Programming: Monday's at 10:30PM, Channel 9

Running time: 60 minutes

Rating: M

Sore loser Garry Lyon may have scoffed at the NRL Footy Show’s win at this year’s Logie for Most Popular Sporting Program, but he should have been more concerned over the lack of love shown to Footy Classified. Since Eddie McGuire left, The Footy Show has become such an idiotic boy’s club. Granted the program was never a symbol of feminism, but Newman, once so witty and wise about all things AFL, has become unbearably conceited and uncontrollable against the feeble manoeuvrings of pretty boy James Bradshaw and the weak-willed Lyon.

Conversely, however, Lyon presents a shrewd and sharply perceptive perspective on the game in Footy Classified. It is embarrassing that the Seven Network has gone as far to filch the footy rights from the Nine Network, but stopped short of doing anything of interest with them (Channel Nine broadcast two footy games on the Sunday, whilst Seven only broadcasts one new game and a “footy flashback”).

Footy Classified is smart, concise, funny and brilliant as heck. In fact, there has not been such great, smart chat about footy since Bruce MacAveney’s Talking Footy, possibly the definitive footy program (if only Channel Nine would treat the real news with a current affairs program with such insight and intelligence).

Take away the contribution of the ABC and SBS, and you have an embarrassing lack of strong, credible journalism in this country, especially on the commercial networks. There are no Larry Kings, no Charlie Roses and seems to be a lack of appreciation of the power of good talk on the part of the commercial networks- good talk which enlightens, nourishes, infuriates, frustrates, enlivens our lives. Footy Classified may only be a sports program, but its one of the sharpest current affairs programs on Aussie television.

Full credit goes to Channel Nine. The four-panel format works well for the material. Although the sparring Wilson and Hutchison dominate proceedings, the dynamic is very effective in giving a broader, extensive range of opinions about the issues and topics that are stand out in the week of football.

Caroline Wilson is one of the sharpest mind in footy- astute, liberal but not too liberal, she brings the female voice to the world of football whilst holding her own in the verbal jostles of her bullish crew. Grant Thomas is not the greatest speaker (what with his Freudian slips) but, through workmanlike perseverance and bloodymindedness, has improved considerably since he started on the show.

Unfortunately, the controlling Craig Hutchison would do well to stop reading his own press. Hutchy would rather get into a screaming match rather than listen to the validity of another person’s argument and makes me wince more than once with his sanctimonious pomposity and endless grandstanding. Hutchison may be a fine reporter, but his presence is definitely a case of ego run wild.

Regardless, Footy Classified remains a terrific program. If only Hutchison could keep himself into check…

Andrew Moraitis