Broadcasting great McAvaney quits AFL commentary

A giant of Australian sports broadcasting has called his last AFL match, with Bruce McAvaney announcing he is stepping aside from his duties with the Seven Network on the eve of the season.

The 67 year old has been behind the microphone for more than a thousand games, including 20 AFL grand finals, and formed a special partnership with Dennis Cometti.

"I felt like I got to a stage in my career where I had to reduce my workload," McAvaney told Seven News.

McAvaney bows out of football coverage on the cusp of the 2021 season, but will continue on TV in other roles.

The versatile McAvaney will lead the network's horse racing productions and be involved in this year's Tokyo Olympics in July, where he shines in track and field coverage.

Despite battling leukaemia since 2017, McAvaney stressed his decision to step away from the AFL commentary was not health-related.

"I'm certainly not anything close to retirement, it's just a new phase, where I cut back slightly," he said.

"Anything I'm asked to do now I'm going to do with the same enthusiasm and same commitment."

James Brayshaw will partner Brian Taylor on Friday night football as part of Seven's coverage in 2021.

IMAGE: Fox Sports.