Gossip Queen: Is Sam Newman the most disliked AFL personality?

CHANNEL 9 controversy magnet Sam Newman has taken umbrage with a Herald Sun Footy Fan survey that ranked him second as the most annoying football media personality.

CHANNEL 9 controversy magnet Sam Newman has branded himself the most disliked AFL personality on television “by far”.

Newman has taken umbrage with a Herald Sun Footy Fan survey that ranked him second behind Channel 7’s Brian Taylor as the most annoying football media personality.

“I absolutely dispute that,” an incredulous Newman said on his Sam, Mike & Thomo podcast.

“I would be far more disliked than Brian Taylor … I am by far the most disliked … I am just ticked off that Brian nudged me out.”

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Newman said he had been toned down by the network and was far less offensive on air than he had been in the show’s heyday.

“I have been far more offensive … I used to be honest about the things I used to say. But now we get tailored into not being too offensive.”

Asked if he thought the “tailoring” had adversely affected the show, which has struggled with ratings this year, he said:
“I think it has. But I can understand why they want to have it go in another direction, because the world is changing.”

He said he had changed his on-screen behaviour, too.

“I was never on that show for my football smarts, I was on it to add a little light and shade. “There is now less shade and more light required for the dynamic of what we are trying to (do).”

The Footy Show was walloped by The Front Bar on Thursday, drawing 139,000 viewers in Melbourne against 274,000 for its Channel 7 rival.

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