Eddie McGuire's son Xander in huge scoop about AFL club amid nasty allegations

Yahoo

20-03-2025

Xander McGuire continues to prove himself as a rising star of the AFL media landscape after breaking a big story about the Geelong Cats and the future of Sam De Koning on Wednesday night. And in doing so the 22-year-old is destroying a nasty narrative around his famous father Eddie.
Xander is working on Channel 7 in 2025 and has featured across the network's footy coverage - from game broadcasts to talk shows and news bulletins. He's also landed a role as host of 'The Round So Far' program on the AFL website, but the gigs have sparked ugly claims of nepotism.
Many think Xander has only risen so high because of his surname, but in reality he appears to be a gun journo in his own right. He won the Clinton Grybas Rising Star Award at the Australian Football Media Association awards last year, and has been quietly working his way up the ranks.
Earlier this month he was the first to report that James Worpel suffered a syndesmosis injury in Hawthorn's win over Sydney in Opening Round, and has impressed footy fans with his confidence on screen and insight into the game. And that continued on Wednesday night when he reported the big news that De Koning is set to remain in Geelong.
Sam De Koning's loyalties lie at the Cattery with the specifics on a new deal to be ironed out shortly. He's forgone a compelling approach from the Saints to remain in Geelong… 👇 @7AFL https://t.co/CIdSnwSiWb
— Xander McGuire (@XanderMcGuire7) March 19, 2025
St Kilda have been trying to score a massive double coup by luring both De Koning brothers (Sam from Geelong and Tom from Carlton) to the club, with a supposed 'war chest' at their disposal. But McGuire reported on 7News that Sam is staying put at the Cats.
'Sam De Koning is now committed to staying at Geelong,' McGuire revealed. 'The Cats' 2023 premiership defender-turned-ruckman fielded rival offers, but has now made a contract extension at Kardinia Park his priority. St Kilda approached both Sam and Tom De Koning, opening a discussion around whether the high-profile brothers - both out of contract at the end of the year - would consider a bombshell multi-million dollar reunion at Moorabbin."
While McGuire said Sam won't be heading to Geelong, the situation with Tom might be a "different story". Tom is said to be weighing up an offer from the Cats for seven years at $1 million per season.
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McGuire's scoop on Sam De Koning's future shows he's a legitimate gun in the AFL media landscape. Rhett Bartlett - the 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."
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
Speaking to Yahoo Sport Australia recently, leading sports psychologist Alan Mantle summed up the situation that people like McGuire and Lleyton Hewitt's son Cruz have to deal with. "Nepotism is a very hurtful word," he said. "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."