Max Burford’s journey from ‘B-grade’ footballer to Adelaide’s A-list

It’s been an unconventional road to the top of Adelaide’s media scene for this former PAC boy.

Max Burford. Picture: Russell Millard

Like most young Aussie kids, Max Burford harboured dreams of one day playing sport at the highest level.

When he realised he was always going to be, in his words, a B-grade footballer, he poured his energy into his next love – sports journalism.

“I’ve always loved sport, and English was my best subject at school, so I thought I’d try to combine the two,” Burford says.

“And it’s working out pretty well so far.”

“Pretty well” is something of an understatement. The 30-year-old has just landed two of the more coveted jobs in South Australian media – weeknight sports anchor on Channel 10 and a co-hosting spot with Ali Clarke on Mix 102.3’s breakfast show.

Born and raised in Adelaide, Burford went to St Joseph’s Memorial Primary (“I got in trouble with Mum when I didn’t mention that Last time”), before following in his dad’s footsteps and completing his senior schooling at Prince Alfred College.

Ali Clarke. Picture Mike Burton

Rebecca Morse. Picture Matt Turner.

From there, it was on to UniSA for a double degree in journalism and international relations before hitting the ski fields of Canada for “the gap year I never had”.

Burford’s first job in journalism was in Ten’s newsroom, skipping the stint in the regions that most TV reporters do.

“I copped a lot of stick – mainly from Rebecca Morse – for not doing my time in the country,” Burford laughs.

“But I did work experience at Ten and then, when I got back from overseas, they were nice enough to just let me hang around and soak it all in. Eventually they thought I was ready to do the job.”

His first day as a young sports reporter was significant for all the wrong reasons as the city woke to the news that Adelaide Crows coach Phil Walsh had been killed.

“That was a memorable and very sad start,” Burford recalls.

Kate Freebairn. Picture: Channel 10

At Ten, Burford will pair up with newsreader Kate Freebairn and weather presenter Tiffany Warne for the 2023 reboot of the bulletin, which will see a return to a wholly South Australian line-up – although Freebairn will read from Ten’s Sydney studio.

“I’m so glad it’s Kate,” Burford says.

“Kate and I are very good friends. And Tiff on the weather too – the three of us get along swimmingly.”

Burford says he’s not too daunted by the long days he’s facing in 2023, although he is hoping his bosses at Mix 102.3 will allow him a 5.59am start for his 6am shift.

In the meantime, he says, he plans to enjoy Christmas with his family, which is Italian on his mum’s side (“The Christmas lasagne is a highlight of the year for my brother and I”) and continue planning for his March wedding to fiancee Eliza.

“We’ve got most of it in order now, which I’ll give Eliza most of the credit for,” Burford says.

“But I like to think that the few tasks she’s thrown my way I’ve handled with aplomb.”

Oh, and they both plan to find plenty of time for walks around Mile End with their two-year-old groodle Morris.