Former The Footy Show host Craig Hutchison has expressed his thoughts over being sacked from the show and replaced by Collingwood president and former Footy Show host Eddie McGuire.
Hutchison only lasted until round 18 of his first season in the host chair alongside Rebecca Maddern and Sam Newman, who will both stay on the panel when McGuire returns to the show.
The Crocmedia CEO spoke on SEN on Saturday morning during his regular spot as host of Off The Bench, and said he fully understood the reasoning behind the Nine Network's decision to axe him on Friday.
“First of all, I totally understand and respect the decision yesterday,” Hutchison said on radio on Saturday morning.
“It didn’t go my way and, as a business guy, you couldn’t actually argue with the decision.
“I couldn’t actually tell you I wouldn’t have done the same thing myself.
“I take it totally as my responsibility. I just take it completely on board.
“The how and why the show didn’t rate the numbers everyone expected is probably besides the point. The clear point of difference from last year to this year was me and so as a co-host or host, you have to take full responsibility for that.”
Hutchison also spoke about Sam Newman's performance on Thursday night, after the controversial figure toned down his usual weekly antics.
As reported on Friday by the Herald Sun, Newman was upset the show's producers would not allow his idea of dressing up as a woman involved in the recent AFL affairs scandal, and Hutchison admitted it was a tough night for the rest of the panel to deal with Newman's behaviour.
“For what it’s worth, not that anyone’s asking, I agree completely with the producer’s decision to perhaps curtail that,” Hutchison said.
“He was so wild about it, he sort of took it out inadvertently on everyone else including the viewers, and that’s his right and want.”
“He’s a great person, long-time friend of mine, always been a great supporter of us and our business, but we had a creative difference and that’s what happens in television when things get real.
“It was a tough night for everyone around him because of it.”
During a press conference held on Friday to announce McGuire's return to the show, the former host confirmed The Footy Show would be taking a short break, and would likely return in a fortnight in a revamped version.
