Media Street: Jaimee Rogers leaving TAB, Gillon McLachlan’s guest list for farewell bash

One of racing’s biggest wagering companies has been rocked by the sudden departure of a major star on the eve of the spring racing carnival. See the details in Media Street.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 14: Gillon McLachlan, Chief Executive Officer of the AFL arrives during the launch of the Telstra Footy Country Grants media opportunity at Yarraville Oval on September 14, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Jaimee Rogers, the face of the TAB, has quit.

In a massive blow to the wagering giant, Rogers has walked away on the eve of the spring racing carnival.

The popular racing personality and form expert, who was the first female to front a wagering operator, is taking time away to consider her future.

Rogers became renowned for her bubbly nature and catch cry “Jaimee Rogers here” on radio and TV ads around the country.

She started with TAB 12 years ago in Sydney. Her first role was a marketing co-ordinator before she became marketing manager at Sky Racing.

Jaimee Rogers is leaving TAB. Picture: Richard Dobson

Rogers, who moved her young family to Melbourne last year, combined roles in marketing and the media before becoming a household name as the face of the organisation.

The mother of two also made headlines last year when she raised money for charity by swimming the English Channel.

Rogers will officially sign off after her regular slot on Daniel Harford’s RSN Breakfast show on Friday.

Inside Gill’s media-snubbed guest list for farewell bash

Gillon McLachlan loves the media but not that much it seems given the lack of fourth estate members on his farewell bash guest list.

While there will be more than 200 people at next Thursday night’s party in a swanky Chapel St venue, the media throng is decidedly light on.

Media Street understands there are only half-a-dozen journos who got a gig to the function which is stakeholder and sponsor heavy.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson and his AFL 360 co-host Gerard Whateley were invitees although they won’t be able to make it given they have a show on air that night so the 5pm start time for the party doesn’t work.

The Age’s Jake Niall, AFL website’s Damian Barrett and legendary journos Mike Sheahan and Caroline Wilson also made the cut while an invite was also extended to “special” broadcaster Bruce McAvaney.

SEN’s Craig Hutchison gets in under the “stakeholders” banner while Channel 9’s Eddie McGuire will also be front and centre at the stand-up cocktail function.

Gillon McLachlan is leaving his post as AFL CEO at the end of the season. Picture: Getty Images

The snub list is a long one given over his two decades at the AFL McLachlan has crossed paths with many journos, squaring off with the likes of Channel 9’s sports anchor Tony Jones.

Jones wasn’t surprised he didn’t get a gig and admitted he wasn’t expecting one.

“I think he only knew my name over the last couple of years,” Jones joked.

The media weren’t the only ones with their noses out of joint as the guest list inside AFL headquarters was also a lot smaller than many thought.

While all of the executive team got a gig, there weren’t many others which certainly ruffled feathers down at Docklands.