‘Stupid hours’: TV election icon Antony Green calls his last election

Iconic election analyst Antony Green almost choked up as he crunched the numbers one last time and said goodbye to the studio.

Antony Green has called his final election for the ABC.

Late on Saturday evening, with the result known far earlier in the evening than some of Green’s election nights, the numbers whiz almost choked up as he bid his now iconic role adieu after 36 years.

“If I’m going out in an election this is an extraordinary one to go it on,” he said.

Green, who received the Order of Australia in 2017 for his services to “interpreting Australian Democracy” said his time crunching vote numbers had been “fabulous fun” but he suspected he only got the job because he was willing to work “stupid hours”.

After he made his final analysis on the ABC, host Annabel Crabb brought over a huge bunch of flowers and paid tribute to Green.

“The only thing you hate more, apart from when the bloody computer goes wrong, is being the centre of attention,” said Crabb.

“I’m as nervous as a duck in a log,” Green retorted.

Antony Green has called his last election for the ABC. Picture: ABC

He was praised by Annabel Crabb on an on air tribute. Pictures: ABC

“Millions of Australians have loved watching and learning from you over the years,” Crabb continued.

“Your brain doesn’t need anything to call an election. You could do it on papyrus, and we’ve all benefited from your abilities and skills”.

In an earlier social media post, Crabb has said Green was a “wee maths nerd” who had become a “legendary figure” and “generous colleague”.

Antony Green began at the ABC in 1989 in an off screen role. Pictures: ABC

He cemented his presence after he accurately called then 1993 election early in the evening. Picture: ABC.

‘I don’t own a vase’

“I’m a bit overwhelmed by all this,” Green replied to Crabb. “That’s the biggest bunch of flowers I’ve ever had in my life. I don’t own a vase.”

Green thanked various media people for his career including Kerry O’Brien, Andrew Ollie, Quentin Dempster but particularly Ian Carroll who hired him at the ABC on a six month contract in 1989 as an election researcher ahead of the 1990 poll.

“There were 150 applicants but there was only one with serious computer skills and he said ‘you can talk to the engineers’

“And somehow I ended up on camera”.

With those engineers, Green designed a computer system for the ABC to analyse the results far ahead of the official results.

Antony Green (L), Maxine McKew & Kerry O'Brien during the 2001 election. Picture: ABC.

‘Been fabulous fun’

At the 1993 election, which John Hewson was widely predicted to win, it was Green who first noticed the strength of Paul Keating and the potential return of his government.

That cemented his reputation among viewers.

“People listen to Antony and they wait for him on election night to declare the winner,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a prerecorded tribute to Green.

“It’s been fabulous fun,” said Green of his TV career.

“I enjoyed developing websites. I’ve enjoyed educating people on how the systems work.

“We’ll see how we go from here”.

Antony Green said his time at the ABC had been “fabulous fun”. Pictures: ABC

HE seemed close to choking up at one point as he said goodbye. Pictures: ABC

Green announced in February that he would be retiring from his on screen role after covering 90 elections both in Australia and abroad.

“By the time of the next election, I’ll be 68 and I know I’m not as sharp and quick as I was five years ago,” Green said at the time

“It gets harder and harder. It’s like a footballer, sometimes they play on a season too long, and I’m making sure I don’t do that.”

“Essentially I’m deciding to retire and work less,” he added.

Casey Briggs will step in as ABC’s chief election and data analyst following the federal election.

“For more than three decades Antony Green has set the bar for election analysis. He is sharp, fast and, even under the immense pressure of the night, manages to keep his sense of humour,” Briggs said.

“For me, it has been such a privilege to have had a front-row seat to watch and learn from the master at work.

“We will all miss him from our screens”.

Originally published as ‘Stupid hours’: TV election icon Antony Green calls his last election