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Footy Show axes Craig Hutchison, Sam Newman survives after bizarre performance

EDDIE McGuire has revealed how he will try to turn around the fortunes of The AFL Footy Show after his shock return.

Adam Santarossa and James Matthey
8 min read
July 21, 2017 - 6:32PM
Sam Newman gives the finger on the Footy Show

EDDIE McGuire is officially back as host of The Footy Show, alongside Sam Newman and Rebecca Maddern.

The addition of the Collingwood president will see current co-host Craig Hutchison leave the show, although the journalist will still be used in other Nine programs, such as Footy Classified and The Sunday Footy Show.

McGuire said he is thrilled to be returning to the role that sparked his media career.

“The Footy Show changed my life, it’s been my passion always,” McGuire told reporters on Friday afternoon. “It’s made the difference and made me do the things I always wanted to do since I was a little boy.”

The move to propel McGuire back into The Footy Show hot seat is seen by many as a move to address sliding ratings. But McGuire says that is not the case. The show does not need saving, and will continue to thrive, as it has done so for almost a quarter of a century.

“When we started the program, the bosses in Sydney gave us six weeks,” McGuire said.

“They told us it would never work. Here we are 24 years later.”

Eddie McGuire speaks to the media.
Eddie McGuire speaks to the media.

The new host revealed that we may not see The Footy Show next week, as the program is set to undergo a brief hiatus before returning new and improved.

“We’re not just doing a little change here,” McGuire said. “We’re going to bring fun back to football. We’re going to have fun and give it back to the people”

“It’s a fresh start and hopefully we’re going to have the success and fun. That’s the main thing, the fun. We did it for a long time Sam and I.

“From this moment I’m dedicated to having the best footy show and best live entertainment show on Australian television.”

Newman looked to be making an on-air statement on Thursday night’s episode of the program, which came following reports that Footy Show producers rejected his comedic skit focused on the AFL affair saga. But McGuire says such differences were not uncommon between he and Newman, when the show was at its highest point, saying the pair regularly engaged in car park shouting matches over creative differences.

“For me, that shows the passion of Sam Newman,” McGuire said.

“24 years in, he doesn't dial the show in. He gets up there every night and he leaves nothing behind. He wanted to do something last night, whether it was right, wrong or indifferent, he had the passion to go in there and throw himself in the grenade to make the show work — that’s the best thing you want to have. Someone prepared to do anything to make the show work.”

Sam Newman and Eddie McGuire will share the screen once more.
Sam Newman and Eddie McGuire will share the screen once more.

McGuire will join Rebecca Maddern in the host chair for the revamped Footy Show and the show’s first female host, admitted Thursday’s incident was Newman was challenging, but back McGuire’s stance.

“There’s no denying it was a difficult night,” Maddern said.

“We all have off nights and Sam Newman may have had one of those. He had a creative difference with us and you know, that’s fine. At the end of the day, that’s how you make a good show.”

McGuire will still have an active role with Fox Footy as well and will continue calling AFL games for the channel, as well as anchor the Friday night coverage.

The former Channel Nine boss says there is no issue combining the two and that Foxtel have given him their blessing.

“They have allowed me to go back onto Channel Nine,” McGuire said. “We’ve agreed to terms on a long-term contract.”

Hutchison only joined the show this year following the recent departures of Garry Lyon and James Brayshaw. He previously hosted the Sunday Footy Show.

Since Channel Seven moved its AFL program The Front Bar to air at the same time as The Footy Show (8.30pm Thursdays in Victoria), The Front Bar has won the ratings battle in three out of four weeks.

McGuire hosts Triple M Melbourne’s breakfast radio program The Hot Breakfast with Aussie comedian Mick Molloy, and the pair will become direct competitors next year because Molloy is also a panellist on The Front Bar.

“We’re great mates,” McGuire said. “They’ll be some good battles there and will add a little bit more to Hot Breakfast. Mick and the guys are personal friends with me and there’s going to be great rivalry and creative tension. What it means is there’s going to be wonderful choice for people.”

Eddie McGuire will tackle radio mate Mick Molloy and Seven’s The Front Bar.
Eddie McGuire will tackle radio mate Mick Molloy and Seven’s The Front Bar.

Earlier on Friday entertainment reporter Peter Ford told 3AW radio McGuire was negotiating with Foxtel, where he presents some of Fox Footy’s AFL coverage, to allow him to return to Channel Nine.

“There’s a lot of buzz around that Eddie has been in discussions with Foxtel about releasing him from his contractual obligations to allow him to become involved with The Footy Show again, not just as the host, but with his production company producing the show,” Ford said.

Ford later tweeted both parties were happy with the deal that had been done.

“It’s funny, it may not be the ratings blockbuster it used to be, but it (The Footy Show) can still whip Melbourne into a frenzy,” Ford told 3AW after news of McGuire’s return went public.

“The Footy Show is pretty much a shadow of its former self. This is the only option. It’s a good throw of the dice.”

‘SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE’

Footy Show panellist Billy Brownless said the show’s sliding ratings have contributed to the shock change.

“I’m passionate about the show and I love the show and unfortunately the ratings haven’t been good — something had to be done,” Brownless told Triple M’s Rush Hour this afternoon. “They had to do something.

“I love Hutch ... but the ratings weren’t there unfortunately. I don’t know if he could do much more, he did what he had to do, he presented well.

“I don’t think this has just happened tonight, it may have been talked about for a while.

“The rumours are out there and they seem to be where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

“I think it’s a good thing to be honest if it’s happened, for the sake of the show.”

On the same radio program, Brayshaw said he’s confident McGuire’s return will be a positive for the program.

“We know he’ll do a great job, he’s the ultimate professional when it comes to hosting television,” Brayshaw said. “He’ll do a fantastic job but I feel for Hutchy.

“He’s a mate of ours and if this is the case then he’ll be hurting and our thoughts are with him of course because no one likes to receive news like that.”

McGuire was the inaugural host of The Footy Show in 1994 and last held that position in 2005.

NEWMAN’S BIZARRE PROTEST

Initially there were reports Newman was set to be axed after the veteran TV personality stunned viewers and left his fellow panellists baffled during a bizarre appearance on Thursday night..

Newman appeared to be attempting to send a message by refusing to engage in conversation or bring his usual colourful edge to the program. Brownless said Newman wanted to do a “walk on” to start the show but producers decided against it. He also said meetings took place after the show last night about Newman’s behaviour.

“There were meetings going on last night, let me tell you,” Brownless said on Triple M. “I went upstairs and had one frothie (beer) and thought, ‘I’m not good with these confrontations.’”

The Herald Sun reported today Newman wanted to walk on in a dress to poke fun at the sex scandal that has rocked the AFL.

Earlier, Ford made the explosive claim Newman’s behaviour came because he is “aware of plans to axe him”.

“Sam is of the belief that there are rumblings he will be axed at the end of the year,” Ford told 3AW on Friday morning.

“You can write the story every year, but this time I think it’s for real.”

“He is of the opinion they are trying to rein him in more and more, and he just doesn’t want to play that game. He wants to beat to his own drum,” Ford added. “He doesn’t want to be there working at half-speed.”

The trainwreck began from the opening moments of the show as Newman was introduced but sat down without barely saying a word.

“Cat got your tongue tonight has it?” Craig Hutchison immediately asked.

“No, get on with it,” Newman replied.

Comedian David Hughes started trying to engage the former Geelong star, who typically offers his opinion on the big football topics of the week.

There hasn’t been a bigger story than the resignations of AFL football operations boss Simon Lethlean and general manager of commercial Richard Simkiss after the pair conducted inappropriate relationships with fellow employees.

But Newman — perhaps, many viewers speculated, under advice from his producers — wouldn’t go near the issue.

“Sam’s a bit flat because there’s a couple of jobs at the AFL and you think you should get one of them — is that right?” Hughes said.

“If you think I’m giving an opinion about the AFL ...” Newman said. “In case I say something controversial.”

“They’ve cancelled Bonk Your Colleague Round apparently,” Hughes persisted.

Newman just shook his head. “It’s best you don’t comment on that,” co-host Rebecca Maddern said.

Footy Show host Craig Hutchison leaves the Channel 9 studio. Picture: Tony Gough
Footy Show host Craig Hutchison leaves the Channel 9 studio. Picture: Tony Gough

It was all downhill from there. Asked his thoughts on whether McGuire should step down as Collingwood president, Newman again protested.

“Well now, it can be controversial if you make comments on this,” he said. “You can be taken aside and spoken to if you step over some imaginary line in the sand. I don’t think I’d like to make a comment on any of that.”

Newman was also captured raising his middle finger to a member of the audience.

Richmond star Alex Rance, who appeared on the show via a cross, suggested Newman was frustrated at being restricted.

“It was strange to not hear him have as much to say and be his humorous self,’’ Rance told SEN on Friday morning.

“I have got to know him a bit better and probably more on a personal level than just what you see on screen.

“It’s definitely a persona he puts on and puts out there and I think it’s what made him so humorous and loveable in the early days was his lack of political correctness if you will, but now I think there’s been a couple of things he’s said which have been cracked down upon and maybe he feels the tide’s changing a bit and he can’t be himself as much as he was before.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/sam-newman-gives-bizarre-performance-on-footy-show/news-story/9d27d6c042e7e8f95d265a9fa8bde7fb