The Marngrook Footy Show
| Company type | Television and radio program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports broadcasting |
| Founded | 1997 (radio), 2007 (television) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | Grant Hansen, Gilbert McAdam, Derek Kickett |
| Products | Australian rules football commentary and analysis |
The Marngrook Footy Show was an Australian sports panel series that concentrated on Australian rules football tailored for Indigenous viewers. After a decade-long radio presence, it made its television debut in 2007, initially broadcast on NITV and C31 Melbourne. The program later shifted to ABC2 during 2011–12 before returning to NITV. The show concluded in October 2019 and was succeeded by Yokayi Footy in March 2020.
, it remains active as a weekly radio broadcast every Saturday morning on Melbourne’s 3KND station.
Origins and format
The term Marn Grook ("game ball") refers to traditional recreational games played by Aboriginal Australian communities, which some historians suggest influenced the creation of Australian rules football.
Grant Hansen developed the show to fill the gap of Indigenous voices in football commentary. It began as a radio program based in Melbourne in 1997 and expanded to national satellite transmission by 1998 due to increasing popularity. Initial hosts included Hansen and Alan Thorpe, with regular contributions from players like Derek Kickett, Michael McLean, Gilbert McAdam, Chris Johnson, and Robert Ahmat.
The transition to television occurred in 2007, with broadcasts on C31 Melbourne and NITV. Its content blended interviews, weekly game predictions, AFL analysis segments, live musical performances, and narratives focusing on Indigenous players’ histories, original clubs, cultural backgrounds, and contemporary issues.
From 2011 through 2012, the program aired live on ABC2, although its scheduling times varied frequently. Starting in 2013, production responsibilities were taken over by Toombak Indigenous Productions with broadcasts on NITV/SBS. The show was filmed at Deakin University’s Burwood campus using professional-grade studio facilities.
Following a 12-year tenure on television, the series ended in October 2019 and was replaced by Yokayi Footy in March 2020.
Primary
- Grant Hansen (2007–2019)
- Gilbert McAdam (2007–2019)
- Derek Kickett (2007–2008, 2018–2019)
Supporting
- Leila Gurruwiwi (2007–2019) (presenter)
- Shelley Ware (2010–2019) (presenter)
- Rohan Connolly (2017–2019) (presenter)
- Kevin Bartlett (2015–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Robert Walls (2016–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Doug Hawkins (2014–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Robert DiPierdomenico (2014–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Shaun Burgoyne (2014–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Ronnie Burns (2007–2013, 2018–2019)
- Phil Krakouer (2014–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Simon Madden (2017–2019) (rotating panellist)
- Alan Thorpe (2007–2012)
- Chris Johnson (2009–2016)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Logie Awards of 2015 | Most Popular Sports Program | The Marngrook Footy Show | Template:Nom |
| 2016 | Logie Awards of 2016 | Best Sports Program | Marngrook Footy Show | Template:Nominated |
See also
- List of Australian TV series
- Programs aired on Special Broadcasting Service
- Longest-running television series in Australia
External links
- Articles with short description
- Australian community access TV programs
- Original programming by Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- National Indigenous Television original content
- Australian TV series debuts in 2007
- Australian TV series conclusions in 2019
- Television series about Australian rules football
- Television productions set in Victoria (state)
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming