Time On: Bruce McAvaney on his special connection to Sandy Roberts
Bruce McAvaney has opened up on his connection with fellow broadcasting icon Sandy Roberts, and what it is that makes him such a “special” commentator.
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Bruce McAvaney has opened up on his “special” connection with fellow sports broadcasting legend Sandy Roberts.
McAvaney said Roberts, who broadcast for 46 years covering every sport from the Summer Olympics and Winter Olympics to footy, tennis, racing and golf, “spoke for all of us”.
“That fun Sandy, that inclusive way you brought everybody into the box with you,’’ he said.
“You had all the facts and figures, you knew all the intricacies of the game.
“Someone could watch an AFL game for the very first time in their life and absolutely feel like they understand and enjoy it.
“I think that inclusivity makes Sandy a remarkable caller and a remarkable host. The absolute key to live events is making people feel comfortable. Sandy just made it special, he made it memorable. He was just Sandy being Sandy.”
McAvaney joined Roberts at the Myeloma Australia fundraising lunch, along with Brian Taylor, Eddie McGuire and host Jennifer Keyte. Roberts revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with the blood cancer.
McGuire called McAvaney and Roberts “the masters” while Taylor said Roberts “gave the game life”.
McAvaney said the pair’s connection stretches back to the 1980 Moscow Olympics, with Roberts’ performance earning him a call up from Adelaide to the big smoke in Melbourne.
“At the end of 1980 Sandy came to Melbourne to do World of Sport and create the career that has become a legend and I was lucky enough to follow him through.
“We’ve worked a lot of events and he’s got a calmness about him.
“We all had a different way about how we go about it but I always thought when I was working with Sandy on an opening ceremony at an Olympic Games I was in safe hands. We had a lot of very fun times together.”
What rivalry?
TV rivals united in the Harbour City on Wednesday night at the AFL season launch.
Channel 9’s Tom Morris, who has come out all guns blazing in his new chief reporter role, gave Channel 7 rival Mitch Cleary a friendly hug as they posed for a picture alongside 3AW and Nine host Sam McClure.
While the networks are playing up the competition, the newshounds say there’s nothing but friendly rivalry on the eve of the new season.
Morris uploaded the picture to his social media account and drew plenty of reaction.
The trio did their respective live crosses from the event, and then mingled with the assembled chiefs and decision makers.
There was also an appearance at the season launch from former Channel 7 top dog Tom Browne, who moved to Sydney after the grand final last year and cut a very relaxed figure among old friends and foes.
Another familiar face was Hamish McLachlan who has relocated to France but returns for the start of the footy season. He hosted the launch and said later that his family is loving the life change.
Collingwood’s big man eating up pressure
Collingwood star Mason Cox says pressure is a privilege ahead of the premiers’ season opener.
Cox, who has had a busy summer taking in the Taylor Swift concert, a trip back home to the US and the return of his podcast, can’t wait for Saturday night’s game against GWS.
“It’s gone very quickly since (the flag) but in a good way,’’ Cox said.
“We all can’t wait to get out there.”
Cox has also teamed up with Melbourne sneaker brand Athletikan for a limited-edition release. Eight teams are part of the collab — Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Hawthorn, Port Adelaide, Richmond and West Coast.
AFL x Athletikan dropped this week.
Stars join radio commentary team
Triple M has added two big names to its commentary line-up.
Retired stars Isaac Smith and Erin Phillips will join the team for the season starting tomorrow night.
Smith joins The Thursday Rub as the pair add their star power, experience and talent to the mix.
Others in the commentary stable include James Brayshaw, Brian Taylor, Jason Dunstall, Dale Thomas, Abbey Holmes, Mark Ricciuto, Andrew Embley, Kate McCarthy and Bernie Vince.
SCA Head of Sports Content, Ewan Giles, said: “Triple M is the home of footy. We’re pumped to be strengthening our line up with two of the game’s greats, Isaac Smith and Erin Phillips, who will undoubtedly bring plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the call.”
Hird turned down new footy media role
Former Essendon captain James Hird was sounded out about possibly returning to a media role.
Hird, who finished up as Bombers coach in 2015 after a tumultuous period for him and the club, is said to have been considered for Nine’s new Sunday night football program but was unavailable due to personal commitments.
Hird has returned to some assistant coaching roles over the past few years but has kept a relatively low profile.
Nine’s new program, Footy Furnace, will feature Tom Morris, Leigh Matthews and Jimmy Bartel.
Beer but not bootscootin’ for old Kangaroos
Wayne Carey has revealed he bumped into two ex-teammates, Glenn Archer and Anthony Stevens, while in Bundalong at the end of January.
Carey was forced out of North Melbourne football club after an affair with Stevens’ wife, Kelli Stevens, with Archer playing a key role in Carey’s exit from the club.
Carey was in the township along the Murray River for a footy legends night at Bundalong Tavern, with former INXS frontman Jon Stevens also playing at the pub.
“I ran into heaps of people. A lot of people were up there to watch Jon Stevens,’’ he said.
“Whenever Arch and I see one another we have a beer. We went up and said G’day, they had their country gear on. I had the RMs on, make out you’re a country boy.
“I said G’day (to Stevens). It was fine. We didn’t stand around and do any boot scooting together or anything.”
In the return of his podcast, The Truth Hurts, with new co-host Tony Sheahan, Carey also denied speculation he’s set to appear on I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!.
He dismissed talk he’d be heading to South Africa soon.
“I am not going into any jungle, I’m not on any reality show,’’ he said.
“Categoric. Many years ago I spoke to, they spoke to management at the time, the answer was quite clear no. I don’t know where this has come from. There are plenty of people in the Hall of Fame who have done certain things. How that got onto me …”
Carey did say he’d be away on an assignment next week.
Carey also said he’d had a proud dad moment when his five year-old son Carter picked North Melbourne as his team to support.
“Nothing to do with me, he’s chosen the Kangaroos,’’ he said.
“(My partner) Jess and everyone were trying to push him to Geelong. I think it’s the tattoo (of a kangaroo) on my bum which he calls a rabbit. He knows daddy played footy but not to any extreme … for his birthday he got the full kit and it looked amazing.
“I’ll take him to his first AFL game this year.”
TJ tees off at eco pests
Tony Jones has let loose before a ball’s even been bounced.
This time it’s nothing to do with footy — he’s filthy about protesters blocking peak hour traffic as they did on the West Gate on Tuesday morning.
The Sunday Footy Show host posted his anger and urged those in power to toughen up.
“Protesters park a truck across three lanes of the West Gate, disrupting law abiding citizens simply trying to get to work, appointments etc When the hell are we going to start getting tough with these fools??? Drag them into divvy vans, move the bloody truck and allow people to go about their business. We’re too soft … time to toughen up.”
Turning pain into a positive
Past Essendon players and champions reunited to support their former premiership teammate Dean Solomon, whose new business venture is inspired by his post-footy pain.
Solomon opened Salt movement and recovery at The Pullman on the Park in East Melbourne, with former Bomber greats including James Hird, Paul Salmon, Matthew Lloyd, Michael Long and Kevin Sheedy on hand to celebrate the cutting-edge facility.
“I have my own physical battle with my right knee — it’s bone on bone and that was the reason I was forced to retire from footy,’’ said Solomon, who played 158 games for the Bombers from 1998-2006, and 51 games for the Dockers from 2007-2009.
“Five years ago I started to suffer constant knee pain, especially at night … selfishly, Salt has helped me manage myself back to a good place physically and my pain and sleep have settled a lot and my quality of life is somewhat back on track.”
Solomon and his partners, including former Brisbane player Matt Kennedy, have also opened a Salt facility in Kingscliff, Northern NSW, where they host retreats and camps.
Daisy’s re-game nerves
Heath Shaw has revealed he’s never seen his great mate and Collingwood premiership teammate Dale Thomas more nervous than on his wedding day.
Thomas got married last month with Shaw one of the groomsmen.
“We’ve played in a couple of grand finals and we played in some really big games together, I’ve never seen someone so nervous in his life,’’ Shaw said on Triple M’s The Rush Hour.
“He was 10 times more nervous about upsetting the bridezilla Natasha before the big day. He was scared about upsetting the bride. The groomsmen were under a tight leash.”
A Wiz in Warrnambool
A new look Warwick Capper will appear at Thursday night’s season opener in Sydney.
The former Swans high-flyer has lost 8kgs after embarking on a fitness regimen and doing the Big Ride charity bike ride from Melbourne to Warrnambool.
He’s helped raise $100,000 for mental health charity Beyond Blue and said he’s never felt better wearing lycra.
“I’ve trimmed down like a block of flats,’’ Capper said.
“I’m feeling great, looking forward to seeing all the other Hall of Famers at the game in Sydney.
“I’ve done 230km and I’m pretty sore everywhere, but it’s a good cause.”
Capper’s new lease of life comes after he took ownership of the Westminster Secrets brothel in Oakleigh.
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Dale Thomas locked in to host new Channel 7 show
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