Latest news with #XanderMcGuire
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Why the SCG was EMPTY for Welcome to Country during the AFL's official Indigenous round commemorations
The SCG was virtually empty during the first quarter on Friday night when the Swans took on Carlton - and a ticketing mishap was to blame. In embarrassing scenes for the AFL, local Elder Uncle Lloyd Walker performed the Welcome To Country - during the code's official Indigenous round commemorations - in front of next to no fans. Walker then added to the saga by referring to the wrong footy code during the AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round. 'On behalf of the traditional owners of Sydney, I welcome you all,' Walker said. 'I'd like to acknowledge one of our community members, Jordan Ardler, who designed the Swans jerseys tonight. 'On this special night, I'd also like pay tribute to our Indigenous NFL stars that are positive role models to our people.' The faux pas wasn't missed by fans online, who took to X in bemusement. 'Wait, did he just say 'NFL stars'?' one asked. Another posted: 'Love our Indigenous NFL stars.' Speaking on Channel 7, sports reporter Xander McGuire confirmed the chaos outside the ground before the first bounce at Moore Park. 'The SCG feels like it's only about half full right now and that's because everyone that's (outside) actually can't get in,' McGuire told viewers. 'From about 7.10pm onwards, the turnstiles outside the ground actually froze up and completely broke. 'So for about 20 minutes, people trying to scan their tickets couldn't get in. 'I've spoken to security, they think the lines got to about 200 metres long at every single gate outside. 'So they reverted back to the old days, doing manual ticket checks. 'People are literally streaming in and security are only looking at the tickets with a passing glance, hoping the tickets are completely legitimate. 'An incredible situation unfolding here at the SCG.' Thankfully, a respectful moment of silence was staged for Carlton legend Robert Walls, who chose to die under euthanasia laws this week following a battle with an aggressive blood cancer. On the field, the Swans recorded a much needed 16-point victory to stay in the hunt for the top eight.
News.com.au
16-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
SCG hit with ticket, Welcome to Country fails before Swans clash with Carlton
Fans at the SCG were subjected to two hiccups before the clash between the Swans and Blues got underway on Friday night. The AFL's Sir Doug Nicholls Round continued in Sydney, with pre-match ceremonies and a poignant tribute to Carlton great Robert Walls, who died this week. Before the match got underway, however, fans were quick to point out the unusually small crowd that had filtered into the SCG. That was due to the ground's ticketing system failing around half an hour before the opening bounce, leaving thousands of fans stranded outside. 'The SCG feels like it's only about half full right now and that's because everyone that's (outside) actually can't get in,' Xander McGuire said on Channel 7. 'From about 7.10pm tonight onwards, the turnstiles outside the ground actually froze up and completely broke. 'So for about 20 minutes, people trying to scan their tickets couldn't get in. 'I've spoken to security, they think the lines got to about 200 metres long at every single gate outside. 'So they reverted back to the old days, doing manual ticket checks now. 'People are literally streaming in and security are only looking at the tickets with a passing glance, hoping the tickets are completely legitimate. 'An incredible situation unfolding here at the SCG.' It was all noted by footy fans on social media. X user Matthew Carlson tweeted: 'Oh that's why the crowd's so low. Everyone stuck outside.' Michael Green tweeted: 'They've just let everyone in. An official attendance will just be a guess.' Another fan suggested: 'Surely you delay the game for 15 mins to let the crowd in?' William Polak added: 'What a shambles at the SCG tonight.' With fans still trying to get into the ground, the pre-match ceremony commenced with an impeccable moment of silence for Walls, who chose a voluntary assisted death on Thursday following a battle with a rare and aggressive blood cancer. A triple premiership winner on the field with the Blues, Walls also coached the club to the 1987 flag. After the tribute to Walls, the Indigenous Round celebration began, including a cultural performance, an exchange of gifts between the two captains and a warmly received Welcome to Country from local Elder Uncle Lloyd Walker. Unfortunately, Walker mentioned the wrong sport towards the end of his speech. 'On behalf of the traditional owners of Sydney, I welcome you all today,' Walker said in part. 'I'd like to acknowledge one of our community members, Jordan Ardler, who designed the Swans jerseys tonight. 'On this special night, I'd also like pay tribute to our Indigenous NFL stars that are positive role models to our people.' Fans were quick to jump on the error when they also took to social media to comment. Charles Haig asked: 'Wait, did he just say 'NFL stars'?' Charlie Cosgrove quipped: 'Love our Indigenous NFL stars.' An account called Political Correctness is Overrated said: 'NFL gets a shout out. Awesome promotion AFL!' Another X account Nessing Around joked: 'Nearly Footy League NFL letssss gooooo.' Once the game did get underway, fans had begun to fill the stands on a damp night in Sydney. The Blues took a one-goal lead into quarter-time in an even contest, which they narrowly increased to seven points at the long break.
7NEWS
16-05-2025
- Climate
- 7NEWS
Chaos strikes SCG as turnstiles ‘froze up and completely broke' minutes before Sydney-Carlton clash
Queues of up to 200 metres were banked up outside the SCG as the turnstiles 'froze up and completely broke' ahead of Sydney's AFL clash with Carlton on Friday night. Half an hour before the traditional Marn Grook match in Sir Doug Nicholls Indigenous Round was due to begin, a malfunction in the system caused entry points at every gate in the stadium to freeze up. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Chaos as thousands of footy fans locked outside the SCG. It made for some largely empty stands right up to and beyond the first bounce, as thousands of fans missed the start of the game. 'The SCG feels like it's only about half full right now, and that's because everyone that's here actually can't get in,' 7NEWS Melbourne's Xander McGuire said. 'From about 7.10pm tonight onwards, the turnstiles outside the ground actually froze up and completely broke. 'So, for about 20 minutes there, people that were trying to scan their tickets couldn't get in. 'I've spoke to security, they think that the lines got to about 200 metres long at every single gate outside. 'So, they've reverted back to the old days; they're doing manual ticket checks now. 'I was just outside and people are literally streaming in and security are only looking at the tickets with a passing glance, hoping that the tickets are completely legitimate. 'In the last probably five minutes or so, we've seen the crowd really thicken out. We'll see that over the first 10 minutes (of the game). 'But an incredible situation unfolding here at the SCG.'
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
AFL fans all say same thing after Eddie McGuire's son makes debut on Channel 7
Xander McGuire impressed AFL fans as he made his debut on Channel 7 on Friday night during Hawthorn's win over Sydney. The son of former Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire, Xander has landed a role on Channel 7 in 2025 and will work during live game broadcasts and across the network's panel shows. 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 @ the different options based on how serious it ends up being ⬇️ — 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."
