Eddie McGuire sends three-word message to Channel 7 defectors as defiant broadcaster hits back following move that has rocked footy

Eddie McGuire has put a positive spin on the footy crisis that has rocked Channel 9 this week after three of its biggest stars quit for Channel 7.

Nine’s flagship footy show, Footy Classified, has been decimated after host Craig Hutchinson and star pundits Caroline Wilson and Kane Cornes all jumped ship for the rival network. 

McGuire has played a major role in Footy Classified’s success. He had created the show in 2007, with his production company JAM TV putting the show together for Nine ever since.

According to News Corp, McGuire did not initially take the mass exodus well, with the former Collingwood president mentioning legal threats during a lunch at the Carbine Club on Tuesday.

But he has since taken a step back and was in a more reflective mood on Thursday, taking inspiration from AFL great Allan Jeans when discussing the situation.  

‘I’m quite sanguine about it and I wish everyone the best of luck,’ he said. ‘You get a good offer, go your hardest, I have no issue.

‘I love the rough and tumble (of the media game). These days you want people to do great and there are offerings everywhere.

‘Let me tell you no-one is losing their mind at JAM TV. We invented it in the first place and we also came up with a show called The Footy Show over the journey.

The broadcaster has lost Footy Classified pundits Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson to Seven

‘As the great Allan Jeans said: ‘Crisis creates opportunity’. We’ve got a number of shows that we’re looking for a home and how we freshen up things (on Footy Classified).’

The departing trio appeared for the final time on Footy Classified on Tuesday but there was no mention of their exit on the show, with Hutchinson and Wilson denied a final farewell despite being on the programme for 18 years.

‘I think the Grand Final was probably more important,’ McGuire said. ‘It [the decision to not mention their departures] certainly didn’t come from us.’ 

News Corp claims the order came from the top of Nine, with the director of network sport Brent Williams deeming that mention of their exits would only serve as ‘free kicks’ for Seven and give them a huge publicity win. 

McGuire then referred to Hutchinson, Wilson and Cornes as ‘list cloggers’ and said that he is on the lookout for the next footy broadcasting superstars.

‘End of the season, you get rid of the list-cloggers, and you move the new superstars in,’ McGuire said on Channel 9’s Today Show.

McGuire says that Footy Classified will be back with a ‘fresh’ look in 2025

‘And that’s what we’re doing. The Footy Classified with Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison. That started 18 years ago.

‘We commissioned it when I was up in Sydney, actually. And it’s been fantastic. And it’s great that Channel Copycat is just taking something we’ve done for 18 years and putting it on air.

‘So that’s OK. While they’re doing that, we’ll come up with something fresh, new and exciting for next year and do what we always do.’