Does Garry Lyon, Billy Brownless rift mark end of The Footy Show?

THE rift between Garry Lyon and Billy Brownless could well spell the end of The Footy Show, according to Lyon’s former teammate David Schwarz.

THE rift between Garry Lyon and Billy Brownless could well spell the end of The Footy Show, according to Lyon’s former teammate David Schwarz.

Prompted by today’s thoughts of Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson, Schwarz said he can’t see Lyon and Brownless appearing on screen together since it emerged that the ex-Melbourne captain has been having a relationship with the former Cat’s now ex-wife Nicky.

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And he believes it could well be the end of the long-running football favourite.

“I think a lot of it will be lost,” Schwarz said.

“There’s no way, if we’re hearing right, that Garry and Bill can ever be on the show again together.

“Billy makes the show in some respects as a panellist, Garry makes the show as a host. You put them together – can you imagine them being on the screen at the same time? It won’t happen.

“(My breakfast radio co-host Francis Leach and I) were talking about whether it’s going to be the death of The Footy Show or not. Garry Lyon plays a huge part in The Footy Show, (former host) Ed McGuire beforehand.

“Ed can’t come back because he’s got commitments with Fox.

“He’s still involved in delivery of the show through his media productions.

“Where that ends up, nobody knows. Can James Brayshaw carry it out? Is Sam Newman strong enough with James and the panel? Will that work with Dave Hughes?

“They’ve got the Sunday Footy Show that covers it off. It isn’t as if this is their one avenue of discussing the issues. They’ve got Footy Classified.

“But it’s a big part of their programming to keep them relevant in AFL circles.”

Most talkback callers agreed, but The Footy Show veteran Sam Newman is adamant that the program - including Lyon and Brownless - will weather the storm.

“What the public should do ... is give us a chance to get to air,” he said on 3AW last night.

“James Brayshaw (who will host the show Lyon’s absence) is a very competent broadcaster, and I am what I am; I’m a dill.

“I’m sure Bill will be there at some stage, and Garry will be there at some stage when he has overcome his depression. That is a given.”

Leach likened the situation to a party that is raging at 1am “before one mate punches another mate and the party’s over”.

Schwarz said “if Garry had’ve punched Billy, it might have been done and dusted”, and doesn’t believe there’s any coming back from this.

“There is one thing that is taboo in life and in footy and just about around planet,” he said.

“It’s just not acceptable – it’s not on. It’s taboo. How many times have we been told – don’t do it off your own pier? There’s plenty of fish in the ocean.

“Every cliche that you can think off in relation to this topic is out there, and it’s out there as a result of what goes on. This is what happens.

“There’s no winners.”

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