Time On: The major A-list event Eddie McGuire missed out on
Eddie McGuire has been keeping himself busy, appearing at events and spruiking Gather Round, but it’s meant he had to miss out on a big celebration with a famous billionaire.
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Time On is your wrap up of all the footy gossip and banter.
Eddie McGuire has been in Adelaide hosting shows, making appearances and spruiking Gather Round.
It meant he missed a special celebration this week at Vue de Monde, where trucking billionaire Lindsay Fox hosted a group of close mates to celebrate his upcoming 88th birthday.
McGuire got the lowdown on the gathering from good friend, Peter Gago, Penfolds chief winemaker, who flew in from that event in Melbourne to present a $55,000 bottle of Grange gifted at SA premier Peter Malinauskas’ media lunch on Wednesday.
McGuire and Gago were overhead also discussing how McGuire had last week flown with Fox to Echuca to visit Barry Clark, the hero farmer and shearer who confronted a 17 year-old with a gun on a Jetstar flight at Avalon Airport last month.
Fox is due to fly out to Hawaii now to celebrate with close family and friends on the 19th.
McGuire is still attending functions, on Friday morning he was part of a panel alongside legendary broadcaster Sandy Roberts and Adelaide great Mark Ricciuto at the Myeloma Australia Gather Round My Greatest Call breakfast.
Myeloma Australian Chairman Jeff Browne, who suffers from myeloma along with Roberts, also hosted AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder and Malinauskas dropped in for a chat.
“It is presently incurable and growing in larger numbers in Australia than anywhere else in the world,’’ Browne said.
McGuire said he has an idea to create a “Torpedo over the Torrens” competition to raise funds. Could catch on.
Dees mark double baby joy
Melbourne may not have won a game but the club was celebrating double baby joy this week.
Goalkicker Bayley Fritsch and fiance Natalie Perin welcomed their first child, a boy named Noah.
The couple who got engaged last November in Hawaii, posted to Instagram adorable pictures of their newborn, named Noah Leo Fritsch.
And Jack Billings and his wife Sarah welcomed their first child, a son named Oscar Billings.
Caro-Tredrea seating arrangement raises eyebrows
Feuding footy identities Caroline Wilson and Warren Tredrea crossed paths at a media function in Adelaide on Thursday.
The frostiness thawed somewhat when Wilson made a beeline for Tredrea to say hello and he responded with a polite acknowledgment.
But the pair’s pleasantries ended there as they were seated at opposite ends of the venue were South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas was playing host.
Wilson has hit out at the Port Adelaide footy great and current club board member over his social media activity and political views.
Tredrea responded by saying the “baseless attacks on character” and disliking an opinion was “fear-based control”.
Also at the function were Gerard Whateley, Eddie McGuire, Nick Riewoldt, Brian Taylor, Abbey Holmes, Kelli Underwood and a slew of TV reporters including Tom Morris, Mitch Cleary, Xander McGuire and Nick Butler.
Fashion clash hits Gather Round
Gather Round kicked off in style — literally — with an epic fashion clash.
At the gala opening dinner at Penfolds Magill Estate on Wednesday night, the two first ladies in Adelaide this week – Amanda Dillon and Annabel Malinauskas – stepped out in the same black dress by Scanlan Theodore.
“If you go to Scanlan, someone is bound to be in the same dress,” Amanda said. “And it’s black too, we have good taste.”
Amanda, wife of AFL CEO Andrew Dillon, and Annabel, wife of South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas, loved the coincidental double take.
They were joined by 260 VIP guests including club CEOs, presidents, sponsors, media and government to kickstart the week when all clubs play in the state across various locations. Amy Shark performed for the crowd and Hamish McLachlan was MC.
Shark steals the show
Shark meanwhile stole the show at the function when she performed three of her big hits on stage with her guitar.
You could have heard a pin drop as she mesmerised with Adore, I Said Hi and Everybody Rise.
But it was when she spoke to the crowd between songs that she raised eyebrows, with the Australian Idol judge giving an honest appraisal of the AFL versus NRL and her time on the reality singing show which had its grand final this week.
“I love it because they pay me a lot of money … but it can get soul searching,’’ she said of Idol.
She added: “Any time I get to come to Adelaide, I frickin love it. It’s a good little sneaky trip away from Idol. I used this so much by the way. They tried to get me to do so much promo and I was like I’ve got the Adelaide thing so thank you for saving me.”
All of Channel 7’s hierarchy was in the room watching on.
But she put a smile on Andrew Dillon’s face when she endeared herself by sharing high praise for the AFL and delivering a backhander to the NRL.
“I’m from Queensland so unfortunately I’ve had NRL pushed in front of me, which kind of sucks,’’ she said.
“I’m not just saying that because I’m playing tonight — you guys, you know what’s up. We don’t need to totally drill the NRL into the ground but you guys know what’s up. In case someone is filming this … actually you know what, screw them, honestly they just screw around artists, you guys actually understand artists, thank you for doing that.”
Gather Round on the move?
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas was grilled about the future of Gather Round by Sydney chairman Andrew Pridham.
And it appears he has some concerns about other states stealing the prized round with the agreement ending next year.
“I’ve got to keep my eye on you there,’’ Malinauskas told Pridham on his MA Financial Group’s What Matters podcast.
“You’ve always got to keep your eye on me, who knows what could happen,’’ Pridham replied.
Malinauskas said he’s keen to retain it but understands Tasmania will also want to pursue it.
“I’m really keen to see how the Barossa goes this weekend,’’ Malinauskas said.
“I think that Gather Round has future opportunities without giving too much away. 18 teams, one city, one state, one time. What can make it better, we need to think about it a bit more. My feeling is we have only started unlocking this opportunity.”
‘I checked this time’: No dinner woes for Tom Morris
There were many friends and foes coming together to celebrate Gather Round, including in the media.
Last year Tom Morris thought he was invited to the dinner but was told he didn’t have a seat after roaming the room looking for his name tag.
It was Nine’s veteran sports presenter Tony Jones who got the network’s seat, and it was the same story on Wednesday night.
“I checked this time,’’ Morris said.
But at the venue before the official welcome kicked off were plenty of journos doing live crosses.
Morris posted to social media a picture of himself with Jones, Channel 7’s Mitch Cleary (who was invited) and Fox Sports’ Drew Jones, with the sunset backdrop at Penfolds. Happy times.
Maccas at the White House
After tasting National Championship glory with the Ohio Buckeyes, college punter Joe McGuire has locked in a date with Donald Trump.
The son of TV host Eddie McGuire, Joe and his teammates will be visiting the US president at the White House next week.
“He’s used to hanging around with presidents,’’ said Eddie, the former Collingwood president.
“He’s going to the White House there for lunch on Monday.
“I think they’re going to be served McDonald’s and I told him — don’t open your mouth, you’ll end up with a tariff. So be careful.”
Eddie, who spent a few months over in the US following his eldest son’s journey to ultimate success in January, hosted Channel 9’s Gather Round footy special in Adelaide on Tuesday night.
He said Joe would head back to Melbourne for a visit later this month.
McGuire, who made his debut with Ohio in September 2024, was left speechless after the National Championship win watched by 30 million viewers.
“It’s unbelievable, I don’t know what to say, to be honest,” Joe said.
“It’s just unreal.”
He and his brother, Channel 7 sports reporter Xander, celebrated by doing shoeys. In Atlanta, Ohio triumphed 34-23 triumph over Notre Dame.
Eddie said at the time: “It was great, all the atmosphere of a grand final, and it was just amazing seeing your son win it.
“The Trump family might be happy, but not as happy as the McGuires. It’s been a long campaign and we’re just so proud and delighted.”
In an incredible turn of events, Joe, 24, squared off against the Fighting Irish’s Melbourne punter James Rendell, 24, the son of former Fitzroy captain and Collingwood recruiter Matthew Rendell.
Caro and Hutchy butt heads
Caroline Wilson didn’t hold back during a difference of opinion with Craig Hutchison over the Oscar Allen meeting with Hawthorn saga.
The Agenda Setters panellists butted heads on Monday night after Wilson used her Caro’s Call segment to condemn Geelong Chris Scott for telling upset people to grow up.
“Can I just for one minute remind you, you cynical, commercial, commentator and businessman, that this is not about you,’’ Wilson said.
“The people who make up this game are the people who love it and pay the money to go and see it. Can you imagine if Nick (Riewoldt) had done that as St Kilda captain, how St Kilda supporters would have felt.”
Sitting between the arguing Wilson and Hutchison was Kane Cornes who couldn’t help but laugh at Wilson’s spray.
Hutchison labelled West Coast parading Allen in a press conference to apologise as embarrassing, saying Hawthorn had “schooled” them by putting James Sicily up.
He had said: “A point well articulated, but entirely disagree with you Caro, that won’t surprise you at all. This is a modern, progressive competition. Captains shouldn’t be discriminated against because they’re out of contract and the club won’t give him a long-term contract.”
Honest Jack
It seems St Kilda livewire Jack Higgins missed the AFL’s memo on Gather Round.
Higgins was on fire in St Kilda’s win over Port Adelaide on Sunday, and the Saints will remain in the city all week ahead of their showdown with GWS next Sunday as the entire league descends on the City of Churches.
But just because the AFL wants to celebrate all things Adelaide, it doesn’t mean Higgins has to join the party.
When asked by Channel 7’s Erin Phillips after the win over Port if he has any plans for the week ahead, he gave a very honest response.
“No. I don’t like Adelaide so I’ll probably be in my room playing Call of Duty with the boys.”
While the comment cracked up Phillips, it didn’t go over well with James Brayshaw who lived in Adelaide while playing cricket for the Redbacks.
“Come on Higgo, it’s a cracking town, what are you talking about,” Brayshaw responded.
Co-commentator Jason Bennett added: “After he’s said that, he may not want to leave the hotel room!”
But Brayshaw wasn’t the only one angered by Higgins’ remark, with Croweaters taking to social media to fly the flag for their city.
One wrote on X: “LOL okay well then leave.”
A second added: “Says what kinda person he is. Grown man playing COD.”
We’ll see what kind of reception Higgins gets when he runs out onto Norwood Oval on Sunday.
Howie the quiz show host?
Footy and cricket commentator Mark Howard has confirmed he was sounded out about hosting the reboot of popular TV show Who Wants to be a Millionaire.
We reported last month that Eddie McGuire had given his blessing for a revival, which is set for Network 10, after he hosted the show for 25 years.
He urged the hot seat to be filled by a left-field host and Howard, whose profile continues to rise, confirmed he’s fielded inquiries.
“That is true,’’ Howard responded to a probing Nathan Brown on Triple M’s Friday Huddle.
“This is not something I was expecting, (to be asked) Nathan.
“I love working at Fox and I’ve got enough on my plate there so unfortunately that’s not something we’ll be pursuing. I’m fully committed to Fox.”
Brown, who has dubbed Howard “our generation’s Richie Benaud”, wondered if there was a bomb to drop.
Dunstall said he could add to his Foxtel commitments.
“They can’t hold you back, you’re a brand that’s expanding. It’ll benefit everyone because your brand will be bigger,’’ he said.
William’s no wanker
Billy Brownless has officially traded up in life.
Well dressed and well spoken, everyone’s favourite larrikin has officially declared himself one of Melbourne’s sophisticates.
It came after Time On commented on his glow up and lifestyle change alongside partner and blonde beauty Crystle Fleur. The change had been noted by his Triple M colleagues and prompted James Brayshaw to label him a “proper wanker”.
“It’s called respect,’’ Brownless said on Triple M’s Saturday Rub.
“I just want to address some reports that have tarnished my character.
“I read last week ‘proper wanker’ Brownless cops it. That was one headline. So I’ve reached a fork in the road. I no longer wish to associate with tomfoolery or boofheadedness. I’m choosing a life of sophistication, a more mature life. That may involve fine art and limoncellos. I’m swapping Carlton Draught tank beer and curried sausages for Campari spritzers and pate.
“The dusty pink, Triple L Gazman is out, Ralph Lauren and Gucci is in.”
Brownless, wearing sunglasses, a beanie and a jumper tied over his shoulders, said he’d like to be known “as William.”
“I’m not Bins. I’m not Fat. I’m not Browny. I’m not Cobb. I’m not Smack. I’m not Dribbler. I’m not Whale. I am simply, William. We can take discussions offline and circle back and try to move the needle of this brand new pivot if we want to … I’ve changed. New look. People think I’m a wanker, just trying to say I’m not a wanker.”
But Brayshaw and co were not impressed — Brayshaw completed the humorous segment by doubling down with one comment: “You are a complete wanker.”
Please, dad
Jack Crisp posted an adorable video of his baby daughter Murphy excitedly watching a clip of Sabrina Carpenter’s hit Please, Please, Please.
And the Collingwood star was chuffed when the superstar singer re-posted it to her more than 46 million followers on Instagram.
Carpenter commented “I’m melting” along with “she is precious, this made my day”.
Crisp, who is just three games short of Jim Stynes’ longstanding record for most consecutive AFL/VFL games, is a social media star himself and was impressed.
“How good that she re-posted,’’ he commented with love hearts.
Originally published as Time On: The major A-list event Eddie McGuire missed out on
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