Bruce McAvaney honoured to be SANFL Premiership Cup Ambassador

Legendary sports broadcaster and Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee Bruce McAvaney OAM has been given the honour of delivering the Thomas Seymour Hill premiership cup onto Adelaide Oval for Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final on Sunday.

A proud South Australian who began his sports commentating journey calling SANFL matches, McAvaney will walk the treasured trophy onto the hallowed turf of Adelaide Oval before the first bounce of the Grand Final starting at 2.30pm.

‘’The SANFL played a huge part in my life as a sports-mad kid growing up in Adelaide and it was really where I started my television commentary career,’’ McAvaney said.

‘’To be able to call the competition, including grand finals, alongside Robert Oatey was a highlight of my life and had a profound impact on me.

‘’So, I’ve got a lot to thank football for in South Australia. I might have dreamed that I’d run onto Adelaide Oval in front of a big crowd but never expected I’d get my hands on a Premiership Cup on Grand Final Day. What an adrenalin rush that will be. What an honour.’’

McAvaney, whose commentating career with Seven has spanned AFL grand finals, OIympics, Melbourne Cups and most recently his first FIFA Women’s World Cup, also will be making a special guest appearance in a one-on-one interview with Grand Final luncheon event MC Theo Doropoulos at Adelaide Oval’s Magarey Room.

SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said the SANFL was thrilled to welcome McAvaney back to South Australian football’s flagship match of the season.

“It will be incredibly fitting to host Bruce at this year’s Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final given he kick-started his illustrious career commentating South Australia’s biggest game of the year four decades ago,’’ Chandler said.