Eddie McGuire sends three-word message to Channel 7 defectors as defiant broadcaster hits back following move that has rocked footy

Eddie McGuire has put a positive spin on the football crisis that has hit Channel 9 this week after three of its biggest stars left for Channel 7.

Nine’s flagship football program, Footy Classified, has been decimated after presenter Craig Hutchinson and star analysts Caroline Wilson and Kane Cornes all moved to the rival network.

McGuire has played a major role in the success of Footy Classified. He created the show in 2007, and his production company JAM TV has produced the show for Nine ever since.

According to News Corp, McGuire initially struggled to cope with the mass exodus, with the former Collingwood president citing legal threats during a lunch at the Carbine Club on Tuesday.

But he has since taken a step back and was in a more contemplative mood on Thursday, drawing inspiration from AFL star Allan Jeans as he discussed the situation.

“I’m pretty optimistic about it and I wish everyone the best,” he said. “If you get a good offer, go for it, I have no problem with it.

‘I like the rough (of the media game). Nowadays you want people to do well and there are offers everywhere.

‘Let me tell you, nobody goes crazy at JAM TV. We invented it in the first place and we also came up with a show called The Footy Show on the journey.

The broadcaster has lost Footy Classified analysts Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson to Seven

“As the great Allan Jeans said, ‘Crisis creates opportunity’. We’ve got a number of shows that we’re looking for a home for and how we’re refreshing things (on Footy Classified).”

The departing trio made their final appearance on Footy Classified on Tuesday, but their departures were not discussed on the show. Hutchinson and Wilson were not given a final send-off, despite being on the show for 18 years.

“I think the Grand Final was probably more important,” McGuire said. “It [the decision to not mention their departures] certainly didn’t come from us.’

News Corp claims the order came from Nine’s top brass, with the network sports broadcaster’s managing director Brent Williams believing that announcing their departure would only give Seven “free kicks” and give them a huge publicity boon.

McGuire then called Hutchinson, Wilson and Cornes “list snitchers” and said he is looking for the next football stars.

“At the end of the season you get rid of the list-clogging stars and put in the new superstars,” McGuire said on Channel 9’s Today Show.

McGuire says Footy Classified will be back in 2025 with a ‘fresh’ look

‘And that’s what we do. The Footy Classified with Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison. That started 18 years ago.

“We commissioned it when I was in Sydney, actually. And it’s fantastic. And it’s great that Channel Copycat is just taking something that we’ve been doing for 18 years and putting it on the radio.

“So that’s fine. While they’re doing that, we’ll come up with something fresh and new and exciting for next year and do what we always do.”