I would never describe myself as a fanboy.

Certainly in the past, as a passionate 20 year old, I may have gushed obsessively about certain rock bands, writers or footballers – but these days I am a more sober individual and not remotely given to hero worship.

Having said all that, I think Mel McLaughlin is bloody fantastic.

There have been numerous attempts in the past to shoe-horn female celebrities into the various male bastions of professional sport and most have ended in tears. Cricket, infamously, had the Kate Fitzpatrick affair where a sexy young singer was helicoptered into a commentary role and was openly laughed at by her colleagues. AFL has tried it.

Only football has got it right, and the reason is this: Mel McLaughlin is a football fan first and a woman second. She is so genuinely a fan (and football philosopher) that you don’t even notice her gender.

In fact, I would go so far as to suggest she is better at her job than most of her colleagues, whether on Fox Sports or anywhere else. (I note she currently leads the Tipsters Charts in the Daily Telegraph.) When Mel interviews a player – in the studio or after a game – she is asking questions based on her extempore analysis, which is absolutely first class. There is no need for a teleprompter – she is never lost for words – and she asks questions that reflect a deep understanding of the game far beyond most of her peers.

And the male audience.

She might even be a little confronting for some males in that they would ordinarily assume that ‘chicks don’t get football’, and yet, here is someone on their TV screen who blows that patronisation out of the water by being far more analytical and articulate about the game than they could ever dream of.

And none of it is forced, or in your face, as it is with some ‘experts’ showing off their brilliance. Mel has such an easy natural manner that she seems to take you along with her – making it all sound so simple – and without even noticing you learn something about the game.

In a different life she would have made a superb teacher, but I’ve little doubt she’s perfectly happy where she is.

Long may she stay there.

Adrian Deans is the author of Mr Cleansheets, published by Vulgar Press and available
in all good book shops. (ebook available also).