Mike Sheahan has covered AFL football for more than 40 years, starting out with Newsday in Melbourne in 1969. He has worked for The Age, The Herald, The Sunday Age and the Herald Sun. He retired from newspapers in 2011 after 18 years as chief football writer of the Herald Sun. He has also worked in radio with the ABC and 3AW and in television with Channels 7 and 9 and Fox Footy, where he appears on On The Couch and hosts Open Mike.

"NOT everyone has, or perhaps can afford, pay television but for sport fans, the introduction of Fox Footy in 2012 was tremendous. One of the shows introduced was ‘Open Mike’ where respected journalist Mike Sheahan interviewed the stars of football from the past to the recently retired. All the legends of the game have been interviewed by Sheahan in the ‘Open Mike’ segment including Leigh Matthews, Malcolm Blight, John ‘Sam’ Newman as well as controversial players Jason Akermanis and Phil Carman. Sheahan also had the opportunity to speak with Jim Stynes and broadcaster Tony Charlton before they passed away. The Slattery Media Group has fortunately compiled all the interviews in a book that is available for those who didn’t have the opportunity see them on television. Football fans will love it - there is no doubt Open Mike is compelling reading." -- Graham Fischer