Coodabeen Champions


The Coodabeen Champions are an Australian comedy team with radio programs currently broadcast on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The Coodabeens Footy Show is broadcast between 10.00 am - 12.00 pm on 774 ABC Melbourne, ABC Victoria and ABC Tasmania. The Coodabeen Champions also broadcast live from major Victorian sporting events such as the Melbourne Cup, the AFL Grand Final and the Boxing Day Test. The Coodabeens have been a feature on Melbourne radio for 40 years. Their producer is Andy "Young Andy" Bellairs.

''Coodabeens Footy Show''

The program began in 1981 on 3RRR and has twice moved to 3AW. It is now broadcast primarily on 774 ABC Melbourne and ABC Victoria. It is mainly focused on Australian rules football, with the Coodabeens discussing current sports events and news in a humorous manner, also interviewing numerous retired football players and commentators. Its current members are Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover, Greg Champion, "Torch" McGee and Billy Baxter. Simon Whelan had a hiatus from the show while serving as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria, but has returned as of April 2020. Former members of the group include Tony Leonard.
The show includes various regular segments, including:
In previous years, the Coodabeen Champions Footy Show has also featured segments such as "One-game wonders" in which the Coodabeens track down a former footballer who played one game of VFL/AFL football and "Oh brother!" in which the Coodabeens speak to the brother of a former AFL/VFL player who played at the highest level.

Former programs

In 2003, the Coodabeen Champions were inducted into the MCG Media Hall of Fame