0/5

Rebecca Maddern joins AFL Footy Show

The AFL Footy Show gets its first female regular in 21 seasons as Nine poaches Rebecca Madden from Seven.

2016-03-29_2238

Former Seven News presenter Rebecca Maddern is joining Nine’s AFL Footy Show to co-host alongside James Brayshaw.

She becomes the first permanent female member of the team in 21 years.

The announcement follows Garry Lyon taking extended leave from the show.

Maddern is the number one ticket holder for Geelong Football Club.

“I have been a fan of the show for many years and I am thrilled to have a new challenge that allows me the opportunity to use my footy knowledge and work alongside some of the best in the business,” she said.

GTV9 Managing Director, Ian Paterson, said: “The Footy Show has been entertaining Australian audiences for 22 years and whilst its history has created an enormous legacy we think it’s now opportune to reset it for its long-term future. Having Rebecca come on board to co-host with her own perspective is a relevant decision, and we’re really excited at the prospect of what her dynamic personality will bring to the show.”

Nine’s Melbourne’s Head of Production and Programming, Tim Cleary, said: “I’ve always felt Rebecca was capable of hosting her own show. She loves footy, she’s an accomplished journalist and presenter, and her personality and sense of humour suits the show. We’re excited to have her fronting The Footy Show with James.”

Nine also explored Eddie McGuire returning to the show but a deal could not be reached with FOX Sports, where he has an exclusive deal. It has not ruled out Lyon returning to the panel.

Maddern started her career as a sports reporter for Triple M Melbourne. She rapidly worked her way up to read the radio news on some of the biggest stations in Melbourne, including Triple M and NOVA.

Maddern moved into television in 2002, working for the Seven Network, and quickly established herself as a first-rate reporter, winning one of journalism’s most prestigious awards in 2003, a Quill Award for her reporting of the Victorian bushfires.

She has hosted the 6.00pm news, been a correspondent for Sunrise, and handled presenting and reporting duties on a number of sporting events, including the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, The Australian Open, the Melbourne Cup, and the glitz and glamour of the AFL Brownlow Awards night.

The Footy Show kicked off 2016 with its highest rating opening episode in Melbourne in five years (average audience of 392,000, with a peak of 538,000 viewers). Across the combined markets of Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth it secured an average of 546,000 a peak of 757,000 viewers.

Rebecca Maddern joins from Thursday, April 7.

15 Responses

  1. I assume she will also join the 9 News team?
    She did well on Sunrise so be interesting to see if she pops up on Today.
    Once Peter Hitchener retires, I can see Tony Jones as anchor with Bec as sports presenter.
    Quality talent, well done 9!

  2. This came out of no where but good on Bec. She certainly knows her footy and will be able to handle herself. I just hope people give her a go before they all jump in and criticise her.

    The Marngrook footy show has women on the show and Erin Molan is doing a great job on the nrl footy show.

    Will miss her on sunrise though

  3. I think its a great move and well done to Rebecca. A very good job on behalf of all parties keeping this quiet.

    For all the naysayers out there on this appointment…. the person who actually needs to go is Sam Newman. For someone to be a key figure of the footy show and he is no longer even interested in the game means he is no longer qualified to do the role.

    Just retire Sam.

  4. Wow, what a sensational appointment. Rebecca is no pushover and will be able to mix it with the boys. Will miss her on the news though as she is the best news reader around. Nine will be able to use her in that department as well as she is so multi- skilled. She is a strong woman and will keep Sam in his place.

  5. The footy show needs more than a female host. It needs a complete overhall beginning with banning the current opening segment. With competition from other footy programs, radio and podcasts there just isnt the need to watch at as there once was. I’m done with the school boy humour and silly opening segments based around Crawford not being invited to roughheads wedding.

  6. They just had her on the radio here in Perth. She seems very passionate footy supporter.

    Still the show is so one sided. It’s all about Victorian teams.

  7. This really baffles me, why would someone who has such a great track record in news make a move like this?? Astounding.

    I hope 9 loaded up the money truck and goodie bag because she may need it when this all ends in tears before the seasons end

  8. I had to check the date when I saw this story just to make sure it wasn’t April 1st. Time will tell if this is a good career move or not. Good get for Nine though. I was wondering why we haven’t seen on her Sunrise lately.

Leave a Reply