Garry Lyon talks about radio return on SEN breakfast team

EXCLUSIVE: GARRY Lyon is locked in to return to radio with SEN, but one of his fellow presenters admitted he was unsure if Lyon would ever return to the media spotlight.

Garry Lyon, Hamish McLachlan, Tim Watson and Sam McClure make up the new SEN radio team. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

• Garry Lyon set to return to radio airwaves after taking year off
• Garry Lyon to return to Footy Classified
• AFL media shake-up continues at 3AW, Triple M and SEN
• Garry Lyon talks about mental health illness fight: ‘I’m trying to get myself right’

GARRY Lyon admits he’s nervous about returning to radio but has been buoyed by his new SEN breakfast teammates, who have pledged to have his back.

Hamish McLachlan, Tim Watson and Sam McClure will join Lyon as he steps back into the media spotlight for the first time, after taking the 2016 season off to deal with mental health issues and the fallout of his relationship with close friend Billy Brownless’s ex-wife Nicky.

BILLY BROWNLESS GUTTED AFTER LEARNING OF GARRY LYON’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EX-WIFE

BILLY BROWNLESS ADMITS HE COULD WORK WITH GARRY LYON AGAIN

Billy and Nicky Brownless with Melissa And Garry Lyon

“Whilst I’m a touch nervous about stepping back into the workforce, I couldn’t think of a better environment to do it in,” Lyon said.

“Hamish, Tim, Sam and I share the same vision for what we hope to achieve.

“SEN is the home of sport and sport is the fabric of Melbourne. We know sport moves and motivates our audience and we want to provide a platform for them to be informed and entertained and to participate in our shared passion.”

Channel 7 sports presenter McLachlan is excited to be a part of the team and to see Lyon back sharing his sporting insights.

“I didn’t quite know whether Garry would work again, to be honest,” he says.

“I work with Garry’s brother on a Friday night show on Seven, so I always tried to keep abreast of where Garry was at, and as the year went on you could tell things were improving health-wise. But I was never sure.

Hamish McLachlan is excited to be a part of the SEN team. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

“I’m very pleased he’s in a state where he feels comfortable enough to be working in the public eye.

“He’s anxious about it, naturally, as we all are, for different reasons. I think if you’re a good team you’ve always got each other’s backs, so naturally we will have Gaz’s.”

Watson and Lyon are reuniting on the new Garry, Tim and Hamish show after working together on the first SEN morning show 11 years ago.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions and he’s full of ideas and he’s really as excited as I’ve ever seen him about a project so this is going to be great,” Watson said. “He might say he’s a bit nervous but I’ve no doubt he is going to hit the ground running.”

The full team, which will include weekly appearances by legendary former Herald Sun footy writer Mike Sheahan and Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy, met for the first time yesterday to start planning the first show on January 30.

Bob Murphy will be a SEN regular. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mike Sheahan will make weekly appearances on SEN. Picture: Herald Sun

Watson says there was only one point of contention and that was Lyon’s wild beard and mane of hair.

“That is the only sticking point at the moment, that I wasn’t going to sign on until he had a shave and a haircut,” Watson joked.

“I’ve got a farmer coming in this afternoon with some shears so we will just see if we can knock him over in a day.”

Sports journalist McClure is looking forward to joining in the banter. “It is an honour to be working alongside Garry, Hamish and Tim. We will all be keeping each other on our toes to make sure listeners are across anything going on in the sporting world,” he said.

GARRY LYON TO RETURN TO FOOTY CLASSIFIED

GARRY LYON SET TO RETURN TO RADIO AIRWAVES AFTER TAKING YEAR OFF

AFL MEDIA SHAKE-UP CONTINUES AT 3AW, TRIPLE M AND SEN

GARRY LYON TALKS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS FIGHT: ‘I’M TRYING TO GET MYSELF RIGHT’

BILLY BROWNLESS GUTTED AFTER LEARNING OF GARRY LYON’S RELATIONSHIP WITH EX-WIFE

BILLY BROWNLESS ADMITS HE COULD WORK WITH GARRY LYON AGAIN