Legendary sports commentator Bruce McAvaney has revealed he has leukaemia.

McAvaney, 63, has been fighting the disease for more than two years, his employer Channel Seven reported on Friday.

In a statement aired by Channel Seven, McAvaney said the serious illness "could jump out of the ground at any moment".

"I don't expect it will. But I am living a complete life with no restrictions," he said.

Uncharacteristically, McAvaney pulled out of any role in Channel Seven's annual coverage of the Australian Open tennis tournament in January, but he has been involved in the network's preparations for the new AFL season in recent weeks.

His illness was partly the reason he did not call the tennis, Channel Seven said.

He was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia after having a routine blood test.

The veteran broadcaster addressed the entire Seven AFL commentary team in the network's Melbourne boardroom in mid-February.

His speech to the team has been described as a "spine-tingling team address".

Despite his illness, he is due to work at the Golden Slipper race in Sydney on Saturday.

More to come.