Rex Hunt returning to the 3AW commentary box for State of Origin
A decade since first resigning from the station and months after making headlines for a reignited footy feud, Rex Hunt is preparing to return to 3AW as a commentator — but it won’t be for long.
Confidential
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Footy calling legend Rex Hunt will return to the commentary box for 3AW’s broadcast of the State of Origin for Bushfire Relief match on Friday.
The rebound comes a decade after the longtime broadcaster resigned from his commentating gig at the station — but credits the worthy cause with motivating him to return.
“What we’ve seen throughout Australia this summer has been heartbreaking,” Hunt said on Monday.
“What a wonderful idea to call on the great names of the AFL and have the State of Origin return.
“The night is going to be full of emotion for many who have had their lives affected by the bushfires. I know it’s going to be a really special occasion and I can’t wait to be part of it, calling the action for 3AW.”
Hunt will lead the call alongside broadcaster Shane McInnes, and former AFL stars Matthew Lloyd and Brad Hardie.
Hunt played in two VFL premierships with Richmond in 1969 and 1973, then forged a highly successful role as a football commentator, including more than 20 years with 3AW.
Most recently, Hunt has made headlines over a bizarre feud with respected AFL journalist Mike Sheahan.
Hunt’s feud with Sheahan exploded last November when he unpacked a six-year-old grudge with Sheahan and unleashed.
On the You Can’t Be Serious podcast, helmed by Sam Newman and Sheahan, an agitated Hunt confronted Sheahan about an interview they did on a Foxtel show, Open Mike, in 2013.
He said Sheahan focused too much on Hunt’s personal controversies.
“I’ve got to ask you one question,” Hunt said. “With the Foxtel interview I did, after you asked me for six months, and I said yes … How much pressure did you get from the top office because this will rate … and people will love people getting in trouble?”
“No pressure,” Sheahan answered.
“I set the agenda for that interview program.”
Newman asked Hunt: “Do I take it, Rex, that you’ve taken umbrage at Mick’s line of questioning?”
“I’m pissed off!” Hunt said, citing Jack Dyer’s description of him as “a good, ordinary footballer,” his 200 games and two premierships.
“Look at me! Look at me!” he told Sheahan, sternly.
Hunt also pointed to his AFL life membership, “which I believe that some of my critics, and I won’t give you the initials, who believe they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel because I was inducted as a life member.”
Hunt continued: “I still, at 70 years of age, feel as if I don’t belong. You took me into the Foxtel studios, and you spoke about all the crap for 20 minutes, then you got on to football.”
“It’s not a story about how many goals a bloke’s kicked, and how many marks he took. It’s a story about their life,” Sheahan shot back.
Hunt: “If you Google my life, it’s a great life.”
Sheahan said he was one of three people on a selection subcommittee that nominated Hunt for an AFL life membership in 2018.
“If I say so myself, I probably drove it, so stick that up your fisherman’s bum,” he said.
Hunt then offered to leave the podcast because “I don’t want to say something I might regret.”
“Well, you’ve been sitting on this (issue) for a while,” Sheahan quipped back.
“Yeah,” Hunt replied, “and it’s cost me, it’s cost me dearly.”
Hunt said his wife Lynne urged him to play nice around Sheahan.
“When you talk to Lynne at the football, I don’t come anywhere near you,” Hunt said.
Later, Sheahan asked Hunt: “Why are you so aggressive?”
“I don’t like you,” Hunt answered.
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“Are you serious?” Sheahan responded.
Hunt replied: “No I’m not”.
Hunt and Sheahan finally buried the hatchet on the You Can’t Be Serious podcast last month.
“Mick has accepted your apology and he’s at one with you,” Newman told Hunt.
“Good,” Hunt said. “Life’s too short.”