Footy commentator Kate McCarthy has hit back at trolls after receiving backlash for her new role

Footy commentator Kate McCarthy has hit back at trolls after receiving backlash for her new role, thanking them for their “supportive” comments and telling them she’d ‘prove them wrong’.

Footy commentator Kate McCarthy has hit back at trolls saying she’ll “gladly prove you all wrong” after it was announced she’d picked up a new media gig.

As reported by the Herald Sun on Saturday, McCarthy has joined AFL Media’s The Round So Far as host alongside Xander McGuire and a rotating panel including journalists Riley Beveridge and Josh Gabelich.

McCarthy drew some detractors on social media platform X, who claimed the Triple M and Channel 7 commentator hadn’t earnt the job on merit.

“Thanks to everyone in this thread for all of the “supportive” comments,’’ McCarthy responded. “I will gladly prove you all wrong and do an excellent job bringing you TRSF with these three outstanding humans by my side. I’m extremely excited and glad to be a part of the AFL family.”

McCarthy ended the post with a love heart emoji.

Kate McCarthy and Xander McGuire have both received negative feedback for their roles. Picture: Supplied

McGuire also copped some negative feedback with claims of nepotism owing to his famous father Eddie McGuire.

Many sensibly pointed out that he’s worked hard for over four years as a television sports reporter.

He revealed what Eddie really thinks about the pair working on rival networks now that he has defected from Channel 9 to Channel 7.

The 22 year-old isn’t fazed by the prospect of a potential McGuire footy news clash — Eddie hosts Footy Classified on Nine and Seven is set to air its new program The Agenda Setters against it.

“I think we’re in the clear for now,’’ Xander said.

“That’ll be an interesting one if it does come to fruition. I’ve been trying to get him to flick over to Seven News from Nine. It’ll be a good healthy rivalry at some stage but I’ve got a bit of work to do to be on those competing shows.”

Xander added that Eddie was strong on doing what he was passionate about.

Eddie McGuire, Daniel Patrick, Joe McGuire and Xander McGuire. Picture: Instagram

“He was always just big on do what’s best for you, whatever the best option is,’’ Xander said.

“Definitely go down each pathway and figure out what the best decision is. When I called him up and said this is going to be the one, he said ‘ooh here we go, opposing networks now’. No issue there.

“When Classified was on at Nine he was a level above and he’d come down to do the news cross and I was producing his crosses half the time which was funny. Now we’re across the road from each other.”

After spending seven months in Scotland studying international relations, Xander hasn’t wasted any time returning to the media and is passionate about his roles.

“I’m absolutely loving it at Seven so far and I’m pumped to have that revolving panel,’’ McGuire said.

“I’ve loved Kate’s stuff on Triple M, she’s got a great sense of humour and quick wit, an All-Australian player and great footy analysis.”