Comedians, radio host, reporter the latest names linked to Nine’s new footy show
Six weeks from the start of the AFL season, the line-up of Nine’s new footy show remains up in the air. From a seasoned Nine reporter to a British radio host, these are the latest names linked to the show.
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Six weeks from the start of the AFL season, the line-up of Nine’s new footy show remains up in the air.
The latest names linked to the show are comedian Anthony ‘‘Lehmo’’ Lehmann and former Spicks and Specks producer Anthony Watt.
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After 25 years, The Footy Show was axed in December, but Nine has committed to having a football presence at 8.30pm on a Thursday.
Eddie McGuire’s production company JAM TV has been holding auditions in recent weeks as it looks to nail down a line-up and format it hopes will challenge Channel 7’s The Front Bar.
The hosting role could be shared between a comedian and a news man.
Nine reporter Seb Costello is in the mix, although nothing has been finalised.
Other potential panellists believed to have been sounded out include Sri Lankan comedian Dilruk Jayasinha, a surprise winner of Best New Talent at last year’s Logies.
British radio host Christian O’Connell, who moved to Melbourne midway through last year to join Gold 104.3, is a surprise contender after taking a screen test.
O’Connell has created a strong listener base for his breakfast show and become an AFL fan.
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Hawks tragic Lehmo, who was axed by Gold for O’Connell, has been mentioned as a possible replacement for John Burns on 3AW’s No.1-rating Ross and John Show should Burns retire, as expected, at the end of the year.
Watt’s appointment as executive producer confirms the new format will move away from hard news to be more “footytainment”, with a comedy and sketch-based focus that has been the hallmark of The Front Bar’s success.
Watt worked with McGuire on sports quiz program Between The Lines in 2011. It lasted only four episodes on Nine.
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The AFL has lost another female from its executive team.
Corporate affairs general manager Liz Lukin has decided to step away for personal reasons, but will remain as an adviser.
Jay Allen, who last year became AFL head of media and communications, will take over corporate affairs.
Lukin ran Essendon’s public relations at the start of the drugs scandal.
Her time at the club was cut short when chairman David Evans quit and billionaire Paul Little took over.
Lukin joined the AFL in December 2014.
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It has to be up there as one of the longest award titles.
The best player in the women’s game according to the coaches is going to win the 2019 Lucky Chicken Eggs AFL Coaches’ Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year Award.
It turns out the sponsorship is from Coles Supermarkets and part of a “women’s coaching crusade”.
Pictures of AFLW coaches appear on yellow cartons of free-range eggs.
We’re not sure what the trophy for the winner will look like, but it’s sure to be interesting.
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