Comedian Dave O'Neil (right) will be the MC for the Shepparton grand final luncheon.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Spicks and Specks comedian Dave O’Neil will headline the upcoming Shepparton Football Netball Club grand final eve luncheon, with Melbourne Football Club senior coach Steven King also set to appear.
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Melbourne stand-up O’Neil will bring his quick wit and unique brand of storytelling to the Goulburn Valley for the event which is slated for Friday, September 25 at Deakin Reserve.
The 61-year-old TV funnyman, known to fans of shows including Fisk and Dancing with the Stars, will hold court at the event, as attendees cap what has been a compelling season for the club’s various sides.
O’Neil, who is a familiar face and voice across Australian television, radio and comedy, is currently touring Australia with his Don’t Call Me Boomer show.
He also has a unique connection with the region, with his wife having hailed from the Goulburn Valley, with his father-in-law having been a minister in Shepparton.
Speaking as he prepares to MC at the luncheon, the comic expressed his excitement ahead of the event, given his ties to the city.
“I was a vicar up there and my future wife was in the parish – we fell in love, got married and had three kids,” O’Neil said.
“I’ve got some footy material, plus parenting and why the 1980s was better than now.
“For the older people in the crowd, I will be talking about having a seniors card and for the younger people, I will be talking about vaping and riding an e-scooter.
“So I’ll be covering all grounds and all age groups,” he said with a laugh.
Among those also confirmed to be appearing at the luncheon is AFL legend and notable Bears alum King, with his return to his old stomping ground likely to prove popular with the punters.
The man known affectionately to fans as “Kingy” clocked up 250 appearances in the AFL, representing Geelong as a captain, earning All-Australian honours, two Carji Greeves medals and an AFL premiership in 2007.
Melbourne senior coach Steven King is set for a return to Shepparton for the event. Photo: AAP Image/James Ross
Photo by
JAMES ROSS
He also enjoyed a spell with St Kilda before retiring in 2010, later enjoying further success as a coach with the Saints before embarking on roles with the Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and back at Geelong.
For lifelong Cats fanatic O’Neil, he is relishing the prospect of catching up with King, given the latter’s long-time association with the Kardinia Park institution.
“That’s exciting, he’s a Shepp boy, he was a Geelong star too, so that’ll be great,” the comedian said.
“He was the assistant coach at Geelong for a while and is doing well at Melbourne too – they’ve had a pretty good year.”
Having performed at the Perth Fringe and Adelaide Fringe on his current tour, with a Queensland date to come, he is teasing fresh material for the upcoming show in Shepparton.
“I’ve been touring Don’t Call Me Boomer around the regions and it’s been going well, the venues have been good fun,” he said.
“I’ve always got new material – if you’ve seen me before, there’s new stuff – the big issue at the moment is pot holes, AI too.”
