SEN considering new combination to replace Kevin Bartlett in drivetime radio slot
As the fallout from Kevin Bartlett’s sudden SEN exit continues, the radio station’s plan to replace the AFL legend is becoming clearer. Find out who Craig Hutchison has got in mind.
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A combination of Bob Murphy and Andy Maher or colourful commentator Dwayne Russell.
These are a couple of the options being thrown around as SEN boss Craig Hutchison desperately tries to land a big fish to replace Kevin Bartlett, with highly rated RSN Breakfast co-host Daniel Harford also said to be in the mix.
Harford also works with powerhouse 3AW so would have to forego two for the price of one should he join SEN.
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As the fallout from the shock exit of the AFL legend after 15 years at the station continues, various combinations are being thrown up to steer the drive program for the rest of the year.
Most are already either on SEN's books or part of Hutchison's Crocmedia umbrella which spreads far and wide on the media landscape.
The one which is gaining the most momentum is a combination of Murphy, the former Western Bulldogs captain, and Maher who is the current afternoon host.
Murphy is a part of SEN’s footy team and appears regularly on the station’s breakfast show and also with Gerard Whateley in the morning.
Maher is a long-time SEN man but it’s unclear whether the shift in timeslot would work given his TV commitments which include the ratings juggernaut The Front Bar and Channel 7’s cricket coverage.
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Hutchison is a big fan of Russell who does an hour-long daily show called Dwayne for SEN SA and the Sportsday show he does with Gerard Healy on 3AW is produced by Crocmedia.
Former Saint and Kangaroo Nick Dal Santo, who is also on SEN’s books, is another possibility but it’s believed other contributors, Nick Riewoldt and David King, have ruled themselves out.
One left-field suggestion is the combination of Shane Crawford and James Hird, who last year did a popular podcast together, although their asking price might be outside SEN’s budget.
Bartlett leaving might not be the only big name to depart SEN with breakfast hosts Tim Watson and Garry Lyon both out-of-contract at the end of the year.
CAM’S CRUNCHIE TRADITION
Cameron Smith has received a lot of accolades and presents in the lead-up to his 400th game tomorrow night.
But there is one that holds a special place for the Storm star and it centres around his love for the chocolate bar Crunchie.
Diehard Storm fan Helen Naylor was at Smith’s first ever game and for each milestone since she's presented Smith with a Crunchie bar.
For his 100th game he got one, that doubled for 200 games and then to three chocolate bars when he cracked 300.
Naylor, who has been a Storm member since 1999, is planning on getting to AAMI Stadium early to ensure the Crunchies are safely inside the changerooms and ready for presentation to Smith after the game.
SPUD TAKES THE REINS
An old-fashioned grudge match at Ikon Park tomorrow with the VAFA taking on Victoria’s best country footballers.
Former St Kilda champion Danny Frawley is back in charge of country lads and the ex-Richmond coach has a good strike rate in the role.
When the teams last met two years ago, the city slickers copped a pasting with Frawley's men winning in a canter by 14 goals.
This time around he has some former AFL talent at his disposal including ex-Tiger Kayne Pettifer who is still going strong at 37 having kicked 100 goals for Kyabram last year.
Former Brisbane and Essendon top-up player Sam Michael is in the country squad along with James Hayes, the twin brother of Western Bulldogs rookie Will; and Curtis McCarthy, the younger brother of Brisbane’s Lincoln.
The amateurs have a couple of handy former AFL players including former Brisbane and Essendon goalsneak Josh Green who has kicked 30 goals in 11 games with University Blues this season.
GWS and Carlton defender Cam O’Shea, who also plays for Uni Blues, is in the VAFA line-up as is Old Carey’s Sam Crocker, the brother of Collingwood forward Ben.
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