Channel 9’s fresh blow as AFL great joins ever-growing footy exodus

One of the AFL’s biggest names has joined the recent footy exodus as the Channel 9 network is left scrambling to find replacements.

Leigh Matthews, Tom Morris and Jimmy Bartel. Footy on Nine launch. Pic: Fiona Hamilton

Leigh Matthews has become the latest big name media operator to call it quits.

The AFL legend will make his final appearance on Channel 9’s Footy Furnace on Sunday night before walking away from the microphone.

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Matthews, 72, joined the Nine Network this year after he was lured away from Channel 7 where he worked as a commentator.

His decision to depart becomes the latest blow for the Nine Network after media stars Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison all departed to join Seven.

Lethal is out. Pic: Fiona Hamilton

Matthews’ departure leaves Nine with plenty of holes to fill, although Eddie McGuire isn’t too worried about finding replacements.

“End of the season, you get rid of the list-cloggers, and you move the new superstars in,” McGuire said with tongue firmly in-cheek as he appeared on the Today show.

“And that’s what we’re doing. We commissioned it when I was up in Sydney, actually. And it’s been fantastic. And it’s great that Channel Copycat is just taking something we’ve done for 18 years and putting it on air.”

Lloydo is the only man left. Picture: Channel 9

The AFL media landscape shake up has been one of the biggest story throughout the finals series with several stars switching networks.

While it all kicked off when Cornes confirmed his defection last month, fellow Footy Classified panellists Wilson and Hutchison confirmed they would be jumping ship shortly after.

Earlier this week it emerged Channel 7 and Triple M commentator Luke Darcy has decided to walk away from the industry all together.

The Herald Sun reported Darcy is walking away from the media to focus on pursuits outside of footy and being on camera, which include the family’s varied business interests.

Luke Darcy is walking away from the media. Photo by Michael Klein

Darcy also let the cat out of the bag last week that veteran sport presenter Tim Watson is set to vacate his position at the end of the year.

There have been rumblings about expected line-up changes at Seven in recent weeks — but it appears Darcy dropped the news too early.

The former Western Bulldogs star had previously been joking with footy commentator colleagues about other footy pundits sending their “reel” into Seven executives to be considered for Watson’s position.

But then Darcy got a bit carried away with his loose lips.

“I am going to drop another little bomb here and that is … Tim ‘Whispy’ Watson is about to finish up at the Seven network,” Darcy said on Triple M before Sydney’s win over Port Adelaide on Friday night.

“So there is a little bomb for you. This is Kerry Stokes’ favourite ever media person, Tim Watson.”

According to News Corp, former Footy Show host Rebecca Maddern is expected to take over Watson’s role.

Originally published as Channel 9’s fresh blow as AFL great joins ever-growing footy exodus