The Australian Football Hall of Fame has welcomed its latest inductee, celebrated sports commentator Bruce McAvaney OAM, in a gala event held in Melbourne last night.
Best known for his unmatched commentary and profound love for sports, McAvaney’s induction is a tribute to his 40 years of service in AFL broadcasting, a tenure that has deeply resonated with a generation of football fans.
Commencing his AFL broadcasting career in 1978, McAvaney was the cornerstone of the Seven Network’s AFL coverage from 1989 to 2020. Despite shifting focus to horse racing and Olympics coverage in recent years, his impact on footy remains indelible.
Upon receiving the honour, Bruce McAvaney expressed his deep appreciation for the recognition, citing his respect for the greats of the game. He said,
“To have been involved with Australia’s own game for so long through Channel 7’s stewardship has been an absolute privilege and one of the great joys of my life.”
Lewis Martin, Managing Director of Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, spoke highly of McAvaney. He praised the broadcaster for his extraordinary talent and contribution to sports journalism, stating,
“It continues to be our great honour to work with Bruce, who deserves every accolade for his unmatched career.”
McAvaney is the eleventh media representative to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame since its inception in 1996 and the first since Dennis Cometti in 2020.
This honour follows his AFL Life Membership achievement earlier this year, and a host of other accolades, including the Logies Hall of Fame (2022), The Kennedy Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement (2022), and the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sports broadcasting (2002).
Steve Symons
Steve Symons