The Score: Fox Footy pulls AFL analyst David King from weekly appearance on SEN
Fox Footy has asserted its authority in the AFL media landscape by pulling analyst David King from a position he’s held at SEN for years, while AFL Media is struggling to cover games due to the COVID-19 stand-downs.
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Fox Footy has flexed its muscle with commentator David King, pulling him from his regular Monday SEN appearance.
King has been a part of Gerard Whateley’s morning show from day one with a segment called the ‘Monday Means Test’ which takes an in-depth analysis of the weekend’s round.
The North Melbourne premiership star has been doing the show since Whateley started at SEN in February 2017
He was still featured at the start of the season but Fox has had a change of heart and wants exclusive access to the highly regarded analyst.
Kane Cornes, who hosts his own SEN show in South Australia, filled in for King on Monday.
Speaking of media types missing in action, there was no sign of any AFL media reporters at Sunday night’s St Kilda-Western Bulldogs game.
The league’s media arm has taken a savage hit because of the coronavirus with all of its interstate reporters stood down until September.
Numbers are that thin on the ground at headquarters that they didn’t even have enough bodies to cover every game of the code’s resumption.
ASSISTANT COACH COPS SERIOUS INJURY IN TRAINING SESSION
Hawthorn were certainly one of the clubs who didn't handle the coronavirus break as good as others.
And the poster boy for the Hawks struggles during the restrictions could be assistant coach Adem Yze.
Yze, who was renowned for his durability during his 271-game career at Melbourne, was on crutches on Friday night at GMHBA Stadium courtesy of a training accident.
It turns out he was required to join in training because of the restrictions and ended up with a ruptured achilles tendon.
“It was in our small group training two weeks ago now, one of our groups had eight players but a few of them were a little bit sore,” Yze said.
“I had to put a bib on and join in training. I was mucking around playing on Johnny Patton, I went to take off and ruptured my achilles.
“I was defending which I didn't usually do while I played so that's another reason why you shouldn't worry about defending, just get the ball and worry about offence.”
Yze said the timing wasn't ideal given the soft cap restrictions because of COVID-19 had seen the number of coaches and staff reduced at each club.
“I felt so bad as we are down on numbers with coaches and I've gone and done this,” Yze told K-Rock.
“I'm meant to be trying to cover for others and then I went to feeling like I couldn't do enough. The players and the club have been great and we've worked out different things I could do.
“It's been a little bit annoying but I'm getting better each day.”
THE WHISPER
WHICH star full-forward was recently selected in a "best of" team for a NAB League club even though he never actually played a game for them? We hear he was on their list but only played school footy that season.
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Originally published as The Score: Fox Footy pulls AFL analyst David King from weekly appearance on SEN