy show, there's footy trades on the horizon. Keen to talk about that.'

Watts had sensationally called out her fiancé on social media on Sunday evening, sharing a photo of Cleary at a football game next to a sign declaring him the 'GOAT', or 'greatest of all time'.  

However, her accompanying caption - naming a Magpies employee and accusing her of being involved with Cleary - soon became the talk of the AFL and Melbourne media.

Senior sources at both Seven and Collingwood confirmed to the Daily Mail on Tuesday afternoon that Cleary kissed a Pies employee during an off-season gathering. 

However, they categorically denied any affair took place, and the Mail does not suggest otherwise.

Watts identified the Collingwood employee in her post, which was deleted after about an hour. We have chosen not to name or picture her.

Earlier on Tuesday, sources confirmed that the kiss occurred during a media junket.

Hours later, a Collingwood insider 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.

'Rumours circulating online stating that the staff member is a member of the media department are completely false.'

After the Daily Mail broke the story, Cleary released a statement apologising for his 'terrible error in judgement'.

'I am sorry for the hurt and embarrassment I have caused for all parties,' he wrote on Instagram.

'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.

'I don't want to diminish my actions, but most of what has been suggested about the circumstances is not accurate.'

Watts herself hails from AFL royalty - her younger brother, Jack, played for Port Adelaide and Melbourne.

Cleary and Watts, whose daughter was born in February, got engaged two years ago and have been together for about five years.