SEN and Fox Footy broadcaster Garry Lyon was one of a handful of Melbourne-based media who relocated to Perth for the AFL Final Series. For much of the past four weeks, he was based in the WA capital where he worked early morning into the early evening for his SEN breakfast show and then contributing to Fox Footy programs.
The victory of the Melbourne Football Club on Saturday was the highlight of his journey.
Garry Lyon had a pretty busy weekend. He had the honour of handing over the Premiership Cup to Demons captain Max Gawn and coach Simon Goodwin. Before and after the Saturday season climax he was on air for Fox Footy. Lyon’s post-game interviews in the Melbourne rooms after the Grand Final for Fox Footy will be remembered as one of the great pieces of sports journalism.
Lyon then had MC duties at the presentation of the Premiers to Perth supporters at a Sunday fan event. He was then up early Monday morning for a 5am Perth start joining his SEN co-host Tim Watson and guest co-host Anthony Hudson on the 1116 SEN breakfast show.
Lyon then headed to the airport catching a flight east where he landed in time to take part in the final Fox Footy On the Couch program for 2021. Hosted by Gerard Healy, another former Melbourne champion and Brownlow Medal winner, On the Couch celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.
Fox Footy’s On the Couch team: Gerard Healy, Jonathan Brown, Garry Lyon and Nick Riewoldt
Garry Lyon had one more pressing media engagement today – returning in person to the Melbourne SEN studio to co-host breakfast in person for the first time in a month. He finally gets a break later this week with Lyon and Watson taking a three-day mini-holiday starting Wednesday. Co-hosting the Melbourne breakfast show in their absence will be Dwayne Russell and David King.
One of the highlights early from the breakfast show today was a text message from listener Troy who threatened he would be departing for Triple M if they didn’t stop talking about the Grand Final. “We’ve got bad news for you Troy,” said the hosts as they explained that probably wouldn’t be happening today. “We are happy to take a call on any subject though if you want to call us.” Troy didn’t ring.
Although the Australian Football Media Awards (AFMA) for 2021 have been handed out, if Lyon is not yet been presented with Life Membership, he will be hard to overlook for that honour in 2021.
Other 2021 AFL media champs: Gerard, Robbo, Billy and Dennis
The end of the AFL season has thrown up some other notable achievements. Chief among them is Gerard Healy’s milestone as the host of Fox Footy’s On the Couch which has been part of the Fox Footy channel and Fox Sports for two decades.
Gerard Whateley with Robbo on the final AFL 360 for 2021
Also from Fox Footy, a special mention for recuperating co-host Mark Robinson who made an appearance on the final episode for this season last night. Robinson discussed his health battle after requiring open heart surgery in mid-July.
The Herald Sun chief footy writer and Fox Footy host was hospitalised after two medical episodes toward the end of the footy season and has been absent from his writing and TV jobs ever since.
The 2021 Grand Final also marked the end of the media career for veteran AFL TV and radio broadcaster Dennis Cometti. He called the Grand Final for Triple M Perth on the weekend and speaking with Gerard Healy on his Sportsday radio program yesterday he said this really would be the end of his media career. Cometti retired from Seven five years ago.
Special mention should also be made of Billy Brownless who ended his TV career at Nine on Sunday morning on The Footy Show after 29 years. He will continue on radio with Triple M.
See also:
2021 AFMA Awards: Sam McClure, Caroline Wilson + all AFL media winners
Kelli Underwood receives the ultimate accolade from Football Media Association
Fox Footy’s versatile duo: Sport, TV & radio greats Garry Lyon & Jonathan Brown