For the first time, a woman will be co-host of Channel Nine’s AFL Footy Show after the network announced Rebecca Maddern as Garry Lyon’s replacement.
38-year-old Maddern is a distinguished journalist in Melbourne and the number one ticket holder at the Geelong Football Club.
Her appointment is a big step for the show which has been criticised over the years for apparent sexist attitudes, particularly surrounding controversial personality Sam Newman.
Maddern admitted on 3AW that the show hadn’t always got it right when it came to representing women.
“In the past I think they’ve overstepped the mark, I think they acknowledged that. I can’t promise that they won’t again, but we will deal with that situation when it happens,” she said.
Despite the progressive announcement to have a woman co-host the show, the decision had mixed reaction from fans on social media.
While some were delighted, others thought it was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“PC minority pressure just became too much, good luck with that 9, I’m done,” Dale said on the show’s Facebook page.
“Sam will say something stupid to her and there will be another Feminist uproar,” Danny said.
Some of the outrage and downright sexist comments haven’t deterred Maddern who told SEN Radio, the show is just as popular with women as men.
“The show is in its 23rd year, it’s extremely popular and the audience is 45 per cent women. A lot of women, including me, have watched the show from the first day… and laughed along with the majority of what is on the show.”
Maddern may not be a household name outside of Victoria but she has strong credentials. She was a sports reporter for Triple M and has broken news on various other radio stations before joining the Seven Network.
As well as her reporting skills her presenting and love of football is what Nine saw as the clincher.
“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 [Brayshaw],” Head of production and programming Tim Cleary told Fairfax.
Maddern’s appointment by Nine comes four years after Erin Molan joined the NRL Footy Show before she eventually became a co-host in 2014.
The real SC
Roar Rookie
I agree Clay. The Footy Show used to be good but now has hit an all time low. With Gary Lyon out, we still have James Brayshaw, Sam Newman and Dave Hughes on the panel show. Most of the segments were very boring - Hughesy's spray, Newman's mailbag and Brayshaw's bias towards North Melbourne and AFL. Ratings have declined and I feel that Channel 9 should get rid of this show. And take NRL Footy Show and Footy Classified with them.
Kurt
Guest
It doesn't matter at all, I was attempting to make an ironic reference to claims of tokenism by highlighting the absurdity of taking offence at the gender of a TV presenter as opposed to some other irrelevant characteristic.
Momentbymoment
Guest
Well played Mattyb
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I used to watch the footy show religiously week-after-week for many years, but stopped about 5 years ago. When Trevor Marmalade left and then Eddie, it lost a sense of humour. The players read stats from cue cards and everything revolves around Sam, who is brilliant sometimes and boorish other times. Crawf and Billy have been good because they make you laugh. Having females on other footy shows has worked, so I don't see the issue. I think it will bring the panel more balance and I for one will be more likely to watch it now. But what I most want is light-hearted banter and humour and I'd love to see more players with personality rotated through.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Oh no a female is on the show, the sky is falling, the world is ending, whoa is me ... so much for hoping in this day and age the gender bias would be dead and buried.
Samantha
Roar Rookie
Why does who she supports matter?
Kurt
Guest
I was pretty supportive of the move until I heard she was a cats supporter. Tokenism towards regional Victoria if you ask me, disgraceful.
Kurt
Guest
Speaking on behalf of the boofhead demographic I can confirm that our spending power is pretty limited these days. Apart from beer and gambling that is.
Kurt
Guest
"It's political correctness gone mad!" Clay wins the prize for being the first to use this phrase, I was confident it would get a look in.
asd
Guest
Hooray political correctness. bring a women on the show. it might work. . Look what its done in society its more violent country worse crimes than before . .
Tricky
Guest
Actually females outnumber us by a fair margin (world wide), almost as much as Sydney v Collingwood forward 50s last weekend.
Tricky
Guest
Goooodd question - anyway Trump knows jack about anything really. lol
Tricky
Guest
I reckon they're going head to head with the nrl (they have a female co host? correct me if I'm wrong) not that they need to. Anyhoo I've watched her read the news - very professional. Change is probably what the show needed and this might be it, good luck Rebecca!
dontcallmeshirley
Guest
I disagree. This is a great move. I gave up watching years ago as they were rolling out the same old blag every week. They will gain 2 new viewers for every one they loose.
Penster
Guest
Yet we never hear about men being chosen over a field of better qualified, possibly female candidates. Why is that? Token just means "not like the norm" ...... which is middle aged white blokes who've had it on their own terms for a long time and don't like sharing the spoils. The footy show will be about whatever sells advertising space - nothing more!
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
No reason why there should not be a female host on the Footy Show. I don't know the background of this lady but I wish her all the best and hopefully no pressure is put on her because of her gender. Can't wait to see the next installment of 'Big Bills House' though!!!!!
Samantha
Roar Rookie
No idea how much she actually knows about footy but she has been Geelong's #1 ticket holder for a number of years. I have been told she is quite passionate about the Cats but that is second and third hand info. Time will tell.
russ
Guest
I could tell brownless was annoying JB they had to kick him off the main panel he looks awkward and jumpy this should make the main panel better an brown less can go back to being on evey second week at the other end of the panel perfect
dazzling jack
Guest
Good Luck Rebecca! It certainly needs a major sweep out ...all that oldskool male chauvinism, the tired old comedy routines, the wet jokes, it is absolutely abysmal..and the actual footy info content is minimal and shallow..when you survive all the turgid bilge-water from the panel, then they finally introduce the next game, its like 60seconds of trite candy floss!!? no in depth footy analysis...if this cretinous show has been popular for so long, it really says something about its audience, let alone Melbourne....finally, someone pleeease put Sam Newman into a seniors home, he is so far past his use-by date i need to put blue vein cheese under my nose to get rid of his foul smell emanating from the TV!?
SM
Guest
Best of luck to her. She'll need it dealing with the mouth breathers who watch that program whinging about political correctness and the like.