Has Tim Watson’s tongue slip revealed Tom Browne’s successor?

Channel 7’s Tim Watson may have jumped the gun in a tiny on-air blunder dropping a hint as to who Tom Browne’s replacement may be.

Has Tim Watson let slip who Tom Browne’s replacement may be on Channel 7?

Time On is your daily wrap-up of all the footy gossip and banter.

With Channel 7’s chief football reporter Tom Browne departing the network at the end of the season, we may now have our biggest indication of who his successor may be.

Mitch Cleary looms as a potential to replace Tom Browne as the network’s chief football reporter.

The hot favourite is Mitch Cleary, and his colleague Tim Watson may have jumped the gun with the announcement with a tiny on-air blunder on Wednesday.

Kane Cornes was quick to pick up on Tim’s slip of the tongue.

“Did you just refer to him as the chief football reporter?,” he asked.

“Tim, you just called him the chief football reporter at Channel 7, does that make it official? Hang on, that is a scoop.”

Tim, through a chorus of laughs, said: “Have I just broken another story? Hang on, have I broken another story?”

Browne will leave Seven at the end of the footy season to pursue a career in finance.

AFL field umpire Eleni Tee is expecting her first child with husband Dillon Tee. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Baby brings new ball game for AFL umpire

The AFL’s first and only female field umpire, Eleni Tee, is preparing for a whole new ball game.

Tee (nee Glouftsis) and husband, boundary umpire Dillon Tee, are expecting their first child in February.

“It’s really exciting and I’m looking forward to a new challenge and the next phase of life,’’ Tee said.

“My intention is to have a year off and then return to umpiring in 2025.”

Tee made her senior umpiring debut in 2017 and two years later Dillon aptly proposed to her on the MCG. They married in January last year.

After 85 groundbreaking AFL games over seven years, Adelaide based Tee fittingly umpired her final game in Round 1 of the AFLW season.

“I was about 15 weeks then and two Adelaide teams played and there was a panel of women officiating so it was a nice way to finish,’’ Tee said.

“I have been quite lucky following in the footsteps of (goal umpires) Chelsea Roffey and Sally Boud, they both have kids and this year Chelsea returned after having a baby.

“It’s becoming more normal (having female umpires) which is exactly what I’d like.

“The AFL is great and I couldn’t have felt more supported.

“Dillon is still my biggest supporter and advocate and I couldn’t do it without him.

Umpiring is in our blood and we do love it and all the different benefits.”

De Koning can’t get enough of Robbie

Carlton young gun Tom De Koning says he still isn’t over rock star Robbie Williams’ viral video after Friday’s special win as the big Blue prepares for his first preliminary final.

Tom de Koning celebrating finals fever with Freya Sali, Chloe Poore, Gideon Dave and Ariel New to promote. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

De Koning, 24, said he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Williams share the video online, celebrating his heroic performance against the Demons.

“He’s obviously a superstar and a rock star, so it was pretty cool to see,” he said.

“It was funny how he mentioned my brother and dad and I sent it straight to them.

“They were a bit flat but it was really funny … I might have to go to his concert later this year.”

De Koning said the support Carlton fans were showing was “amazing” as he urged schools and workplaces to get behind Footy Colours Day this September.

“To still be playing footy in September is what we dream of and the whole club is really excited,” he added.

“It’s a great initiative, supporting kids to fight cancer and it’s good to be a part of it.”

footycoloursday.com.au

Gelmi ready to hit ground running at Brownlow

Abbey Gelmi has returned to work at the right time as footy fever grips Melbourne.

The Channel 7 presenter gave birth to son Louis six months ago and is back presenting sport on weekends and also preparing to host the all-important Brownlow Medal red carpet on Monday night.

Abbey Gelmi is returning to Channel 7 after having a baby. Picture: David Caird

“I’m really excited, I’m really lucky that I love my job and I love being a mum,’’ Gelmi said.

“The best version of me is the person that gets to do both so I’m really excited to be back.”

Last year at the Brownlow Gelmi was in the early stages of pregnancy.

This year her stylist Lana Wilkinson and designer Oglia-Loro Couture are set to raise the bar and make her a standout.

“It was actually really special (last year) because I was getting ready with Brit Selwood and she was only a week and a bit ahead of me and it was nice to be able to bond over that,’’ said Gelmi, whose partner is former Tigers star Kane Lambert.

“I think Tim Taranto will poll well, I’m a bit Richmond bias these days.”

Walker dumped as Goal of The Year presenter

Adelaide’s all-Australian forward Taylor Walker has revealed he’s been dumped as presenter of Goal of The Year.

Walker said he’d been asked to go to a rehearsal for the award handed out at the Brownlow on Monday.

“In the last sort of 48-72 hours I got the Tijuana Brass from that,” Tex said on Triple M.

“They did ask whether I’d go to rehearsals on the Monday, and I said ‘well, I know sorta how it roughly works, so if I have to go, I’ll go, but if not, I’ll see you Monday night’.

“And I think … I’m not sure whether that sorta put their noses out of joint, but they said ‘oh no don’t worry about it, Channel 7 are gonna do it’.”

Walker wasn’t too happy he hadn’t been nominated.

“Not too many people can kick a 55m bomb on their opposite foot and not be in the top three but anyway,’’ he said.

“Better hope they don’t get Danger (Patrick Dangerfield to present), that’ll go for about 15 minutes.”