Bruce McAvaney to hand Brownlow Medal host duties to Hamish McLachlan
In a bittersweet ending to a 20 year tradition, Bruce McAvaney will be handing over the hosting duties of the Brownlow Medal to a new face.
Confidential
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Bruce McAvaney is handing over the Brownlow-hosting baton to Hamish McLachlan.
McLachlan, one of Channel 7’s top-tier AFL broadcasters, will take the reins from the network’s sports oracle McAvaney to helm the event in September.
McAvaney, who has hosted Seven’s Brownlow Medal coverage since 1998, told Confidential:
“With great excitement and confidence, I’m looking forward to Hamish making Brownlow night his own.”
He added: “Hame’s love for the game, and everything about the game, well qualify him for this task. He’ll do a great job.”
McAvaney has one of the most demanding schedules and the country, and it’s getting busier.
He will bow out of the Brownlow to prepare for other broadcasting duties for Seven, including heading up the network’s horse racing coverage, and the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.
McLachlan said McAvaney’s Brownlow night prowess will be a tough act to follow.
“It’s both exciting and very daunting at the same time,” McLachlan told Confidential.
“He is, in my view, the best sports broadcaster this country has seen — one of the best the world’s seen.
“His Brownlow hosting, and the interview with the winner, has always been a highlight of the footy year. Bruce is an impossible act to follow.
“Although he is focusing his energies on so many other projects, Bruce has said to me he’ll always be on the end of the line to help in the lead up — an offer I’ll be taking up more times than he hopes, I’m sure.”
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McAvaney says his sense of excitement for the Brownlow will always remain, even if he’s no longer in the spotlight at the event.
“Brownlow Medal night is a once in a season event every fan of the game looks forward to. It’s the same kind of feeling and anticipation for me,” McAvaney said.
“Over the 21 Medals I’ve had the privilege of presenting, the wonderful anticipation grows, not diminishes.”
McAvaney has hosted 10 Summer Olympic Games, 18 AFL grand finals, the Rugby World Cup and many Melbourne Cups and Australian Open tournaments.
Lewis Martin, managing director of 7Melbourne, told Confidential: “There’s an incredible passion for broadcast excellence inside 7Sport.
“Having been a part of the rich tradition that is AFL football for so long, that passion burns particularly brightly when it comes to anything footy related.
He added: In this instance, with Bruce and his decision to hand hosting duties to Hamish, we all know the Brownlow will be in great hands.”