SAS Australia’s ‘Ollie’ Ollerton reveals REAL reason James Magnussen failed to make cut

EXCLUSIVE: SAS Australia’s Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton reveals the REAL reason James Magnussen failed to make the cut on the military-style show

SAS Australia‘s Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton has revealed why James Magnussen failed to make the cut on Channel Seven’s military-style show, despite completing the course.   

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia on Friday, the 47-year-old DS (directing staff) and mental health speaker said it was down to one crucial element.

‘They were a very, very strong bunch at the end. He was against some real stiff competition,’ he began, speaking about the 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer. 

The truth is out: SAS Australia’s Matthew ‘Ollie’ Ollerton has revealed the real reason James Magnussen failed to make the grade on the military-style show… despite completing the gruelling course [both pictured]

‘He didn’t seem like he would be an obvious team player, and that’s no disrespect to James, it’s the sport that he comes from.  

‘It’s all him, everything’s him, and he just inherits that behaviour. 

‘It’s something he subconsciously does, so you’ve got to have a team player that really takes everyone else in around them.’ 

Ollie went on to say James also sometimes ‘lacked that clarity of mind’, but was ‘so close’ to passing. 

'They were a very, very strong bunch at the end. He was against some real stiff competition,' he began, speaking about the 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer

‘They were a very, very strong bunch at the end. He was against some real stiff competition,’ he began, speaking about the 29-year-old former Olympic swimmer

‘He wasn’t used as an example by any means, but we have to demonstrate on that show the process to get into the special forces. We try to keep that process as authentic as possible,’ he continued. 

‘The question always comes down to, “Could we work with that guy in a team?” This happens for real. People get all the way to the end and then they just go, “No, sorry.”

‘People think it’s just a case of making it to the end, and it’s not. You have to deliver 110 per cent on every aspect.’ 

Direct: 'He didn't seem like he would be an obvious team player, and that's no disrespect to James, it's the sport that he comes from'

Direct: ‘He didn’t seem like he would be an obvious team player, and that’s no disrespect to James, it’s the sport that he comes from’

Back for more? Ollie said he'd 'love' to see James try again, and admitted it took him a couple of tries to pass the selection course for the real SAS

Back for more? Ollie said he’d ‘love’ to see James try again, and admitted it took him a couple of tries to pass the selection course for the real SAS

Ollie said he’d ‘love’ to see James try again, and admitted it took him a couple of tries to pass the selection course for the real SAS.

‘I’d love to see him come back, but I don’t think the show will allow that,’ he added. 

‘But if it was for real, I’d be saying to him, please come back. I’d be pleading with him to make sure he comes back and gives it another go.’      

Winners are grinners: Nick Cummins, Sabrina Frederick and Merrick Watts passed the course on SAS Australia

Winners are grinners: Nick Cummins, Sabrina Frederick and Merrick Watts passed the course on SAS Australia

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