Is fractured relationship with SEN boss Craig Hutchison to blame for Kevin Bartlett’s recent absences?
Will this be the last year with KB on the airwaves? Tension between the AFL great and SEN boss Craig Hutchison has raised questions about his future.
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What’s up with KB?
It’s a question being asked by SEN listeners who've picked up on the AFL legend's recent trend of absent days from his drivetime radio gig.
Remember this is the same man who was known to turn up almost without any voice and do his shift because he prided himself on not taking sick days.
Not anymore.
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The elephant in the room down at SEN's Southbank studios is the fractured relationship between Kevin Bartlett and CEO Craig Hutchison.
Understandably KB was less than impressed when Hutchison brought in Gerard Whateley from the ABC to replace him in the coveted morning slot despite the Richmond champion's strong ratings.
The tension has been bubbling along behind-the-scenes over a range of issues including the games — or lack of them — which KB has been used as caller as well as commercial differences in relation to his program.
An increase in sick days has raised eyebrows and last week he missed a day for an All-Australian selection meeting although the previous year he'd rushed back to do the last two hours of his shift.
KB's contract is up at the end of the year and by mutual agreement it won't be renewed with speculation his drive show — which is co-hosted by Dr Turf (aka John Rothfield) — could be pulled at the end of the AFL season.
He's been at SEN since day one, this being his 15th year with the sports station during which time he’s developed a cult following.
The messy KB situation is understood to have placed strain on Rothfield's relationship with Hutchison — the pair have been long-time business partners with the Rothfield family shareholders in the company which owns SEN.
This all begs the question — will KB be lost to the airwaves?
Macquarie Sports have shown interest and a lot of his former contributors are certainly bidding for him to bring the old band back together five mornings a week.
Sports stars doing podcasts are certainly in vogue and you can add Melbourne Storm winger Sandor Earl to the expanding list.
Earl's story alone makes great listening and he's used the theme of overcoming adversity when chatting to some of Australia's leading athletes in his podcast 'Fuelled By Fire'.
Remember Earl overcame injuries and a potential career-ending four-year drugs ban to get a second chance with the Melbourne Storm after writing a letter to Craig Bellamy.
He then wrecked his knee six weeks into the Storm pre-season, before recovering in record time, and then being ultimately rewarded with a Storm debut in Round 5 this year — six years after his last NRL game at the Canberra Raiders.
“My journey as a professional rugby league player has taken its fair share of twists and turns,” Earl said.
“I’ll be chatting to athletes from around Australia about their own trials and tribulations and what has motivated them to prevail over their adversities."
Earl is releasing fortnightly episodes with guests including Storm stars Josh Addo-Carr, Jesse Bromwich, former New Zealand All Black Andrew Blowers, Richmond midfielder Kane Lambert, wheelchair tennis player Heath Davidson and Collingwood premiership captain turned leadership guru Nick Maxwell.
Ever wondered what type of footballer Australia's one-day vice-captain Alex Carey was?
The story is well known that he was on the GWS Giants initial list but never played an AFL game. Well, his former flatmate Essendon star Dylan Shiel has revealed all about his "Big Brother".
"He was a really hard worker, not overly quick in terms of leg speed," Shiel told RSN 927. "He was super tough … kind of the way (Dyson) Heppell plays.
"He would just get to the contest and put himself in positions most guys don't want to be in. He was someone the guys would love playing with."
Shiel revealed that Carey was his guardian when he moved to the Giants from Melbourne.
"I was still fresh out of high school trying to get my licence and he had his full licence so he drove me around," he said. "He was actually my guardian up in Sydney, my roommate was my guardian."
THE WHISPER
Has there been a change in the state of one of the AFLW’s power couples?
Originally published as Is fractured relationship with SEN boss Craig Hutchison to blame for Kevin Bartlett’s recent absences?
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