Time On: Craig Hutchison cops parting clip
Long-time host of the embattled Footy Classified program Craig Hutchison is expected to appear on new programs at Channel 7 and he’s copped heat for the move during a colourful exchange.
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Time On is your wrap-up of all the footy media gossip and banter.
Craig Hutchison has officially left Channel 9 after “pillaging” the network.
The media mogul, who had long hosted the embattled Footy Classified program, is expected to appear on new programs at Channel 7 which has brought on board his production company, Rainmaker, to create its new shows.
At the EJ Whitten Grand Final Legends Lunch organised by RULE prostate cancer, Hutchison was ribbed about the move that’s caused a crisis at Nine by fellow RULE board director Bill Guest.
“How long have you been at Nine,’’ Guest asked Hutchison in a colourful exchange while the pair raised funds for the charity.
“18 years,’’ Hutchison replied.
“Well you’ve just pillaged the whole network. You’ve got everybody to Seven. We’ve got a lot of the Channel 9 people here so we should welcome them.”
Hutchison brought his own quips too, one for lunch host and retiring media commentator Luke Darcy.
“Hope you can hit Luke up for a donation before he becomes the leader of the Liberal Party,’’ Hutchison said.
More than 500 guests attended the lunch, including Jo Silvagni, Steve Hooker, Michael Christian and Titus O’Reily.
Panel members included Bailey Smith, Ben Cousins, Leigh Matthews, Erin Phillips, Gerard Whateley, Paul Connors, Ray Chamberlain and Laura Kane.
Best friends’ pre-game feed at Mr Miyagi
Fierce rivals on the field but best friends off it — Josh Dunkley and Adam Treloar were spotted having dinner on Thursday night at popular Mr Miyagi on Chapel St in Windsor.
Dunkley will be a key player for Brisbane in the grand final on Saturday against Sydney, while Treloar was one of the best for the Bulldogs this season.
The former teammates have made no secret of their close bond and also co-host a podcast.
‘Cheaper than Caro’: Nine boss’ cheeky dig
The rivalry is fierce in the lead up to the grand final but off-field it’s just as hot.
At the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry grand final lunch at the MCG on Wednesday, host Hamish McLachlan was on a table with Seven’s new head of sport Chris Jones and Nine News Melbourne boss Hugh Nailon, who put on a brave show despite having key Footy Classified talent Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson poached by Jones.
Former Seven boss Lewis Martin was seated at the table behind them.
Speaking to Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight, who unveiled his famous grand final posters, McLachlan turned to Nailon and said: “Nine can buy them for $10k and we can give the money to charity.”
Nailon couldn’t resisted replying with a cheeky dig at Wilson.
“Cheaper than Caro,” he said.
McLachlan will be back to commentate for Seven in Round 1 next season.
He was joined on a panel for the ‘Echoes of Glory: AFL Grand Final Reunion’ by Stuart Dew and Jonathan Brown, plus Port Adelaide winning coach Mark ‘Choco’ Williams to discuss the 2004 grand final.
A guest asked Dew, who was sacked by the Gold Coast Suns as coach in favour of Damien Hardwick, if he’d watched the team this year.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t watch them funnily enough,’’ Dew said.
“I watched a lot of other footy but I steered clear of that. That’s as far as I’ll go now, it’s been a little while but not long enough.”
Cornes can’t resist Darcy drive-by
Kane Cornes couldn’t resist a drive-by on his old sparring partner Luke Darcy.
Darcy this week added to the upheaval in the footy media landscape with his decision to walk away from Channel 7 to focus on his family’s business empire.
His decision comes fresh on the heels of Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison defecting from Channel 9 to 7.
On Footy Classified on Tuesday, Hutchison suggested Darcy could make the move into politics with his media career behind him.
“He has been a Liberal Party target in the past. I think he’d be an awesome Liberal leader in Victoria. I wonder if they make the move and go and woo him.,” Hutchison said.
“I just became a Labor voter.,” Cornes replied.
As the panel’s laughter died down, Hutchison said: “I think you might be 1-nil up on the argument so far.”
Cornes replied: “I think it might be 3-nil.”
It’s the latest shot fired in the Cornes-Darcy rivalry, which famously flared in an icy radio interview.
In April this year, Darcy confronted Cornes during a live Triple M radio segment, infamously labelling the former Port Adelaide midfielder “more mean spirited and nasty to people than anyone in the history of our industry”.
Perry hints at GF cameo
Katy Perry has hinted she’ll be bringing a surprise performer on stage at the grand final which is believed to be Aussie icon Tina Arena.
The US superstar is the headline pre-game act on Saturday and has arrived in Melbourne ahead of the match between Sydney and Brisbane.
“Yeah there’s going to be a surprise performance of a favourite Australian artist that I look up to, she is going to be singing a little bit with me and I’ll be singing a little bit with her,” Perry told Sunrise on Wednesday morning.
“I’ve been sworn to secrecy, locked up chains, all of it.”
Chains is a reference to Arena’s hit song Chains.
Perry will perform some of her hits plus a song from her new album 143.
“I believe it’s Firework hands down (my biggest hit), it’s typically what I end my shows with because it’s a celebratory moment of life and inspiration and empowerment,” she said.
“I’ve been learning a lot about footy here in Australia. Good day.
“My pre show ritual will be a bit of yoga to stretch out and get my body warm, warming up my voice and doing all tricks with that.
“I do a bit of olive oil and meditation and that really helps me bring that energy in. Eye of the Tiger stuff, kind of what I did in the Super Bowl in America. I’m just like, ‘You can do this, you are meant for this moment, I can, I will, I am’. I’m definitely going to have some sake afterwards.”
Perry also announced she will return next year for the Lifetimes Tour. The Tour will kick off in Sydney on June 9 and heads to Melbourne on June 12 and 13 followed by Brisbane and Perth.
Old mates get band back together
The band is back together — for the first time in five years.
The Footy Show favourites, host Eddie McGuire, co-host Sam Newman and comedian Trevor Marmalade, who last appeared together during the grand final edition of the show in 2019, were reunited on Tuesday.
At the Carbine Club lunch at Crown the trio came together with McGuire asking his former sidekicks to stand up for an ovation.
“The great Trevor Marmalade behind the bar and the great John Sammy Newman,’’ he said.
McGuire, who is on Thursday night hosting the My Room Grand Final Spectacular live from the Palms at Crown, told Confidential he was developing a new footy show for Nine.
Newman, who has been living on his boat in Queensland for the past three months, has flown down to enjoy Grand Final week.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,’’ he said of the move north.
“If you get a nice week of weather it is magical. I’m staying here until the end of the week and then will be back again in November.”
McGuire, Newman and Marmalade led a TV juggernaut for 25 years on The Footy Show.
Kiss fail still haunting TJ
Almost a decade on, Tony Jones is still haunted by the viral moment his attempted kiss with Bec Judd failed.
Jones and Judd came head to head again on the Brownlow Medal red carpet but Jones opted to just stand back and say hello.
“Was I scared last night? Absolutely,’’ he said.
“I thought I’ve got four options here: plant one again, hug her, shake hands or just let it go.
“It brings back bad memories. I’m just surprised Bec’s raised it.”
Judd was asked about the 2016 moment on Channel 9 when she and husband Chris were entering Crown Palladium.
She was surprised Jones didn’t go in for the kiss again to create more material.
“He didn’t and I was a bit disappointed, I thought he was going to go in for a crack and I was going to make a joke out of it,’’ she told 3AW.
“Do you know what, I think he’s scared, to be honest.
“You guys absolutely give it to him. I watch the Sunday Footy Show and my kids love it because they’ve just seen it replayed so many times. So I kind of hoped he was going to do it just because we could get more funnies out of it but he was actually scared. He had a look of fear in his eyes.”
‘Legal action’: Eddie’s threat on Nine exodus
Eddie McGuire says that “legal action may be around the place” in the wake of the mass exodus of identities from Channel 9 to Channel 7.
Kane Cornes has already confirmed his defection and it emerged commentator Caroline Wilson is jumping ship from Nine too.
It’s been reported Wilson remains under contract with Nine until December 2024 which includes a restraint clause so she couldn’t begin with Seven until midway through 2025.
McGuire, speaking at the Carbine Club Lunch at Crown, said: “That was yesterday (Cornes and Wilson), today Luke Darcy is gone and they want Rebecca Maddern’s head for a quip (she made) last night at the (Brownlow) so it all changes quickly.
“Footy Classified tonight, who’s going to be on it we’re still not sure, I’m waiting for a phone call to come through as we speak.
“Some legal action may be around the place, it’s all getting very hotted up.”
‘Hard launch’ buzzword of Brownlow
Hard launch was a buzzword with many new couples stepping out for the first time together.
Influencer Mattie Gouman, with partner Carlton forward Harry McKay, said: “We’ve done a few hard launches — I think for the record we’ve launched.”
She added: “I’ve had so many messages from people asking what I’m wearing which is really nice. I am so comfortable and it’s nice to be here.”
Harry said the couple had been together since February.
His fellow Blues forward Charlie Curnow walked arm in arm with his partner Tiana Simic.
Hawthorn larrikin Jack Ginnivan also stepped out for his “official hard launch” with partner of two months Lily Mitchell.
The pair met down at Sorrento “through the grapevine” with Mitchell overheard saying they had actually known each other for a while.
“I work in fashion and I do some modelling,’’ Mitchell said.
“It’s fun, both of our first time at the Brownlow.”
Ginnivan said he’s looking forward to a break.
“Pretty keen to get away over the off season with a few mates and also Lily as well,’’ he said.
“Hopefully I get a few votes. We’ll have fun that’s for sure.”
Daics sheds a tear
Josh Daicos revealed his dad, legendary Magpie Peter, cried when he told him he’d proposed to partner Annalise Dalins.
“Dad was over the moon, he shed a few tears the first time I told him so that was nice,” said premiership Pie Josh.
“It’s got a nice ring to it to be engaged, so it’s nice to be walking out with her.”
Dalins, a knockout in Oglia-Loro couture and styled by Paul Versace, said: “I love this, it’s so Brownlow and I’m feeling really comfortable and excited for the night ahead. The diamond ring does match quite well.
“It is pretty crazy, that’s all we keep calling each other is fiance. It’s our first event since so it’s really special.”
Cripps kicks on
Brownlow Medal winner Patrick Cripps celebrated with family and friends at the official after-party at Nobu at Crown Melbourne.
Among his mates were Josh Kennedy and Jamie Cripps, with many players kicking on at the Asahi Super Dry Brownlow After Party.
Some of the fashionable WAGs opted for comfort, with North youngster Zane Duursma’s partner Siena Tainsh sporting sneakers, along with Geelong star Max Holmes’ partner Jess Butler.
Among the faces kicking on were Craig Hutchison, Tom Mitchell, Bobby Hill, Darcy Cameron, Craig McRae, Jack Sinclair, Jake Lever, Max Gawn, Jesse Hogan, Tom Green and Ben Cousins.
It was a better end to the night than at the start when there was a plumbing emergency in the toilets at Crown’s Palladium.
Staff were furiously trying to pump out water that had leaked out of dozens of the urinals, with security forced to shepherd footy stars into the cubicles near the Conservatory.
One media identity was spotted waiting for the disabled toilet to avoid the queues in the women’s line.
Baby Blues
Carlton favourite Jack Silvagni and wife Grace have welcomed their first child — a baby boy named Charlie.
The couple announced the happy news fittingly on the day of the Brownlow Medal, affectionately nicknamed Charlie.
“21/9/24 Welcoming Charlie Silvagni to the world,’’ Jack wrote on Instagram.
“Grace Silvagni you are amazing and our boy is so lucky to have you as his mum.”
The popular couple married in October last year in an intimate wedding in Noosa.
Grace first showed her growing baby bump in June this year.
Jack, who injured his knee, has done some impressive commentary work on radio.
There was more baby joy at the Blues with Mitch McGovern and wife Kirsten welcoming their third child last week, a daughter named Addison who joins Margot and Hamish.
Ox’s mum irate over pie incident
David Schwarz has revealed what really happened in the aftermath of the infamous cream pie prank on The Footy Show.
Footy Show co-host Sam Newman slammed a cream pie into Schwarz’s face in a skit making fun of the former Melbourne forward’s lacklustre performance in his 150th game.
Schwarz reacted by slamming Newman in the chest, sending him sprawling across the set, then staring daggers at him for the remainder of the show.
The 2001 stunt was one of the most talked about incidents in the Footy Show’s controversial history, and Schwarz has now revealed his mum had called host Eddie McGuire in a rage.
“When it all happened you go to a commercial break and they clean the pie off, and it was a lemon meringue pie, because I couldn’t see,’’ Schwarz told Inspiring Sport Stories with Tim Gossage on SEN WA.
“Sam had hurt his back (when I pushed him) so he’d slipped a disc in his back so he was in trouble, Ed’s gone ballistic because he’s a control freak and (fellow panellists) Chris Tarrant and Spida Everitt are sitting there going what the f..k has just happened.
“At the end of the show the producer comes out and says Ed, Mary Schwarz is on the phone. My mum worked for Vic Police and being a single mum and what she’s been through, she’s as tough as old desert boots.
“Apparently the phone call went like this: She said, ‘Ed you have no idea who you’ve just f....d with. You’re from Broadmeadows, we’re from Sunbury, we’re going to punch your f...ing head in. We want a front page apology on the Herald Sun, we want a Channel 9 news apology and if we don’t (get it) watch out’.
“Ed’s going just settle down Mary. (She says) ‘We’re going to come and get you, what you did to my son is a disgrace’.
“And Ed said, ‘Mary I’ve got a trip for two to Bali if you’re interested.
“So my mum got a trip for two to Bali and buckled like you wouldn’t believe. Never got an apology, never got any of that.”
Schwarz said he thought the pie incident was funny, despite his fierce reaction. Newman has since said Schwarz dined out on it, knowing full well it was staged.
“It didn’t hurt, I thought it was funny,’’ Schwarz said.
“I was pissed at the time absolutely, but you move on, it’s theatre. We’re OK, I didn’t speak to (Newman) for a long time.”
Billy Brownless finds love with footy-mad mum of three from Geelong
The former AFL star is enjoying a blossoming romance with a mum of three from Geelong, with the pair set to attend the Cats’ best and fairest.
Brownless steps out with new partner at Cats’ best and fairest
Geelong celebrated the Carji Greeves Medal at the Palladium at Crown as former star Billy Brownless was accompanied by his new flame. See all the pictures.