AFL news Eddie McGuire fires a fresh shot at Andy Maher and The Front Bar in footy's TV wars

Daily Telegraph

24-07-2025

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Eddie McGuire just couldn't help himself.
The catfighting among the AFL's media shows has been at an all-time high in 2025, largely sparked by a host of big names leaving Nine for Channel 7, including Kane Cornes, Craig Hutchison and Caroline Wilson.
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It has become common for journalists and ex-footy players to take shots at each other across television and radio, including Cornes' high-profile feud with 7 stablemate Dale Thomas among others.
Wilson and Hutchison had their own slanging match on Monday night after the former had a dig at Hutchy's decision to sack some beloved staff from RSN following his $3.25 million takeover of the radio station.
The Front Bar, hosted by (left to right) Sam Pang, Mick Molloy and Andy Maher, copped some heat this week. Photo: Supplied
It's not often that Channel 7's laidback show, The Front Bar, gets into the crosshairs, but McGuire couldn't resist firing a shot at the program this week from his offering, Footy Classified.
It all stemmed from The Front Bar host Andy Maher's public run-in with a spectator at last week's clash between Carlton and Melbourne at the MCG.
Surprisingly, the incident wasn't brought up on Wednesday night's show, stunningly given a pass by comedians Mick Molloy and Sam Pang.
But footage surfaced over the weekend of Maher getting caught up in ugly scenes while sitting in the stands watching his beloved Blues.
Footage of the incident showed a fellow spectator leave his seat and walk over to Maher before leaning over the presenter to engage with him.
A drunk fan had words for Andy Maher before the patron was kicked out. Photos: Supplied
Fans in the vicinity can be seen calling for security to remove the individual as a woman in a brown jacket attempts to de-escalate the situation.
The 61-year-old Maher remained seated throughout the nearly two-minute ordeal before MCG security ultimately separated the man from Maher and escorted him out of the area, which was met with widespread applause from those seated nearby.
Maher later had some strong words for the situation on SEN, asking: 'Why do you have to come along and get yourself munted and then make a fool of yourself and ruin everyone else's experience.'
This is where McGuire steps in.
Right before the closing credits on Footy Classified, McGuire attempted to demonstrate he was going to show some restraint, before firing off his own shot at Maher.
'All right guys. I was going to say something about a story that was coming up with Andy Maher, but I'll let it go til next week,' he said.
'I don't need to have a blue with anybody at the moment.
'But if you're hosting a show called The Front Bar, don't complain about people drinking at the footy.'
Way to let it go, Eddie.
Eddie McGuire (right) took a pot shot at Andy Maher. Photos: Channel 7/Channel 9
McGuire's comments come after Maher spoke about the incident on SEN, where he stated the whole situation had been blown out of proportion.
'Whoever has told you that story, they're going a little over the top,' he said.
Aussie basketball icon Andrew Gaze said he heard Maher had been involved in a 'heated exchange'.
'From what I hear, and I've heard this from a number of different sources, you were virtually assaulted at the football as well,' Gaze said on 'The Run Home With Gazey And Andy'.
'You were involved in a heated exchange with perhaps someone who'd had perhaps a few too many beverages.'
Maher said Aussie comedian Dave Hughes had also been involved.
Maher told Gaze: 'Well, he (the person involved) was escorted out of the premises. It had nothing to do with me.
'I just told the fella to sit down. I said, 'Mate, you're going to get thrown out if you keep going. ' He got thrown out.
'I missed the start of it, but Dave Hughes was in the middle of it all at the start and doing a very fine job of sticking up for one of our veteran members of society, who had, apparently, drawn some unsavoury language from this bloke.'
Maher said he believes the man was not a Carlton supporter.
'Hopefully he woke up the next morning feeling like a right git because he carried on like a pork chop,' Maher said.
'If he'd have just turned around and sat down and watched the last three minutes of the game and stopped doing whatever he was doing, he would have been fine.'
Originally published as Eddie McGuire fires a fresh shot at The Front Bar as footy's TV wars reignited