AFL fans all say same thing after Eddie McGuire's son makes debut on Channel 7
The 22-year-old worked as a reporter at Channel 9 for three years before making the switch to Seven this year, and he'll also work as a co-host on 'The Round So Far' program on the AFL website in 2025. Xander was part of Channel 7's post-game coverage on Friday night, and was among the first to report Hawthorn's fears that James Worpel suffered a syndesmosis injury late in the first half.
"The fresh news that's coming from the change-rooms is that it's a suspected syndesmosis injury," he said. "This can be graded in many different ways. The ankle got caught underneath himself, which is textbook for that injury.
"If he avoids surgery he's probably looking at a 4-5 week injury. If it's on the minor end and gets reclassified as a sprain it's 1-2 weeks. Worst case is surgery and he's out for a long time."
James Worpel has a 'suspected syndesmosis injury', reports @XanderMcGuire7.All the different options based on how serious it ends up being ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/rJReyglWUF
— 7AFL (@7AFL) March 7, 2025
Xander spoke well and with confidence, leaving viewers impressed. Considering he's the son of such a high-profile figure in the AFL media, his career rise has been dogged by claims of 'nepotism'. But the general feeling amongst fans is that he's earned his own way and is showing that with his skills.
One person wrote on social media: "The report was fantastic from Xander McGuire. Delivered the injury news, presented potential return timelines and didn't make it about himself. A rare perfect piece of football journalism. Something you wouldn't expect from a young journalist. He's doing fine work."
Another person wrote: "McGuire has fit in perfectly here. You can claim nepotism all you want, but he is very good at his job." While a third added: "Xander McGuire will cop some shit due to the old man, but was good tonight!!"
McGuire has fit in perfectly here. You can claim nepotism all you want, but he is very good at his job.
— Sam Briggs (@SamBriggs757) March 7, 2025
Big on Xander McGuire, great start @7AFL #AFLSwansHawks
— Max Weir (@MaxWeir10) March 7, 2025
nepo baby this nepo baby thatXander McGuire has done nothing but cook since getting the job tbh
— Sam. (@Orignial_Sam) March 7, 2025
Xander won the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award at the Australian Football Media Association awards last September, and has been quietly making his way in the AFL media landscape. Rhett Bartlett (son of AFL legend Kevin) wrote on social media last month: "The criticism some are posting here for Xander is unwarranted. Easy to bag him cause of famous surname (trust me, I should know). Despite your nepotism arguments, one still has to be passionate, strong work ethic and good at your job and the fact he's into his 5+yr proves that."
One person agreed, responding: "I had an incredible bias against him when he started, but credit where it's due - Xander is already a better presenter than his old man. Perfect delivery every single time." Another commented: "I think he presents extremely well in his TV segments and he's clearly a hard-working and diligent young man. Good on him, I reckon!"
RELATED:
AFL world responds amid news about Ben Cousins and Daisy Pearce
Swans receive Chad Warner boost amid ugly claims about Harley Reid
Speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia, leading sports psychologist Alan Mantle said: "Nepotism is a very hurtful word. When you hear that word (nepotism) you need to think it's just what someone is saying about you, but it doesn't mean it is you. It's reputation versus character. Character is what you form about yourself and a reputation is something that other people form about you."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Now is the right time': Port champion Boak retires
Beloved Port Adelaide great Travis Boak has decided against extending his glittering AFL career into a 20th season and will retire at the end of 2025. The 384-game veteran announced his retirement on Tuesday and will finish his career alongside coach Ken Hinkley. Boak had overcome injury in May to enter a rich vein of form and make a case for extending his career. Another season would have given the 37-year-old the chance to become the seventh player to reach 400 AFL/VFL games, but the temptation was easily resisted. "After 19 years at AFL level, it feels like now is the right time to finish my career," Boak said in a club statement. "I'm incredibly grateful to have had the career I've had, and at a club I truly love. "Being a one-club player is really special to me, and it's certainly not lost on me how lucky I have been." Drafted with pick No.5 in 2006, Boak ends his AFL career as the club's all-time games record-holder, with all 384 matches played for Port Adelaide. He is the club's longest-serving captain (2013-18), a three-time All-Australian, a three-time Showdown Medal winner and a two-time club best-and-fairest winner. The veteran midfielder also represented Australia in the 2014 and 2017 International Rules Series against Ireland. Lauded as one of the greatest Port Adelaide players, Boak famously turned his back on rival offers in 2012 to remain committed to the club amid turmoil. Then, Port were propped up by AFL funds, had just won five games for the year, and sacked coach Matthew Primus after just three victories in 2011. Perennial powerhouse Geelong were keen to snare Boak, a Geelong Falcons under-18 product, but he stayed at the Power. "The highs and lows are what makes footy exciting, and those moments are what connect a group in a significant and authentic way," Boak said. "Port Adelaide fans are loud, passionate and supportive. They demand success. "And while I haven't been able to help deliver them an elusive second AFL premiership, I can't wait to sit back and watch on as this club does that for them. "I'll forever be a Port Adelaide person, and I'll forever be grateful for this part of my life." Hinkley, who will hand over to assistant coach Josh Carr at the end of the season, lauded Boak for his loyalty during the club's "darkest days". "Coaching Travis has been one of the great privileges of my career," Hinkley said. "Travis has been the heartbeat of this football club for 19 seasons. "When I think about Trav, I don't just see a great player, I see a person and leader who embodies everything Port Adelaide stands for - someone who is selfless, caring, courageous and never satisfied. "He chose to make his stand with Port Adelaide at the end of 2012 when it mattered most, and we'll all be forever grateful for his commitment to our club."
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
AFL fans call out Demons over Simon Goodwin's farewell snub as club great in shock
Melbourne Demons great Garry Lyon has been left shocked at the timing of Simon Goodwin's axing with three games left to go in the season with suggestions the veteran is unlikely to coach a farewell game. On Tuesday morning it emerged the Melbourne Demons had sacked Goodwin following a convincing 83-point win over West Coast. There were suggestions Goodwin would be let go if Melbourne lost to West Coast on the weekend. The demolition of the lowly Eagles seemed to quell the noise momentarily with a decision to be made at the end of the season. Although the win didn't save Goodwin from the axe with the timing of the move leaving supporters in shock. Goodwin coached Melbourne to their first premiership in 57 years years back in 2021 having taken over from Paul Roos. But Goodwin had only managed to coach the Demons to seven wins in 2025 and performances across the last few years had prompted calls for change. And Lyon admitted he was struggling to get his head around the decision to pull the trigger with three games left to go. Speaking on SEN Radio as the news dropped, Lyon suggested there might not be a farewell game for Goodwin who deserved a send off having delivered the side their only premiership in recent times. 'I'm stunned, shocked, totally shocked,' Lyon said on SEN Radio. 'I had no heads up on this whatsoever. Absolutely just shocked, I can't get my head around it. He won't be coaching a farewell game, that's something I can promise you.' And fans have echoed Lyon's confusion to why the decision happened now. Many feel the Demons had left the decision so late it was only right to let Goodwin see out the season and have a farewell. With little to play for, the fans could have got behind the coach with three games left if they let him ride out the season. Unfortunately, it appears Goodwin and Melbourne will go their separate ways immediately with the supporters most likely not given an opportunity to get behind their premiership-winning coach one last time. I think a parting of ways at the end of the season would have been more respectful to our only premiership coach in nearly 70 years but a change was you Simon Goodwin for helping turn our club around and the memory of 2021 ❤️💙@melbournefc #AFL — Julian Cross (@CrossJulian) August 4, 2025 Shocked by the decision to sack Goodwin right now. Hope he is remembered as a legend of the footy club. What the Demons do next is very interesting…Do they see this as an opportunity to challenge again with a fresh voice? Or is it a total wipe out of star players? — Matt Nevett (@matt_nevett_) August 4, 2025 Can't but feel like we could've waited until the end of the year & given our only living premiership coach a bit of a send off. 100% the right call but jeez this man delivered something that I never thought we'd ever see. Thanks Goody that day in 2021 will be forever the greatest — James Plunkett (@jplunkett21) August 4, 2025 Lyon felt the call came prematurely with Goodwin's stature as a premiership winner going to see him reach the end of the season. 'I'm absolutely stunned. I thought there would be a long review at the end of this year and then determine whether he would coach out his final year,' he added. 'Premiership coaches are pretty rare at the Melbourne footy club. He's one of four. He will be a hero of this football club forever and a day, but that obviously doesn't guarantee your tenure. This is a massive call.' Melbourne making moves with Simon Goodwin axing After Melbourne capitulated in round 20, Goodwin shut down outside noise and said he was fully committed to the job at hand. "I feel incredibly supported by the board, I have for nine years," Goodwin said last Thursday. "We've been able to go through these challenges before with clarity and strength and stability to create success." Goodwin won the 2021 flag with one of the youngest teams of the modern era and started their 2022 title defence in solid form. However, Goodwin couldn't get past the early stages of the finals since the flag having exited in straight sets in 2022 and 2023. Last year, Melbourne finished in 14th and they currently sit in 12th and are out of finals contention. The Demons hierarchy may have called time on Goodwin's season with three games to go in a bid to get ahead of their rivals in the search for a new head coach. There are suggestions a number of teams could be looking at change for the 2026 season and the Demons have made their move first. Only last week, AFL great Matthew Lloyd claimed he didn't think a win against the Eagles would ease the pressure on Goodwin's tenure as coach. "I don't think so, no," Lloyd said when asked on Nine's Today Show. "Moreso if they lost that game, that could spell the end for Simon Goodwin you would think, if they were to lose to West Coast who have won one game for the season. They have been off for a couple of years now, there is something not quite right."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Call-up looms for Fyfe after Young scans come through
Dual Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe could receive an SOS call as early as this week after Fremantle confirmed Hayden Young had suffered an adductor strain. Young tweaked his groin tackling an opponent in Fremantle's 27-point win over Carlton at Optus Stadium on Sunday. The 24-year-old was playing just his third game back from hamstring surgery, and his groin setback leaves a massive hole in the midfield. "It doesn't look very serious... I think today's injury was a bit unlucky."Justin Longmuir provides an update on Hayden Young's injury post-match: — AFL (@AFL) August 3, 2025 The Dockers confirmed on Monday Young would definitely miss Saturday night's match against Port Adelaide, with a more concrete timeline to be provided in coming days. "We've escaped serious injury. It's just a matter of whether we can get him back before our last game," Dockers coach Justin Longmuir said on AFL 360. "We're cutting it pretty fine with timelines. We'll get a little bit more information back and see where the timelines fit. "Clearly the last couple of weeks has shown that he's important to us. "He adds a different dimension to our midfield. "Having said that, we've got to this point without him for the majority of the year, so I'm sure we'll be fine. "I feel for him more than I feel for us. He's been in and out all year and had setbacks. He'll be flat." Fremantle initially struggled against Carlton without Young's big body and class, with the Dockers trailing by 24 points at halftime before Jaeger O'Meara's move to the midfield to quell George Hewett helped turn the tables. Fyfe has missed most of the season after damaging his hamstring soon after returning from knee surgery. The 33-year-old made his belated return in round 12, before injuring his calf just three matches later while warming up at half-time as the sub. Fyfe's latest bid to return to the AFL side began on Saturday when he racked up 27 disposals, six tackles and five clearances while playing for Peel Thunder in the WAFL. That huge display came despite him being rested for the entire final quarter, with Fyfe now a chance to return to the AFL side for Saturday night's clash with the Power in Adelaide. "I thought he was the best player on the ground for his 60 minutes," Longmuir said of Fyfe. "He only played 60 minutes though, so we'll have a chat during the week. "He'll be involved in that and work out his next progression and whether there's a spot in the side." Asked whether Fyfe needed some continuity first, Longmuir replied: "A little bit, but we're running out of time in the season and we need to put our best team out there to win next week. "A lot of things will come into consideration with him and Alex Pearce coming back, but we need to get going as well. "So we'll see what it spits out at selection." If Fyfe plays, there's a strong chance he will be the sub. Pearce has played just one of Fremantle's past nine matches due to a hot spot in his shin, but is in line to return against Port. Fremantle have just three more matches - against Port, Brisbane and the Bulldogs - before the finals begin, so the race is on for Young to overcome his injury and build up fitness.
