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Seven plucks controversial host for new footy show

The Seven Network is launching a new weekly, AFL panel show AFL Game Day on Sunday mornings.

It will air at 10am from Sunday March 16 in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. In Sydney and Brisbane it airs at 11am on 7 HD.

The show promises to tackle AFL news stories, with reviews and previews of matches with a sense of fun. No AFL stars or other panellists have yet been announced as part of the line-up.

Seven has announced “footy nut” Hamish McLachlan, brother of Gillon McLachlan, the AFL’s Chief Broadcasting & Commercial Officer, to host.

McLachlan is also the ex-boyfriend of Channel Nine’s Livinia Nixon (pictured), and more recently dating her former Getaway co-star Giaan Rooney.

But Seven, in announcing McLachlan as host, neglected to mention he was also a director of the ill-fated AFL Hall of Fame (now World of Fame) exhibition at Melbourne’s QV Shopping Centre. It was beset by controversy, financial liquidation and allegations of conflicts of interest.

Just two months after opening, the $14 million museum and interactive games centre was placed in the hands of administrators after running out of capital and in severe debt.

In 2004 a Federal Court Judge ruled Spyglass Management, “which operates the AFL Hall of Fame and Sensation, is hopelessly insolvent. It has many creditors, whose debts in aggregate exceed $26 million.”

At the time, McLachlan told ABC’s Stateline that he regretted the failure of the Hall of Fame and the losses faced by creditors.

JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: How do you feel that a lot of creditors won’t be getting their money?
HAMISH MCLACHLAN: Terrible.
JOSEPHINE CAFAGNA: Do you feel any responsibility?
HAMISH MCLACHLAN: Yeah, absolutely.

Still, never let it be said a little controversy hasn’t worked well for hosts of football shows. If pedigree is anything to go by, this is a show that should have no trouble attracting headlines, buzz and word of mouth.

Press Release:

Channel Seven’s highly-anticipated new weekly footy panel show, AFL Game Day, will kick off 10am Sunday March 16 following Weekend Sunrise.

AFL Game Day will tackle all the big footy issues, review and preview the weekend’s games and have a bit of fun along the way.

TV newcomer and footy nut Hamish McLachlan will host the show, featuring some of the best names in football on the panel. Leading AFL journalists will also join the panel, along with special guest stars from the football and media world.

Channel Seven Melbourne Managing Director Ian Johnson said: “AFL Game Day is the footy show footy fans have been crying out for on a Sunday morning. It will cover all the AFL issues everyone is talking about with plenty of spirit, fun, knowledge and passion. We’ll have more announcements soon about the football stars to join the panel.”

Well regarded football producer David Lowden returns to Channel Seven to produce the show. AFL Game Day will be seen in Sydney and Brisbane on 7HD Sundays 11am.

About Hamish McLachlan:

AFL Game Day host Hamish McLachlan comes from a strong sporting background with management and broadcast experience on a national and international level with sports including AFL, Olympics, Tennis and Cricket. Through his work at Elite Sports Properties he has also helped grow and develop successful sporting careers. Hamish has been directly involved with the following events:

· Eight AFL seasons with sports management company
· AFL Grand Final activity
· AFL player management and relationships 1998 – 2007
· 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
· 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Games
· 2002 World Sup soccer
· 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games
· 2005 & 2006 Cartier International Commentary
· 2006 Royal Polo Series in England: Host and commentator

Sources: The Age, Daily Telegraph, Stateline

3 Responses

  1. Note to Stan – 7 need to do a ‘serious’ football show, because they have the football.

    Seven, by not having a serious football program, are not leveraging their investment in the AFL rights.

    (Living in Adelaide, I agree about the disproportionate coverage of Melbourne clubs).

    Nine’s ‘Footy Confidential’ is limited by two things. 1) it drifts in Nine’s schedule (you could never be sure when it was on); and 2) those blokey blokes on the panel who won’t give Caroline Wilson (the best footy journalist in the country) a fair go. (Thankfully one of those blokes won’t be back).

    Seven should opt for a ‘Talking Footy’ clone – and a Monday night slot would work. Doing a program on Sunday morning means there are still half the games to go in that round – and it’s possible it will be not much more than a preview show.

  2. Although I’m an AFL fan, I’ll skip this show, because I live in Sydney and not interested in listening about the Victorian clubs all the time. Channel 9 is already doing it, why do we need another program of the same type on Channel 7?

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