The popular football and fishing personality had been back hosting Footy Nightline on Saturday nights.In a note to staff, station manager, Stephen Beers said: “Rex Hunt has advised us that he is sadly taking leave of his duties at 3AW to focus on his family.“As much as he has loved his return to 3AW and we have loved having him on Footy Nightline, we wish him well for the future.“Rex knows the door is always open for him.”The situation came to a head after an incident during his show on Saturday night.Hunt became incensed when 3AW head of football Craig Moore made contact after he’d missed an ad break during a chat with guest Robert DiPierdomenico.An icon of the station for more than 30 years, Hunt couldn’t hide his disappointment.“I’ve got steam coming out of my ears,” Hunt said.“ … why do I steam? Because you’re losing the very feel of what 3AW was built up from. Norman Banks and Harry Beitzel and some other fish kissin idiot. I’ll drop it now, but don’t ring during my program. Got it.”He went on to say: “I feel good and I don’t need people telling me to shut up. Because I take you where millions of people go and you will never come back from it. “And if I have to worry about lightweights after me building the foundation for most of you people, I’ll just go fishing.”Hunt told the Herald Sun he was OK when contacted on Thursday.Some of his close friends said they are concerned about his welfare.In over 20 years as a commentator with 3AW he developed a cult following and was renowned for his trademark nicknames of players.He left the station in 2009 and joined Triple M for two years before working for AFL Nation. In February 2020 he returned to call the State of Origin for Bushfire Relief match.The Rex Hunt Fishing Show was Hunt’s first show on 3AW and he was also a TV star on Channel 10 and Channel 7. Prior to his career behind the mic, Hunt played 202 VFL matches between 1968 and 1978 with Richmond, Geelong and St Kilda, a career that included two VFL premierships with Richmond in 1969 and 1973. He was also a policeman at age 30 before taking the fishing and commentary industry by storm.Just two months ago, the 72 year-old delighted fans with an impromptu phantom call at a McDonald’s while waiting to order a Fillet-O-Fish.In a video shared on Geelong’s social media channels, Hunt said with a fist pump: “Spills over to Bairstow, Bairstow onto Brownless — here comes YYYYYYYYAABBLEEETTT!”
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