AFL Briefs: Bruce McAvaney calls time on Brownlow hosting; Joe Daniher Sydney meeting, Josh Jenkins clash denied

Australian broadcasting legend Bruce McAvaney has called a shock end to one of his most iconic roles in the AFL season.

Bruce McAvaney awarded Dustin Martin the Brownlow in 2017.

Australian broadcasting legend Bruce McAvaney is set to step back from one of his most famous roles, stepping down as the host of the Brownlow Medal — the AFL night of night’s he’s been hosting for the past 21 years.

The veteran broadcaster will be handing the MC duties over to Hamish McLachlan.

McAvaney isn’t slowing down though with the Aussie icon set to prepare for broadcast duties including Seven’s horse racing coverage, as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

But it the Brownlow will take on a new look with McAvaney the mainstay of the awards since taking over the hosting duties in 1998.

“Brownlow Medal night is a once in a season event every fan of the game looks forward to,” McAvaney said. “It’s the same kind of feeling and anticipation for me.

“Over the 21 Medals I’ve had the privilege of presenting, the wonderful anticipation grows — not diminishes.”

“With great excitement and confidence, I’m looking forward to Hamish making Brownlow night his own,” he said.

“Hame’s love for the game, and everything about the game, well qualify him for this task. He’ll do a great job.”

It’s been a while since Bruce wasn’t a silver fox.

McAvaney will also still be part of the Channel 7 broadcast team for the 2019 AFL Grand Final.

McLachlan praised McAvaney’s tenure and said he was set for a nerve-racking wait for the AFL’s night of nights.

“It’s both exciting and very daunting at the same time. Bruce is an impossible act to follow,” McLachlan said.

“He is, in my view, the best sports broadcaster this country has seen — one of the best the world’s seen. His Brownlow hosting, and the interview with the winner, has always been a highlight of the footy year.

“Although he is focusing his energies on so many other projects, Bruce has said to me he’ll always be on the end of the line to help in the lead-up — an offer I’ll be taking up more times than he hopes, I’m sure.”

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‘CUNNING’ SYDNEY’S SNEAKY DANIHER MEETING

Essendon forward Joe Daniher has set tongues wagging in Sydney after meeting with Swans CEO Tom Harley.

Daniher was only able to play four games in 2019 before he was ruled out for the season with an osteitis pubis injury in round nine with the pair catching up as the Essendon star came to Sydney for a surgical appointment.

It left Swans coach John Longmire dealing with the curly question, dismissing it outright.

“Joe was up here as I understand it, seeing a surgeon, so they just caught up for a coffee,” he said. “I don’t think there’s anything to be drawn into that other than the fact they had a coffee. I think you are allowed to catch up with people from other clubs in this industry.”

Watch this space.

Daniher is contracted to Essendon until the end of 2020.

SEN’s Sam McClure reported the pair are friends and that Essendon was fine of the meeting because of that fact.

However, McClure said the Swans are a “cunning” club and time will tell if it was any more than just a catch up.

“To provide some context to it, one is that Joe was in Sydney also seeing his surgeon, the follow up from his groin injury, the same surgeon who is based in Sydney who did similar surgeries on Lance Franklin and also Daniel Menzel,” he told SEN’s Whateley.

“He also had lunch with Tom Harley who is a long-term friend and also a mentor of his since the AIS days in the under 15s.

“He’s contracted until the end of next year with Essendon. Essendon were aware of the meeting before it took place, but with Joe Daniher not a fan of the Melbourne footy bubble, he’s played 11 games in the last two seasons and with Sydney looking for a long-term replacement for Lance Franklin, those facts cannot be ignored.

“I think they (Essendon) were comfortable with (the meeting). I think they know the relationship that Tom and Joe have. Sydney are very cunning like this.

McClure said this is what happened with Buddy Franklin before his shock move to Sydney

“Clubs are all going to deny it and say they’re very comfortable with it, but there’s no doubt in my mind that there’s interest there from the Sydney Swans,” he added.

CROWS DENY JENKINS CLASH

Josh Jenkins will have to bide his time.

Adelaide’s coaching staff have shot down speculation of a rift with out-of- favour AFL forward Josh Jenkins.

Jenkins was dropped from the Crows side which defeated St Kilda last Saturday night — the second time he has been banished to the state league this season.

Rumours abound that Jenkins clashed heatedly with coach Don Pyke after his latest omission but assistant coach Ben Hart says that’s not the case.

“He didn’t have a run-in,” Hart told reporters on Monday. “He had a conversation about not playing on the weekend.”

Jenkins has been touted as a potential trade target of rival clubs.

“He is contracted for two more years and I’m assuming that he’s going to be around, so hopefully he will be,” Hart said.

Jenkins is unlikely to be recalled to Adelaide’s side for Sunday’s away game against West Coast — he was unable to press his selection claims as the Crows’ state league side had a bye last weekend.

“Wherever he plays … he will go and do the things we’re asking him to and do them to the best of his ability,” Hart said.

“But I don’t think we have seen the last of Josh.”

— AAP