Rebecca Maddern roasted on AFL Footy Show

THE blowback over Rebecca Maddern’s call for AFL banners to be scrapped from the game shows no sign of stopping, with The Footy Show co-host roasted on last night’s show.

THE blowback over Rebecca Maddern’s call for AFL banners to be scrapped from the game shows no sign of stopping, with The Footy Show co-host roasted on last night’s show.

Maddern last week said she believed the game has outgrown the longstanding tradition of players running through a banner, usually made by supporters, before taking the field.

If Maddern was hoping the storm had blown over by the time she sat behind the desk at Channel Nine for the next instalment of the show, she was wrong. Last week’s segment was replayed last night to a chorus of boos from the audience and the presenter explained how much hate she’d copped in the aftermath.

“I just had a week of walking in Sam Newman’s shoes with everybody hating you, now I know what you feel like week in, week out,” Maddern said.

“I’ve been trolled on Twitter, I’ve been accosted in the street, I’ve had Tim Watson have a go at me. Everybody’s had a go at me ... stop booing me!”

Rebecca Maddern and Craig Hutchison.

As she tried to defend herself, co-host Craig Hutchison and Newman threw Maddern under the bus.

Craig Hutchison: Why do you hate the fans so much? Why do you hate the fans? What’s wrong with the fans?

Rebecca Maddern: Is this ever going to end?

CH: They’re not such bad people.

RM: No, seriously. It’s not the people. Sam, back me up on this.

Sam Newman: No, you’re on your own (Loud applause).

RM: I absolutely love the cheersquad, it’s not against the cheersquad at all, I love the cheersquad, it would not be a game without a cheersquad. I just don’t know if I love the game starting with the banners (Boos).

Comedian Dave Hughes was on the panel and delivered the final nail in Maddern’s coffin — a banner designed for her with a not-so-complimentary message.

“You know what has happened though Bec? You’ve unified every cheersquad in the league and they’ve got together and they’ve made a banner especially for you and we’re going to get you to run through it a little bit later,” Hughes said.

The banner read: “No hard feelings Bec, but what the heck?! Without makeup, u (sic) look like Shrek!”.

The banner poking fun at Rebecca Maddern.

After the reveal the camera panned to Maddern who was speechless for several seconds and had a look of shock on her face.

Hutchison then defended Maddern and jokingly tried to place the blame firmly on Hughes, even though the show’s resident funny man denied coming up with the words.

“You’re out of line there Hughesy, you’re out of line there. You’re on your own,” Hutchison said.

The segment was lighthearted and Maddern’s colleagues were clearly joking throughout.

.@rebeccamaddern9 has copped flack for her banner comments last week, so the cheersquads have kindly made her a personal one. #9AFLFootyShow pic.twitter.com/xbvC45ecIx

— The AFL Footy Show (@AFLFootyShow) May 11, 2017

Maddern herself took the gag in her stride and even agreed to run through the banner later on in the show to prove she was being a good sport about the whole episode.

But some on social media weren’t impressed with the male members of the show poking fun at Maddern’s looks.

@AFLFootyShow @RebeccaMaddern9 I'm all for being funny & entertaining but seriously that bit had not 1 bit of class to it. Don't care if it was PC or not. Just plain rude.

— GM (@gmacca1983) May 11, 2017

Rebecca Maddern has the hardest job on Aussie TV. Running a struggling show while ignoring or embracing outdated chauvinism. #footyshow

— Heath McKenzie (@HeathMcKenzie_) May 11, 2017

@AFLFootyShow @RebeccaMaddern9 I'm sure this show is very proud of this low act. Clearly out of touch.

— Dean Barton-Smith AM (@DeanDeca) May 11, 2017

@AFLFootyShow @Channel9 @RebeccaMaddern9 disgraceful, they need to apologise to her

— Susan Batten (@BattenSusan) May 11, 2017

@AFLFootyShow @RebeccaMaddern9 That banner is so offensive and wrong. Beck is spot on.

— H. A. Blues (@tartantiger2001) May 11, 2017

One aspect of the show that was widely praised was the panellists’ moving tributes to former player and media icon Lou Richards, who died during the week.

“Don’t you think it’s maybe time we don’t have the banners?” Maddern said last week. “No, hear me out. Everything in the game has become very professional and to start the game we run through a bit of crepe paper that costs $2.50. It’s time we get rid of the banners.”