Media Street: Hamish McLachlan launches interview series ‘Let’s Talk’ with some of the biggest names in sport

Few have interviewed more big names in Australian sport than Hamish McLachlan. Now the Channel 7 host and commentator is eyeing his next big series.

Hamish McLachlan is launching a new interview series. Picture: Getty Images

Tennis champion Ash Barty has revealed the anger she felt towards the doubters who questioned the No.1 ranking ahead of her historic Australian Open success.

The now retired Barty made the confession in Hamish McLachlan’s latest interview series “Let’s Talk” which was launched at the Danny Frawley Centre at Moorabbin on Wednesday.

In a follow-up to his successful series ‘Last Time I Cried’, the Channel 7 host and commentator has delved into the hearts of minds of the likes of Barty, Olympic swimming champion Ian Thorpe, ex-Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley, former Kangaroo Majak Daw and boxer Harry Garside.

He also interviewed Danny Frawley’s wife Anita, Bec Daniher about her father’s battle with MND and Dani Laidley on her amazing transformation.

Barty, who gave birth to her first child Hayden earlier this month, spoke about the perception Japan’s Naomi Osaki was a more worthy No.1 leading into the 2022 Australian Open.

Hamish McLachlan is launching a new interview series. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“There was plenty of noise, ‘Is Ash the best player in the world?’ and that made me angry,” Barty says. “That really pissed me off because I know I am the best player in the world.”

Buckley opened up about the breakdown of his marriage and the pressure he felt early in his football career. “If I didn’t play good footy I wasn’t worth a piece of sh--”,” he said.

Daw spoke about the day he survived a suicide attempt after plunging from the Bolte Bridge in 2018.

Frawley revealed how she had to be rushed to hospital shortly after hearing her husband, St Kilda champion Danny, had died in a car accident.

“I just had this pain . . . is this heartbreak? So I was rushed to hospital and I remember going, ‘They (her children) can’t lose their mum and dad on the same day’.”

Daniher, who is expecting her first child on Friday, opened her heart about her father Neale’s health battle which is now heading the wrong way.

“It is so much more real, that presence of death than it ever has been,” she said. “He has been able to defy the odds but the odds are turning around a little bit.”

All the interviews were conducted on stage in an empty Forum Theatre in Melbourne with McLachlan becoming emotional at the launch as he thanked those who opened up to him.

Daw will be the first interview to go to air this Sunday on the AIA and AFL website while the content will also feature in the Sunday Herald Sun.