Bruce McAvaney return warmly welcomed by footy fans

Welcome back, Bruce!

They were the 3 words being repeated crossed the footy scenery aft treasured caller Bruce McAvaney returned to screens for Channel 7’s sum of the preliminary last betwixt the Swans and Power astatine the SCG.

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For decades McAvaney was 1 of the astir revered voices successful the game, peculiarly his pairing with chap favourite and superb caller Dennis Cometti.

It was announced during the week that McAvaney, 71, would beryllium returning for the footy coverage of this year’s 2 preliminary finals and the expansive final.

The seasoned broadcaster hasn’t called a crippled of footy connected TV since the Covid-impacted 2020 expansive last betwixt premiers Richmond and Geelong.

While determination was speculation, and adjacent an presumption successful immoderate circles, it each meant McAvaney would beryllium calling the game, sadly that is not the case.

Instead, the Olympic caller is hosting the coverage, conducting immoderate pre-match interviews and preview worldly earlier handing implicit to the regular team, led by polarising commentator Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw.

Along with a fig of “welcome backmost Bruce!” comments, a fig of footy fans besides had the aforesaid thought connected X erstwhile McAvaney was backmost connected TV for a large game.

“Great to spot Bruce backmost connected AFL. Hasn’t missed a bushed successful 4 years. Just privation helium was calling,” was 1 comment.

“Call the crippled Bruce. We cognize you privation to,” stated another.

“Normality has resumed. Welcome back, Bruce! Ps. Is it excessively overmuch to get him to telephone the GF?!” added a third.

While the antheral known arsenic “BT” has his supporters, including his post-match “Roaming Brian” segment, helium has failed to triumph implicit the bulk of fans since helium took implicit calling duties connected the network.

His perceived Victorian bias and an unfortunate trait of getting subordinate names incorrect are among the complaints from immoderate fans, with a petition launched successful June this twelvemonth calling for his removal and receiving implicit 3000 signatures.

A scope of footy fans couldn’t defy the accidental to telephone for McAvaney to regenerate the ex-Collingwood and Richmond afloat guardant successful the commentary booth.

One begged: “Give america Bruce implicit BT immoderate time of the week.”

Another quipped: “Quick alteration the locks and don’t fto BT backmost adjacent a microphone.”

A footy instrumentality declared: “Unfortunately BT is inactive connected seven. So can’t watch.”

Another felt they had travel up with the solution, writing: “(Bruce) needs to beryllium permanent, springiness him each the wealth to marque him stay.”

McAvaney volition beryllium astatine the table for Friday night’s clash, the Saturday contention betwixt Geelong and Brisbane, positive adjacent week’s expansive last astatine the MCG.