Is ‘frustrated’ Footy Show star Shane Crawford about to give the show the boot?

CHANNEL Nine is scrambling to avoid yet another star of The Footy Show walking out, with a key member of the show’s panel believed to be frustrated with their role.

HAWTHORN great Shane Crawford is believed to be giving The Footy Show the boot.

Crawford’s expected departure would be the second major shake-up to the show’s panel of regulars following Dave Hughes’s decision in October to move to Channel 10 to host his own show.

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.

But it is believed that in recent years, Crawford has voiced his frustration to Nine that his role had been reduced to that of comic relief.

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Shane Crawford at the Channel Nine Logies Coffee Club After Party 2017. Picture: Gina Milicia/Channel Nine

This year, his main role was delivering prizes to lucky viewers with Billy Brownless in the Back Up The Truck segment.

According to sources, he informed Channel 9 this month that he wanted to step away from the long-running show. His departure would allow for a further freshening up of the show.

However a Channel 9 insider was confident a meeting next month between Crawford’s management and McGuire Media would secure his Footy Show future.

The insider said the network was keen to keep Crawford a part of the show and believed he would be there next year.

Crawford is under contract with Nine until the end of 2018 and the popular and versatile performer also appears on Postcards and hosts Kids’ WB for the network.

Just how his future at Nine would be shaped if he was not involved in The Footy Show is not clear.

Dermott Brereton welcomes Garry Lyon to Fox Footy. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The 25th season of The Footy Show is shaping as a make-or-break year for the program, which has been under pressure since Garry Lyon left early last year after his relationship with Brownless’s ex-wife, Nicky.

Rebecca Maddern, who is expecting her first child in May, joined the show in 2016 as co-host alongside James Brayshaw.

Brayshaw left at the end of 2016.

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Shane Crawford and 'Old woman Crawf' on the Footy Show.

The Footy Show has had a tumultuous year.

Craig Hutchison was appointed as Maddern’s co-host this year but after horror ratings, was bumped in July, with Eddie McGuire returning to the helm after a 12-year absence.

McGuire’s production company was also installed to run the show.

Meanwhile, Sam Newman has continued to be TV’s most reliable controversy magnet.

McGuire, who is overseas, said on Saturday when asked about Crawford’s rumoured departure: “As far as I know, Shane Crawford is contracted for next year as he was for the past few years.

“We look forward to making some exciting announcements around the show when we all return from the holidays. Until then we are all having a nice break and letting the imagination wonder.”

Crawford could not be contacted on Saturday, and Channel 9 would not comment.