AFL media moves: Which retiring stars will step into TV jobs?

LUKE Hodge is already doing special comments for Channel 7 and he’s not the only big name set for a TV role next year. Who comes in — and who could they replace?

Luke Hodge joins Channel 7 commentators Leigh Mathews and Hamish McLachlan.

FORGET Dustin Martin or Josh Kelly, Channel 7 will have the biggest recruits in footy next year.

Champions Luke Hodge and Nick Riewoldt are set to step straight from retirement into new frontline roles at the AFL’s free-to-air TV broadcaster.

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Both have impeccable pedigrees and are polished media performers after several years preparing for the transition into life after playing.

Hodge joined the Channel 7 team last weekend and earnt rave reviews. He has been doing the job on an occasional basis for a while and is likely to be a regular face on Friday nights in 2018.

“I’ve been doing a fair bit with the media for the past few years just preparing for when football was to finish, and at this stage that’s probably the way I’d look to go,” he said on SEN last week.

Hodge is also set to be a regular on Triple M radio.

Luke Hodge (centre) is set for a permanent role in front of the camera alongside Hamish McLachlan and Leigh Matthews.

Riewoldt has also shown he is a polished TV performer and there is a job for him at Channel 7 if he wants it.

With the long and distinguished list of retirees this year, there will be more players looking to start — or expand — media careers.

Bob Murphy was a popular member of the AFL360 team on Fox Footy and could return to TV after hanging up the boots, more likely in a weeknight format rather than game day.

Triple-premiership Hawk Josh Gibson is a natural in front of the camera and would be a good addition to Channel 7’s AFL Game Day rotation.

Leigh Montagna’s future hasn’t been decided but he has been a regular on Game Day and will this weekend make his debut as a match caller on Triple M.

“It’s something that’s more evolved and they suggested I might be good at it so I’ve done a few ghost games,” he told the Herald Sun. “It is something in the future I’d like to do. It could evolve into other sports, but small steps now.”

Three superstars we probably won’t see on TV are possible future coaches Sam Mitchell and Steve Johnson, and Jobe Watson, who wants to go back to New York to make coffee.

Geelong champ and Channel 7 commentator Cameron Ling at the MCG.

Richmond legend Matthew Richardson at Channel 7.

As AFL players know, the problem with new talent coming in is that others get forced out to make room under the salary cap.

Could Cameron Ling or Matthew Richardson be in danger at Seven? The pair, who are also colleagues at 3AW, have been Saturday night regulars for several years but might be feeling a little nervous.

And boundary riders like Brad Sewell, Jude Bolton and Andrew Welsh could feel the pinch if there is a reshuffle over summer.

The wildcard is Nathan Buckley.

Despite staging a running battle with the media this year, Buckley will be hot property as an expert commentator if he isn’t coaching Collingwood next season.

He worked at Channel 7 and 3AW after retiring as a player and joined the panel on Channel 9’s Footy Classified for two weeks this year. So he would have no shortage of suitors.

Stay tuned.