Craig Hutchison (broadcaster)
Craig 'Hutchy' Hutchison (born 4 December 1974) is an Australian journalist, sports broadcaster and businessman. Based in Melbourne, Hutchison often covers AFL topics and breaking news stories relating to the code. He is also the host of Footy Class on Monday nights. Early life and career Hutchinson was born in Warragul, Victoria. He commenced his career as a journalist in 1994 as a cadet with the Herald Sun newspaper. Two years later, he moved to Sport 927, where he was producer of the Kevin Bartlett and Dr Turf Big Sports Breakfast Show for approximately one year. He then joined Channel Ten as a journalist and broke sport stories including Neil Balme's sacking at the Melbourne Football Club as senior coach, Alastair Lynch's drug hearing with the AFL, and the subsequent resignation of the Brisbane chairman following the story. Television career Seven Network In 1999, he joined the Seven Network and was promoted to chief football reporter, appearing on the nationally broadcast Sportsworld every Sunday. He was also 'fill-in' sports anchor for Seven News. He also worked in commentary as a caller in 2001. Controversy In 2004, he was at the centre of controversy when he wrongfully said St Kilda player Justin Koschitzke was being interviewed by police in relation to sexual misconduct allegations. Hutchison said Koschitzke and teammate Stephen Milne were involved, when it was actually allegedly Milne and Leigh Montagna. Channel Seven was forced to issue an apology to St Kilda and Koschitzke, and they issued a retraction. Stephen Milne and Leigh Montagna were subsequently advised by Victoria Police that no charges would be laid. Nine Network In 2007, Hutchison left the Seven Network to join Channel Nine's football team. It was considered a shock defection due to the fact that Seven, who he had been with for eight years, won a share of the telecast rights to AFL matches for the first time since 2001. As part of Hutchison's role with Nine, he became host of Nine's newly introduced talk show Footy Class, which he continues to host on Monday nights during the AFL season. He was also appointed as a reporter for The Footy Show, The Sunday Footy Show, and National Nine News, with his first major stories being an exclusive interview with Jonathan Hay, as well as a trip to Malibu, California, to follow Ben Cousins as he was admitted to a drug rehabilitation centre. On Sunday, 10 May 2009, he hosted the Channel 9 show TAC Cup Future Stars, which was aimed at focusing on stories and personalities of the TAC Cup. In 2011, Hutchison played for Victoria in the annual EJ Whitten Legends Game kicking a banana goal from nearly 40 metres out. As of 2022, a video of the goal has been viewed in excess of 1.8 million times on YouTube alone. Hutchison scored two goals in the game. On 28 November 2012, Nine announced that Hutchison would replace Simon O'Donnell as host of The Sunday Footy Show as of 2013. In late