Media Street: Channel 7 and Triple M commentator Luke Darcy walking away from the media

The football media landscape is changing dramatically with an AFL great to walk out the door completely, following the defections of Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson.

Channel 7 and Triple M commentator Luke Darcy is walking away from the media.

The former Western Bulldogs captain is set to pull up stumps following the Grand Final to focus on his family’s flourishing business empire.

Darcy has been one of the most versatile and respected media figures over the past 15 years, holding a number of different gigs including hosting the Hot Breakfast on Triple M with Eddie McGuire for 11 years.

The 49-year-old has been one of Seven’s stars since 2011 whether in the commentary box or hosting roles on Talking Footy and the 2020 Olympics. He has also worked on some of the network’s lifestyle offerings, co-hosting on the House of Wellness.

Darcy’s shock exit comes as a huge shake-up of the football media landscape with a number of big names switching networks.

Luke Darcy is walking away from the media. Picture: Michael Klein

Seven needs to clear some space in the coffers after new sport boss Chris Jones’ audacious poaching raid on rival Channel 9, signing Footy Classified panellists Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson.

Ironically, Darcy made headlines last year when he clashed on-air with Cornes, calling the SEN shock jock out for his style saying he had no friends in the industry.

And last week Darcy let on Triple M that veteran sports anchor Tim Watson was set to vacate his position at the end of the year.

Darcy, who played 226 games with the Dogs between 1994-2007, is also a board member at the Western Bulldogs and is keen to spend more time watching his son Sam who is a rising star of the competition.

He also has plenty of business ventures to fall back on.

Darcy’s Bali wellness spa, Sukhavati Ayurvedic Retreat and Spa, situated in a rural village near hotspot Canggu, is popular among AFL types with Nathan Buckley and his partner, Brodie Ryan, recently returning from a self-discovering detox.

The Darcy family has long been involved in the Melbourne pub scene and owned a number of city venues including Melbourne Public on South Wharf.

Darcy is also the co-founder of the Aleda Collective, a consultancy business working with business leaders, coaches and educators. He also has a podcast called ‘Empowering Leaders’.

The former ruckman has previously been mooted for politics and reportedly introduced leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton to meditation.