The good, the bad and the ugly: 24 unforgettable Footy Show moments

From Sam's fake bong smoking to a pie in the face, The Footy Show's 735 episode run has been nothing if not controversial. Here's 24 of the good, bad and downright wacky moments the show  will be remembered for. 

The Footy Show  was once unmissable television.

But it's come to an end after 26 years on air and plenty of crazy, heartwarming and controversial moments.

In no particular order, here's 24 that we'll never forget, from the good, the bad to the just plain ugly.

SAM'S STRANGE RESPONSE TO FOOTY SHOW 'EXECUTION'

FAILED FOOTY SHOW COULDN'T ESCAPE ITS PAST

LET'S BE HONEST, THE FOOTY SHOW DIED LAST YEAR

#1

David Schwarz didn’t take too kindly to Sam Newman shoving a pavlova in his face during a show in 2001. He immediately reacted by pushing Sam to the ground.

A not so amused David Schwarz

Sam Newman throwing cream pie in face of footballer David Schwarz

#2

Shane Crawford had the entire cast, crew, audience and viewers in tears after completing a run from Adelaide to Melbourne to raise money for the Breast Cancer Network Australia. He raised almost half a million dollars in 2010.

Shane Crawford runs into the Channel 9 studio, at the end of his That's What I'm Walkin' About Charity Run for Breast Cancer. Walk.

#3

In a similarly emotional effort in 2013, Shane Crawford completed an epic 3600km journey from Melbourne to Perth to again raise money for the BCNA. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when the show broadcast the finish in Perth.

Tour de Crawf — Shane Crawford arrives at The Footy Show at the Crown Perth

#4

In March 1999, ex-footballer and television presenter Sam Newman appeared on set in black face paint after Winmar cancelled an appearance on the show in favour of appearing on a rival network.

Sam Newman impersonating Nicky Winmar on the Footy Show in black face make-up because he did not show up for the program.

#5

In 2006 during the World Cup in Germany, Sam Newman, irritated by a drunk fan hovering around a live segment, punches him in the face.

Sam Newman punches an Australian fan after being spat on, during a party in the Lowenbraukeller beer hall in Munich, Germany

#6

Billy Brownless ran nude across a nudist park during the show’s telecast from Munich. Has copped flak ever since.

#7

The Nine Network and Sam Newman were sued for defamation by Susan Alberti, a female board member of the Western Bulldogs football team, after he said on air that she was a “liar” and “hypocrite”. They settled for $220,000 plus costs.

Western Bulldogs Football Club Director and businesswoman Susan Alberti

#8

Mocking football writer and television presenter Caroline Wilson regarding how she had dressed on Footy Classified three days earlier by bringing a mannequin model on to stage and stapling a cardboard cut-out of Wilson on the face of the model and “experimenting” with different outfits.

Sam Newman during The Footy Show’s controversial Caroline Wilson mannequin incident

#9

Soon after being suspended for the Caroline Wilson incident, Sam Newman landed in more hot water after making an offensive comment towards Tasmanian MP Paula Wriedt.

Former Tasmanian MP Paula Wriedt

#10

David Rodan stole the show at the 2009 Grand Final footy show as Michael Jackson in the players’ revue. Another memorable revue moment was the Cloke family playing The Wiggles.

SAM NEWMAN DEFENDS BRIAN TAYLOR’S ‘BIG POOFTER’ REMARK

TREVOR MARMALADE TO APPEAR ON THE FOOTY SHOW’S 500th EPISODE

SAM NEWMAN’S TOP 7 CLANGERS OF ALL TIME

#11

With Nathan Brown on the panel after breaking his leg in 2007, footage was dug up of Garry Lyon crying on a stretcher after he broke his leg. Has been shown ever since, just like the hairy Garry jokes, and was even re-created by Lyon a few years ago.

A stoic Nathan Brown is carried from the field after breaking his leg.

#12

One of the lowlights during the Street Talk segment was when two women started having a physical fight in a Fremantle street.

Street Talk from Channel Nine's The Footy Show the segment hosted by Sam Newman, the clip shows two females fighting on the footpath in Fremantle

#13

It was an emotional night when host Eddie McGuire announced Ted Whitten had passed away in 1995. Doug Hawkins shed a tear on the panel. A moving and sombre moment.

Ted Whitten with his Number 3 Footscray jumper before he died in 1995.

#14

Comedian behind the bar, Trevor Marmalade, tried to hammer a billy bass when the fish was sent to Sam Newman for his mailbag segment. Despite several hits it kept on moving and making noise.

Aust TV presenter Eddie McGuire with Trevor Marmalade and Sam Newman in TV program The Footy Show

#15

The soap opera/drama parody, House of Bulger, was a hit when it started in 2003. The highlights were Shane Crawford as Hank Bulger and Garry Lyon as Hank’s archrival Heuston Crabb

Shane Crawford during filming of The House of Bulger for The Footy Show.

#16

A heavily intoxicated Brendan Fevola hijacked the Street Talk segment after the 2009 Brownlow and his offensive antics led to the show dumping him and axing the segment.

Video image of drunken footballer Brendan Fevola behaving badly at Brownlow Medal award ceremony in Melbourne while working for Channel 9.

#17

Shane Crawford dacked a stunned Sam Newman and the audience got more than they bargained for in 2001.

Sam Newman after his shorts and underwear were pulled down by footballer Shane Crawford on The Footy Show.

#18

The Footy Show broke new ground with a live broadcast from London, packing out the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane in 2005.

Jeremy Kewley warms up the audience before The Footy Show in London

#19

Molly Meldrum was put in a straitjacket, touched up and kissed by Sam Newman in 1999.

Molly Meldrum and Sam Newman

#20

 Sam Newman pretended to smoke a bong on the show in 2012 while discussing a proposal that cannabis be removed from the AFL's banned drug list.

#21

Garry Lyon pulls his hamstring during a 100m sprint in the carpark of Channel 9 in 2009. A favourite re-run, as has been Lyon’s trip onto the stage of The Price is Right.

#22

When Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins’ struggle with drugs was first publicly revealed in 2007, Newman panned the former Eagles star on the panel by pretending to smoke a bong and joint on air.

# 23

Former besties and Footy Show colleagues Billy Brownless and Garry Lyon fell out dramatically before the 2016 season. And it was an emotional Brownless that revealed what was behind it in an emotional  interview on the program.

#24

Caroline Wilson was again the target of a Sam Newman rant, this time over her reaction to jokes on radio about drowning her in an ice bath during the Big Freeze in 2016.