72-year-old AFL legend Rex Hunt dishes out justice on would-be thief

It’s around 40 years since Rex Hunt has been a member of Victoria Police but the 72-year-old AFL cult hero has foiled another crime.

As if Aussie icon Rex Hunt couldn’t get better, the veteran broadcaster has reportedly dished out some justice on a would-be thief.

Hunt was doing ring announcing at a boxing fight night in Melbourne featuring middleweight veteran Sam Soliman against Jesse White at the Melbourne Pavilion on Saturday night.

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A Current Affair reporter Seb Costello was broadcasting the fight and said his black leather laptop satchel which was hanging off the back of his chair was snatched by a thief.

Speaking with 2GB’s Mark Levy, Costello said he didn’t realise what had happened – but Hunt did and got the bag back.

“He apparently jumped out of his chair, followed the guy into a backroom and, I’m not entirely sure what happened in the backroom except five minutes later Rexie came out, stood next to me, showed me his knuckles which were scratched up and bleeding, and said ‘well Seb, here’s your bag and there’s a guy in there who’s not going to be able to sit up straight for a week’,” Costello said.

“I thought I’d never see my laptop bag again. But full credit to Rex, I’m really grateful to him actually. Another bloke who followed all this that happened was a guy called John Locco, he used to be the mayor of Brighton. He was involved too.

“I don’t think Rexie’s held a badge in Victoria Police for about 30 years but when he sees a crime being committed, he still steps up and prevents it from happening.”

Rex Hunt was the ring announcer at Melbourne Pavilion. Pic: Michelle Winters

Before his radio and television career, Hunt played 202 matches in the VFL between 1968 and 1978 with Richmond, Geelong and St Kilda, including winning two premierships with the Tigers.

But straight out of school, Hunt joined Victoria Police as a cadet in 1966, ending his career as a Sergeant in 1979.

Locco also spoke with The Herald Sun and said Hunt saw what was going on and tailed the bag-snatcher.

“The thief went to the toilet and was going through the contents of the briefcase, looking for what might be valuable,” Mr Locco said. “In those circumstances, Rex retrieved the satchel, much like Ron Barassi took on a bloke in the street who attacked a woman.

“Rex Hunt and Ron Barassi are great men, with great character, who do great things.

“All credit to Rex for showing real bloody courage. He’s 72, he’s not well, and he’s got a crook hip. He’s a hero and a warrior.”

Barassi was assaulted when he came to the aid of a young woman in the wee hours of New Year’s Day 2009.

Dustin Martin & Rex Hunt after the 2017 AFL grand final.

Hunt hasn’t been too far from the headlines in recent months, having walked away from his 3AW show Footy Nightline after a furious outburst at one of the station’s executives.

It came after an interview with 1980s AFL legend Robert DiPierdomenico ran long over an ad break, with 3AW head of football Craig Moore calling down to Hunt.

Hunt then slammed the reprimand and said that if he had to “worry about lightweights after me building the foundation for most of you people, I’ll just go fishing.”

In May, the 72-year-old made headlines after treating fans in a McDonalds to an impromptu rendition of his favourite ever call — the 1989 Hawthorn-Geelong grand final.