The seventh season of the Australian police-drama Blue Heelers premiered on the Seven Network on 9 February 2000 and aired on Wednesday nights at 8:30 PM. The 41-episode season concluded 22 November 2000.

Casting

Main cast for this season consisted of:

• John Wood as Sergeant Tom Croydon [full season]
• Julie Nihill as Christine 'Chris' Riley [full season]
• Martin Sacks as Detective Senior Constable Patrick Joseph 'P.J.' Hasham [full season]
• Lisa McCune as Constable Margaret 'Maggie' Doyle [until episode 255]
• Paul Bishop as Senior Constable Benjamin 'Ben' Stewart [full season]
• Rupert Reid as Probationary Constable Jack Lawson [full season]
• Jane Allsop as Probationary Constable Jo Parrish [full season]
• Caroline Craig as Sergeant Tess Gallagher [from episode 270]

Notable guest actors for this season included Paul Dawber, Alan Hopgood, Olivia Hamnett, Kate Hood, Ian Rawlings, Andy Anderson, Dennis Coard, Roger Oakley, Betty Lucas, James Condon, Alex Papps, Mary Ward, Tommy Dysart, Maggie Kirkpatrick, Joy Westmore, Alyce Platt, Jeremy Angerson, Sean Scully, Zoe Bertram, Wendy Strehlow and Nicki Paull.

Plot

Maggie, aided by PJ and her brother Mick, arrived at the point of cracking the drug ring she had been pursuing for a year and realised that she would have to go into witness protection. To do so, she staged a breakup with PJ and then awaited her escort nervously. PJ, however, realised that she was being tricked and arrived just seconds too late, to see Maggie shot down by a mysterious assailant. The episodes that followed, the "Who Killed Maggie Doyle?" arc, were the most-watched episodes ever. Arrested for Maggie's murder, PJ looked desperately to prove that he was being framed. Ultimately, in episode 263 "Out of the Shadows", he discovered the truth - it was her brother Mick.

Other storylines included:

• The remaining cops dealing with Maggie's death,
• Sergeant Tess Gallagher arriving in town to take Maggie's position, which hurts a depressed Ben (Especially as he had unwittingly given her hints on impressing the panel that unanimously won her the job),
• Tess being drawn into the plight of three young neglected children, the oldest — Hayley (Emily Browning) — particularly drawing her sympathy,
• The new doctor in town, Mel Carter (Suzi Dougherty) quickly learning to fit in,
• and Jack's attempts to woo a local girl ending in tragedy with him being shot and left for dead. In the final episodes of the season, a paralysed Jack started a downward spiral which was only saved by a revolutionary procedure that was to be tested on him, and ultimately saved him.

Production

Reception

This season marked the start of the show's downfall in the public consciousness.

Awards

Episodes

Season #	Series #	Title	Director(s)	Writer(s)	Original airdate (Aust.)

DVD release

Due to contractual negotiations, the release of this season, as well as any proceeding seasons, was postponed. These negotiations have concluded and the "Complete Seventh Season" DVD set (parts one and two) was released for sale in Australia (Region 4) on July 31 2008. The seventh season was released, as its predecessors were, in two parts. However, this season was simply released in a standard DVD package, not a boxed set with slipcase packaging like its predecessors. It is expected to be released as a complete package sometime in the future.

The Complete Seventh Season: Part 1
	Set Details			Special Features
	22 Episodes (974 Mins.) Episodes 224 - 253 6-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)			Photo Gallery
	Release Dates
	July 31 2008

The Complete Seventh Season: Part 2
	Set Details			Special Features
	20 Episodes (881 Mins.) Episodes 254 - 265 5-Disc Set Full Frame English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)			Photo Gallery
	Release Dates
	July 31 2008

References

General

• Zuk, T. Blue Heelers: 2000 episode guide, Australian Television Information Archive. Retrieved 1 August, 2007.
• TV.com editors. Blue Heelers Episode Guide - Season 7, TV.com. Retrieved 1 August 2007.Specific