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Craig Hutchison replaces James Brayshaw on AFL Footy Show

Rumours of a salary impasse led to a change in Footy Show co-hosts.

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Craig Hutchison will become a permanent co-host on the AFL Footy Show, ending an 11 year run for James Brayshaw.

Hutchison, (pictured below) who has appeared on Footy Classified, The Footy Show and The Sunday Footy Show will join Rebecca Maddern from 2017.

The news follows recent rumours that salary negotiations for James Brayshaw (pictured above) had hit a impasse.

Channel Nine Melbourne Managing Director, Ian Paterson, said: “We are delighted to welcome Craig to the co-hosting chair on The Footy Show. He is a first-class media performer and businessman with a proven track record in breaking some of the biggest AFL stories in history. He will be a terrific addition to the program alongside Rebecca.

“We thank James Brayshaw for his contribution for the past 11 years to The Footy Show and the network. We wish him all the best for his future endeavours.”

But the announcement means further changes for the show after the departure of Garry Lyon at the start of the year. He has since been confirmed as returning to Footy Classified.

Hutchison, 41, started out with the Herald Sun newspaper in 1994. After a successful career in papers he moved to radio. Hutchison transitioned into television in 1997, reporting for Channel 10, then Channel 7, establishing himself as one of the AFL’s greatest newsbreakers.

During his career he has won numerous awards, including journalism’s highest honour, the prestigious Walkley Award, as well as a Quill Award. He has taken home the Australian Football Media Association Award for Best Electronic Reporter a record 11 times.

Hutchison founded the media company Crocmedia, which has grown to become a key player in the AFL landscape under his leadership.

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22 Responses

  1. There is a lack of clear leadership at the higher levels of Nine. Hence the loss of some key talent to Fox from Sydney and Melbourne… Top level executives do not have the finger on the pulse….talent = good content = good audiences

  2. Seriously!!! I don’t know why I still get shocked when TV producers get it so wrong. Bec Madden was a brilliant move and I really thought the footy show might actually have many more years to run, but adding Hutchy to the frontline is like going back to the days of Eddie. There’s just too much self interest with Hutchy. Billy Brownless should be out front with Bec. Billy’s a fun and entertaining guy and I think he’d be a good host if given the chance. Bec would keep him on the right path, she’s a true professional.

    1. Agree almost. Keep James and Bec and replace Sam with Billy. Billy is genuinely funny and you’d have none of the friction caused by Sam. Why they persevere with Sam I don’t know.

  3. Who would have ever thought Garry and JB would be gone before Sam. Maybe 9 thought with JB not doing the cricket it was a opportunity to move him on.

    I dont mind hutcy but when he used to come on to do the news years ago Sam would sit there and annoy him so much. But I just hope if people disagree with him he will actually listen instead of just jumping down there throats.

    I wonder if he will still do the sunday footy show?

  4. This is a bad move by 9…. I bet they try and get Lyons back on it within a few shows… If not, it will definitely be the last year of the Footy Show. 🙂

  5. Wow. What a shocking decision. He is just bearable on a late night footy panel show but on a show like the footy show with a live audience… nope don’t think so. He never looks comfortable. He always tries to make something out of nothing. Arguing with other people. World of sport was 40 years ago. Really bad clearly budget driven decision.

  6. I like Hutchy on Footy Classified but think someone who is more of a showman would be a better fit for The Footy Show. When Hutchy was on The Footy show years ago, him and Sam never got on so maybe Sam is leaving. Sam was having issues with management last year so the plot thickens.

  7. I’ve made several comments throughout 2016 regarding the Footy Show’s nosedive in quality since Lyon’s exit. Brayshaw was good, but less than half the host he was when Garry was around. I like Bec, but she seemed out of place more than not…

    And now Hutchison is the new co-host? I honestly can say I won’t be regularly watching like I have for the past 20 years… (since I was like… 7). Very disappointing.

      1. “Newman has told the Herald Sun he sees no problem in his remarks, including telling Maddern to “come get on your knees” or “lie nude” on the panel+
        Discussing being approached to run for Melbourne lord mayor in June, Newman smirked at the camera, repeatedly telling his co-host she could be “under him”.

        And in relation to Caro Wilson…
        Using a staple gun, Newman fastened a picture of Age journalist Caroline Wilson to the mannequin’s head.

        “The dummy was clothed in a satin bra and underpants.

        “I tell you what, she’s a fair piece, Caro,” he said over the chosen soundtrack, She’s a Lady by Tom Jones.

        Referring to a newspaper clip about Wilson’s wardrobe selection, he proceeded to dress the dummy in various outfits, fumbling around its chest and crotch.

        Wilson later described the stunt as degrading, humiliating and insulting.

        If this isn’t misogyny and…

  8. So now Hutchie is gonna b on all 3 shows for the Nine Network! A little overexposed! I remember when Bruce did a lot of Sports shows for 7Sport! SportsWorld Talking Footy & atleast 3 AFL matches per week! Hutchie is entering that realm! Generally I enjoy Hutchie but not sure if this is the right show for him!

    1. Despite the fact that he bags my team continuously, I’m fairly neutral towards Hutchy… But on paper, I agree with you that co-hosting The Footy Show would not be a great fit for him. Then again, I’m not bothered since I haven’t regularly watched it for close to a decade now.

  9. So Brayshaw’s pretty much done at channel 9. No cricket, no footy show, and he is no longer North Melbourne president. Brayshaw is rumoured to be going to Fox Footy along with Garry Lyon.

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