Media Street: Mike Sheahan’s Sports Australia award; radical makeover for On The Couch

Over more than four decades dedicated to covering everything AFL, Mike Sheahan has seen it all. Now he’s been recognised for it - and reveals his greatest achievement.

Mike Sheahan for Hamish McLachlan's Q&A for Sunday Herald Sun. Pic: Michael Klein

The extraordinary career of Mike Sheahan has been recognised by Sport Australia.

After more than four decades dedicated to covering AFL, the former Herald Sun chief football writer received the Lifetime Achievement Award at a lavish ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday night.

Sheahan spent 20 years leading the Herald Sun and was also a feature on Fox Footy before finishing his illustrious media career in 2020.

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Mike Sheahan’s career has been recognised by Sport Australia. Pic: Michael Klein

He said he was honoured to receive the award describing it as a “significant acknowledgment of the game I love.”

“Journalism gave me opportunities to meet people and go to places I would have never dreamt of, and I consider myself extremely lucky,“ Sheahan said.

Sheahan pointed to his coverage of the issue of concussion in the AFL as one of his greatest achievements.

“My proudest achievement is shining the light on concussion and waging an unofficial campaign in newspapers and on television for 20 years,” he said.

Mike Sheahan was a feature on Fox Footy throughout the 2000s.

His popular show ‘Open Mike’ on Fox Footy became a favourite in the second half of his career with the program running for 11 years and 230 episodes.

“I loved that program and the gems it would uncover,“ Sheahan said.

Australian Sports Commission Chair Josephine Sukkar AM said Sheahan had left an indelible mark on the AFL.

“Mike’s greatest asset has always been his unrivalled passion for the game and the role he’s played in sports media in Australia across five decades is testament to this,” Sukkar said.

“From starting his career as a 16-year-old working at the Werribee Banner while still playing the game on weekends to becoming known for his fiercely debated Top 50 player rankings, Mike has left an indelible mark on the sport.”

Sheahan is already a Life Member of the AFL with the media centre at Marvel Stadium named in his honour.

BIG NAMES LOCKED IN FOR LIGHT-HEARTED FOOTY SHOW

By Scott Gullan and Jackie Epstein

Fox Footy’s new recruit Nathan Buckley will be part of a new Saturday night show called Best On Ground.

The entertainment program will be filmed in front of a live studio audience each week and will take a light-hearted look at major storylines of the day. It will also include comedic sketches.

Collingwood great Buckley will be joined from Round 3 by host Mark Howard and other Fox Footy personalities including Jonathan Brown, Nick Riewoldt and Kath Loughnan.

“It’s good to be on this side of the fence after 30 years as a player and a coach,” Buckley said, adding that he’s still a media rookie.

“I try not to take myself too seriously. Hopefully we’ll get to analyse and celebrate all the great things of our game.”

Loughnan added: “Straight after the footy it’s going to be an entertainment show and a bit of expert chat and analysis thrown together in between. Can guarantee it’s going to be funny because we’ve hired comedians and writers.”

Nick Riewoldt, Nathan Buckley, Kath Loughnan and Jonathan Brown will be part of a new entertainment show on Fox Footy. Picture: Alex Coppel

FLAGSHIP SHOW UNDERGOES RADICAL MAKEOVER

Fox Footy’s flagship show On The Couch is undergoing a radical makeover.

A new host, a reduced panel and a new timeslot are the changes which were confirmed at the network’s 2022 season launch at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Wednesday.

The most stunning revelation is the change of time with the show moved from its traditional 8.30pm timeslot to 6.30pm, airing ahead of the nightly news show AFL 360.

It will then be replayed at 8.30pm.

Garry Lyon will take over from Gerard Healy as host after the Brownlow Medallist stepped away from the show which he’d anchored for 20 years.

Instead of replacing Healy, the panel will revert back to its original number of three with Lyon joined by Nick Riewoldt and Jonathan Brown.

There was consideration to introduce another voice, potentially a journalist in a throwback to Mike Sheahan’s days on the couch, while many thought Fox Footy’s new recruit Nathan Buckley would also feature.

Instead the trio known as the key forward cartel will take the much-loved show into its new era.

Jonathan Brown, Garry Lyon and Nick Riewoldt will lead On The Couch this year. Picture: Jason Edwards

NEW INTERVIEW SHOW TO DEBUT

FOX Footy’s latest venture into interview shows will have its talent going head-to-head with former teammates.

The highly successful Open Mike, hosted by long-time Herald Sun chief football writer Mike Sheahan, set the bar for exclusive one-on-one interviews for many years.

Former Western Bulldogs skipper Robert Murphy then dabbled in that space for a couple of years with his show ‘Bob’ as Sheahan wound down his career.

This year the format will be resurrected using the Fox Footy talent interviewing old mates who are now major players on the AFL landscape.

The show called ‘Face-To-Face’ will kick off with Jonathan Brown sitting down with two of his former Brisbane Lions teammates who are starting new coaching gigs in 2022.

Brown will interrogate new Carlton coach Michael Voss and Collingwood’s debutant senior coach Craig McCrae.

Hawthorn premiership star Jordan Lewis will also take over the interviewer’s chair, sitting down with Sam Mitchell to discuss his first season in charge of the Hawks.

Jordan Lewis interviewed Lance Franklin for Fox Footy last year. Picture: Fox Footy

NEW FACE JOINS DEAD SET LEGENDS

A NEW face has arrived on Triple M’s popular Saturday morning show Dead Set Legends.

Former St Kilda star Leigh Montagna and Herald Sun newsbreaker Jay Clark have steered the ship together for the past four years but the third member of the panel has proved to be a moving feast.

Emma Freedman, the daughter of leading racehorse trainer Lee, was on board last year but was forced to move on as her commitments with Channel 7’s racing coverage increased.

Her replacement is comedian Sarah Maree Cameron who knows a thing or two about footy given she cut her teeth down in Geelong on K Rock for a few years.

Originally published as Media Street: Mike Sheahan’s Sports Australia award; radical makeover for On The Couch