From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 10 September

It was 1993 when the AFL Footy Show with Ed McGuire and Sam Newman first screened across the county on Channel 9. It was a phenomenon. People stayed-in on Thursday to night watch.

I WAS lucky enough to be a small part of it for ten years, and when it was at its zenith.

I had returned from living in England. I remember, when Ed first asked me to be a part of the regular team, I said, “yes”, in a nanosecond. He cautioned, “Think about it overnight. You may have more to lose than we have to gain.” I said, without hesitation, “Ed, I couldn’t give a fat rat’s clacker what anyone thinks about!” The rest is television history.

It was the best decision I made, ever. In the cannon of my work, which includes a number of ground-breaking theatre productions, it is one of the most rewarding jobs I have accepted. I would do it again, in a heartbeat.

Of all those who appeared on the Footy Show, I am the greatest beneficiary. It cured me of performance nerves; allowed me to spend time with many of Australia’s finest athletes; and introduced me to a whole new audience whom I never would have met in the theatre. For the most part, they had no interest in Ibsen, Shaw, Chekov and Shakespeare; however, that is not to suggest they were unaware of my creative life outside of the Footy Show.

The experience taught me I had more, rather than less, in common with the audience; and conversely, they had more, rather than less, in common with me.

It is a privilege to have done something which people remember fondly years after the event. It does not happen in everyone’s creative journey, and I am grateful; however, ‘fame’ is transitory. It must not be taken seriously. Sam said, many times, “We’re just filling-in until they sack us!”

Often times, people remember the face, but struggle with the name. A fan of the show will approach and say, “I know you. You used to be famous! What’s your name?” Sometimes I say I am Barry Crocker; or John-Michael Howson; or John Blackman. Other times I say I am Kamahl! Often I hear someone say as I pass, “There goes what’s his name. You remember. He used to be famous. He was on the Footy Show!”

I use public transport, and one of the great joys was meeting fans on the tram. They would catch my eye and call-out, “Hello, Roland.” I’d ask them to sit next to me and, invariably, they told me the most wonderful stories – sad and happy, about themselves. I was genuinely interested. Dare I say, this little act of friendship – one to another, helped, for a moment, to change the colour of someone’s day. Some paid me the greatest compliment, “You know, Roland, you’re exactly the same as you are on TV.” That made my soul sing!

A dollar for every time I passed a building site and tradies shouted: “Hey, Roland. We love ya!” or “Roland, we love it when you stick-it-up, Sammy!”

Most importantly: Ed McGuire’s decision to have someone of my bold personality on a primetime television, football variety show, paved the way for others to follow in my wake. I am proud of that achievement; knowing I have made life a little easier for a creative colleague.

It is only one of the many things the Footy Show achieved.

Roland can be contacted via [email protected].