Tonight, Channel Nine has announced the new host of ‘The Footy Show’ as Rebecca Maddern.
Controversy hit the show after it was discovered that Garry Lyon had been having an affair with his co-host Bill Brownless‘ ex-wife. Lyon stepped down indefinitely from the show after the news broke.
Maddern has said that she’s stoked, because the job – that she’s left a 13-year stint at Channel 7 for – mixes her career in journalism with her passion for AFL.
“I was looking for new challenges in life and this was an opportunity too good to pass up. It combines my journalism with my love of AFL football.“I expect people will be keeping a close eye on me in the first few weeks but that will die down and they will readily accept me. It is terrific for women to be involved in all levels of football and this (co-hosting the Footy Show) is just an extension of that.”
And the ‘tokenism’ conversation is already beginning, but hosts Sam Newman and James Brayshaw are already shutting that shit down.
“The critics say our show is blokey and male-oriented (so) we think this is a very good opportunity to diversify and spread our wings.We thought ‘we have to be careful this doesn’t look like tokenism’ but when the right person came available, it was unanimously agreed that this would be a great thing to do.” said Newman.
“Women make up half our audience and I couldn’t think of a better fit than Rebecca. I think it is a brave and exciting move,” said Brayshaw.
But the show has said that Lyon’s return hasn’t been nixed with the hire of Maddern:
“Garry remains an important part of the line-up and is extremely supportive of Rebecca’s appointment,” says Ian Paterson, Nine Melbourne’s managing director.
And as always, this vaguely falls under the umbrella of Lewis’ Law: “Comments on any article about feminism, justify feminism”.
And we’re sure doubt will be cast over this new, female host in our comment section too. A female who happens to be an award-winning journalist, and is the number one ticket holder with Geelong FC.
Congratulations, Rebecca!
Source: Newscorp.
Photo: Jason Edwards / Newscorp.
