Legendary AFL broadcaster Bruce McAvaney announced his shock retirement from calling the footy on Sunday and the question now turns to how Channel Seven replaces him.
Managing Director of Seven Melbourne Lewis Martin had a simple answer: “you don’t”.
Martin said the free-to-air broadcaster would push ahead with their existing team, but teased the potential for additions.
“You don’t (replace him). You don’t replace Bruce. You build a team over a period of time and succession planning is important in any organisation,” Martin told SEN Breakfast.
“You don’t replace Bruce, you build a team that goes forward and they take their own opportunities to establish their personas and calling styles.
“Not for a second did anyone at Seven think we were going to replace Bruce.
“We’ve been building a roster that can spread across the weekend, so there won’t be any big-name signings.
“There will be some fresh faces though, but there’ll be no replacement of Bruce McAvaney.
“Part of the succession plan with Bruce has been happening for many years now and so I really enjoy James Brayshaw’s call, Brian Taylor obviously, Luke Darcy, Hamish McLachlan, we’ve got Jason Bennett and Nigel Carmody doing the VFL and Jo Wotton coming through there.
“We’ve got quite a roster of callers to choose from and so we’re going to stick with our team.”
Martin revealed how Bruce’s decision came about, with racing commitments and an Olympic year helping with the call.
“We sat down and we tried to map out the year and he looked at me and said ‘something’s got to give’, he wants to leave on top and he wants to have a few more years in broadcasting so we just sat down at worked out how that might happen and as a result he’s stepping back from footy,” he said.
Would McAvaney consider calling one last game?
“That’s not what he’s about,” Martin said.
“He wanted to finish on top of his game. Has he got a bit more in the tank, absolutely, but I think that’s how he always wanted to step back from footy was that he had a bit more to give.”
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