ScoMo talks coronavirus and sport with footy club on Parrot Park Radio

Scott Morrison has returned to Tasmania, but this time on the airwaves, chatting with a local footy club about the time he made off with a member’s hat, and the one thing he wants to do when COVID-19 restrictions lift. Listen here>>

BOOKING their biggest guest to date does not mean much when you have only recorded four episodes of a podcast, but it is a mighty coup when that guest is the Prime Minister of Australia.

Bridgenorth Football Club, in the state’s north, has managed to land the man leading the nation for its weekly podcast Parrot Park Radio despite the complex task he had at hand navigating the response to the coronavirus crisis.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST>>

Parrot Park Radio host, club vice president, football operations manager and senior women’s coach Rob ‘Bobby’ Beams said it was surreal to be interviewing Scott Morrison on Tuesday evening.

“When he was on [the show] we sort of looked at one another, the hosts, and thought ‘wow, is this real? We’ve actually got the PM of Australia on our little community radio show’,” Mr Beams told the Mercury.

“There’s probably not too many journos that can say they’ve interviewed the PM.”

It wasn’t the first time Mr Beams had met Mr Morrison, who first visited the Bridgenorth Football club on the campaign trail with his wife the week before the May 2019 federal election.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison meets with "club legend" Jarrad Cirkel also known as J.Rod at the Bridgenorth Football Club in Launceston. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

That visit made national headlines as the PM was overshadowed by the “big scary mullet” of club member and “local identity”, Jarrad Cirkel.

Mr Morrison, with a James Boags XXX Ale in hand, labelled Mr Cirkel’s mullet the best he had ever seen.

WATCH THE VIDEO: JARRAD CIRKEL’S MULLET OUTSHINES SCOTT MORRISON DURING FOOTY CLUB VISIT

The PM enjoyed the experience so much he returned to the club to watch Bridgenorth in the NTFA grand final, tossed the coin at the start of the senior men’s match and mingled with supporters in the wet area in September last year.

Mr Beams said Parrot Park Radio was an attempt to retain club engagement through coronavirus.

Episode 5 is here with another great show with Bobby, Pup and Rick Fontyn! 🦜 We had Scott Morrison (ScoMo) and Bridget...

Posted by Bridgenorth Football Club on Tuesday, 26 May 2020

“We thought; ‘well righto, let’s think big’,” he said.

“If any club could get the PM on, we could, so we put the word out through [Federal Member for Bass Bridget Archer].”

Mr Beams said although it took a few weeks to organise, Mr Morrison was keen on the idea straight away saying he would not do many interviews promoting the anniversary of his party’s re-election, but one interview he would do was Parrot Park Radio.

He said Tuesday night’s conversation with the PM was ”pretty light hearted”.

“We spoke a bit about the incredible work that the government has done in this current time – it’s hard for everyone,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

• Investigators provide an update into fatal house fire
• Body found in bush believed to be missing Glenorchy man
• Bid to limit club, bar hours as alcohol-fuelled assaults fall

“We spoke about what he wants to do when things get back to normal – we’ve all got things we’d like to do when things get back to normal. A bit about his love for rugby and a bit about the club and wanting to get back to the club and back to Tassie.”

Mr Morrison told the hosts he wished he was there in person.

“When Jen and I came down last year with Bridget we had a great night down there at the park and it was just great hanging out with everyone and spending a bit of time,” he said on the episode.

“That’s why I was so please that I could arrange to come back for the Grand Final”.

The episode also features Bridget Archer, women’s player and Launceston General Hospital emergency department worker Emily Nunn, and the player dubbed the club’s sixth best player since 2000 will be revealed.

The podcast was posted to YouTube on Wednesday afternoon and a link to the episode was posted on the club’s Facebook page.