Fan favourite: Shane Crawford kicks on with The Footy Show

AFTER seismic rumours about his future, former Hawthorn great Shane Crawford is back on the team and 100 per cent committed to The Footy Show.

AFTER seismic rumours about his future, former Hawthorn great Shane Crawford is back on the team and 100 per cent committed to The Footy Show.

Sources late last year confirmed the versatile performer had grown frustrated with his role on show which saw him relegated to that of a gift shop manager delivering prizes to lucky viewers with Billy Brownless in a segment called Back Up The Truck, and was considering leaving the fold.

However meetings last week between Crawford’s representatives, Channel 9 and McGuire Media, the production company charged with delivering the program, allayed his concerns.

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Shane Crawford. Picture: Gina Milicia/Channel Nine

Crawford confirmed on Friday he was ready to play hard and make his mark on the iconic show when it debuts for its 25th season next month.

“It’s going to be a massive year for the show with new people on board,” Crawford said.

“It’s a really exciting time to be involved on the show and I’m 100 per cent committed to being part of it.

“And, I think Sam’s still alive so guess he’ll be there too. It’s great, we’ll have lots of laughs, it’s going be fun.”

Crawford, a premiership player and Brownlow medallist for the Hawks and one of the AFL’s most decorated players, has been a key part of The Footy Show since 2009.

He also appears on Postcards and hosts Kids’ WB for Nine.

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Dane Swan, Chris Judd and Brendan Fevola will join The Footy Show. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

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He is in the final year of his current deal with Channel Nine as are his Footy Show co-stars Sam Newman, Billy Brownless and Rebecca Maddern.

The show will welcome three new faces this year, Chris Judd, Dane Swan and reformed Footy Show bad boy, Brendan Fevola.

Just how Crawford’s role will differ from last year is still unclear, however it is expected the show will be given a full freshen up by new supervising producer Harvey Silverand he will be tapped for his vast footy knowledge and playing experience.

There is little doubt that 2018 is shaping as the most challenging and most important year in the history of the long-running show.

The program came face-to-face with a serious rival in 2017 in the shape of Channel 7’s fast and fun footy offering, The Front Bar and faced its own challenges in July when Eddie McGuire replaced Craig Hutchison as host.

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