Australia’s best-known sporting commentator is reducing his workload
His voice is recognisable with sporting fixtures from AFL to Horse Racing to the Olympics, but Bruce McAvaney has decided to reduce his workload from 2021.
Speaking on 7 News tonight, the TV legend said:
“I felt like I got to a stage in my career where I had to reduce my workload,
What’s unclear is why Bruce didn’t announce the decision last year, which would have allowed a fitting farewell from the game he loves most.
“I’m going to have to move on and just be a fan like everybody else”, says a reflecting Bruce.
His final game was the grand final last year between Richmond and Geelong after a career that started in 1978 at Channel 7 in Adelaide. In 2017 Bruce was diagnosed with Leukemia which he is still managing, but he is insistent his career is not over yet:
“It’s not anything close to retirement, it’s just a new phase where I cut back slightly and anything I’m asked to do at Seven I’m going to do with the same enthusiasm and same commitment”
Sources tell TV Blackbox James Brayshaw is now the favourite to replace Bruce in AFL commentary while Hamish McLachlan will continue to host the coverage.
Bruce will continue to be heard on Racing and Olympics coverage.