Channel Seven’s Tim Watson says his network has had no conversations with Nick Riewoldt over the possibility of fronting a reported panel show.
The Herald Sun reported on Wednesday that there is a push within Seven for Riewoldt – who has taken a year off media commitments to spend time in the United States – to lead a new panel show that could screen later this year.
Watson shed light on conversations with Seven’s head of sport Lewis Martin after reading the report.
“I said, ‘have you had a discussion with him, is he coming?’. He (Martin) said no and started laughing,” he told SEN Breakfast.
“He said, ‘no, we’re not talking to him’.”
There was no suggestion in the report that Riewoldt had talked to directly with Seven, nor that Seven have reached out to the 40-year-old or his management.
Riewoldt had been with Fox Footy following his retirement in 2017, but his contract with the network concluded in 2022.
Breakfast co-host and a former colleague of Riewoldt at Fox Footy, Garry Lyon, also shared his thoughts.
“He’s having a year off, he’s in America with his beautiful family and kids… all I know is he’s as good a media performer as I’ve seen… and I’m very confident he’ll come back and join in,” the Melbourne great said.
Riewoldt was also a regular on Fox Footy shows On The Couch and Best On Ground, alongside his commentary duties, before his surprise departure from the network.
Seven and Channel Nine have previously been reported to be interested in securing Riewoldt as a media talent going forward.