One of Australia’s biggest TV icons Bruce McAvaney stuns fans by coming out of retirement to commentate on the AFL grand final

Broadcasting legend Bruce McAvaney has stunned footy fans by announcing that he is coming out of retirement to commentate on the final three games of the AFL season.

Regarded as the voice of footy, the 71-year-old will take on a key hosting role with Seven for this weekend’s two preliminary finals and the premiership decider on September 28.

He called his last AFL game for the network in February 2021 after lending his talents to more than 1000 matches.

‘The 2024 season has turned out to be unpredictable and thrilling,’ said McAvaney.

‘To have the opportunity to be part of it is a privilege and I’m incredibly excited to be joining my colleagues in broadcasting the finals on Seven.’ 

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Jeff Howard, is excited about having McAvaney back on board.

‘Bruce is a living legend and the best sports broadcaster of our generation,’ he said. 

‘He is part of the fabric of Seven and we are honoured that he is returning to our 7AFL coverage for the biggest three games of the season.

The veteran commentator called time on his distinguished career in the AFL commentary box in 2021 after calling more than 1,000 games

‘After two remarkable semi-final matches this weekend, it’s hard to remember a more compelling finals race than 2024. The stage is set for a nail-biting finish and with Bruce alongside our commentary team, you know it’s must-watch TV.’

Regarded for decades as the voice of the AFL alongside co-commentator Dennis Cometti, it was a difficult decision for McAvaney to walk away away from commentary in 2021.

‘I felt like I got to a stage in my career where I had to reduce my workload,’ he said at the time.

‘I’m going to miss it enormously, I just visualise when Richmond and Carlton run out there in round one, and the ball is bounced, I’m going to climb a wall somewhere.

‘I’m going to have to move on and just be a fan like everybody else.’

McAvaney said he is incredibly excited about working on the AFL finals as he looks forward to calling the match between the Cats and Lions (pictured playing earlier this year)

The one-time voice of footy will also call the preliminary final between Sydney and Port Adelaide (pictured playing earlier this year) before moving on to the grand final

McAvaney insisted the decision to step back after that year’s coronavirus-interrupted AFL season wasn’t health-related, having battled chronic lymphocytic leukaemia in 2017.

The shock decision was the result of discussions with his wife Anne and the network.

‘I was confident I could continue on (calling) strongly, but I just felt it was the right time for me,’ McAvaney explained.

‘Something had to give. I realised I wanted to keep working. I didn’t want to retire, that’s far from my mind. But I just didn’t think I was in a position to continue to do as much as I was doing.’

Although he has retired from calling the footy, McAvaney has continued to do racing coverage and also made the eye-opening call to work for ABC radio during the Paris Olympic Games.