Commentary icon Bruce McAvaney has called his last AFL game, announcing his retirement from Channel Seven’s football coverage.
Apart from a five-year absence between 2002 and 2006 when Seven lost the TV rights, McAvaney has been at the front of the AFL’s free-to-air coverage.
He has been behind the microphone for more than a thousand games, including 20 AFL grand finals, and formed a special partnership with Dennis Cometti.
“I felt like I got to a stage in my career where I had to reduce my workload,” the 67-year-old told Seven News.
McAvaney bows out of football coverage on the eve of the 2021 season but will continue on TV in other roles.
The versatile McAvaney will lead the network’s horse racing productions and be involved in this year’s Tokyo Olympics in July, where he shines in track and field coverage.
Despite battling leukaemia since 2017, McAvaney stressed his decision to step away from the AFL commentary was not health-related.
“I’m certainly not anything close to retirement, it’s just a new phase, where I cut back slightly,” he said.
“Anything I’m asked to do now I’m going to do with the same enthusiasm and same commitment.”
Muntz
Guest
Or perhaps most people just grew tired of his gushing style of commentary? It's great to show passion and emotion for a sporting contest, but Bruce pushed the dial too far in that direction for many. It became his 'schtick' rather than a component of a balanced call.
Bludger
Guest
Have to agree. Nice bloke it seems, but just another PC fence sitter we could do without. If they want an old timer doing the commentary, Peter Landy is just hanging about. Give him the mike again.
Maurice
Guest
And the Mayor of Perth as well.
Footyguy
Guest
My favourite was when the eagles won the premiership in 2018 Over there in perth there's gonna be a great big flag up at the brand new stadium Brilliant! :thumbup:
Big condiment
Guest
JB has the potential to go either way with the footy commentary. He can stay the course - and be a solid if not unspectacular commentator. But with him, there is a fine line between being serviceable and descending into utter rubbish like he is with the cricket. One thing is for certain, he'll never be a great footy commentator. The worst thing channel 7 can do is employ the AFL equivalent of James Bracey. God 9 has gone to the dogs since that brown noser got a hosting gig.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I remember him from the 70s in Adelaide. Can’t remember what station but as I was member of the stonedmasons brigade l thought he was unintentionally hilarious. ——- He was good for a while but he ended up making the special much more mundane
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Awww I don't mind JB in the footy, I reckon he goes alright. BT is a douche tho.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Society is negative in general now Scott. Bag anyone and everyone is the first instinct for many. So easy for us all to just bag everyone particularly in anonymous forums.
User
Roar Rookie
Great at the Olympics but was never a fan of his footy commentating for all the reasons yourself and Paul stated, bt and jb to ruin Friday night footy now.
Scott
Guest
Bruce was awesome. I can’t believe the negativity in these comments. He was the voice of football
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
He made a lot of early intuitive calls about where a game was headed. He was even right sometimes. That's what commentators trade on. Make us believe they can predict the future. I go for the cats so the ones I remember. "Now it's seems like it's the cats that are hanging on" or something like that in the 2008 grand final. I tried not to hear it then collapsed in a pool of tears as I swear a big hawk swooped me.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
It's not as bad as "Katie"
Peter
Guest
Legend of the game and of aus sport in general. Very happy to see him go as he was 10 years past his use by date. Unbearable to listen to in recent years and was no longer able to handle the big moments Eg completely ruined any repeat viewing of Dusty's fourth goal in the GF. It should be an iconic moment but is wrecked by terrible rhetorical questions and obscure Barry Cable Stats. Just call the bloody moment. The news of bruce retiring is probably the news that has got me the most excited for this season. Gerard Whateley on SEN by far the best AFL commentator btw.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Bruce is a font of knowledge with many sports. Two observations. With Channel 7’s racing coverage ( I only have free to air), the next time he calls Hamish “Hame”, I will throw something at my TV. Secondly. The next time the circus is in town, if they are seeking a clown, could they offer BT a job?
GWSingapore
Roar Rookie
Who remembers when Chris Grant missed a goal only to have Bruce spruik, "Carey would have kicked that?" CRINGE...
Big condiment
Guest
It was as you mentioned above...slavish hero-worship. Triply awkward when you realise he's hero worshipping someone with a truly mortifying personal life and the holder of a criminal record in TWO countries. On a personal note, I used to see McAvaney from time to time in the Melbourne Qantas business lounge (it seems Virgin may sponsor the AFL, but Seven stick loyal to the Kangaroo). He was actually quite the congenial figure - you'd see him happily have a convo with total strangers who would invade his privacy and say hi, and was unfailingly polite to staff. As weird as it was to see him practically blowing it on the commentary floor everytime Winx won, one can't really begrudge a man who really loved his job and sport. You can fake some orgasms, but you couldn't fake that.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I have never understood that utter lack of professionalism The guys name is Wayne Carey - no-one calls him Wayne, all this reference to 'Duck' when they don't mention it as his nickname on any of the little announcement graphics that pop up. Is it that Wayne Carey hates being called Wayne? He should change his name if he hates it so much.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I didn’t mind Bruce, but I didn’t mind Rex Hunt either. Both were polarising figures behind the microphone.
Big condiment
Guest
I meant Hamish McLachlan. Apologies to Andrew.
Big condiment
Guest
There is gonna be a lot of Bruce hate it there... almost all of it unwarranted. He was at the end of the day, a very good caller and a nice person to boot, but yes, prone to over enthusiasm in some of his calling. the Cyril Rioli and Wayne Carey - sorry, "duck" - love in was a bit much. But considering channel 7 are banking on BT, James Brayshaw, Andrew McLachlan and that IQ deficient blob Basil Zempilas we are likely to miss Bruce sooner rather than later. that said, my liver will enjoy the recovery now I don't need to drink everytime he calls Wayne Carey "duck". that was truly nauseating.