Channel 9 loses another footy commentator as rival pounces

One of Channel 9’s biggest footy shows is being gutted by a rival network with another commentator following Kane Cornes out the door.

The panel on Channel 9's Footy Classified

Caroline Wilson is reportedly set to defect from Channel 9 to join Channel 7 next year.

News Corp first reported the veteran footy journalist is joining Kane Cornes in moving to Seven as the AFL broadcast rights holder shakes up its footy programming schedule in 2025.

Former Port Adelaide star Cornes shocked the footy world when he announced he was joining Seven despite being in an active war of words with several Seven talents, including Luke Darcy, Dale Thomas and Trent Cotchin.

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According to rumours, Seven’s former long-time sport boss Lewis Martin made it clear to Cornes he would never feature on Channel 7 because of public swipes he has taken at Seven stars.

However, with Martin since replaced by new Seven sport boss Chris Jones, everything has changed.

Monday night’s Footy Classified is running low on troops. Picture: Channel 9

According to The Herald Sun, Wilson was head-hunted by Jones and has been considering an offer to join the network in recent weeks.

Cornes and Wilson are scheduled to feature on Nine’s Footy Classified on Tuesday night with the show moved back 24 hours in grand final week.

Their departure means Bombers legend Matthew Lloyd and host Craig Hutchison are the only members of the Monday night edition of the show that will remain with Nine.

There have not been any changes to the Wednesday edition of the show with Eddie McGuire leading the line up that also features Geelong great Jimmy Bartel and reporter Damian Barrett.

Wilson has been a key figure in the direction of Footy Classified since it was launched in 2007.

Caroline Wilson has been there for the journey.

Her move to Seven comes with rumours swirling about Seven’s desire to beef-up its football operations with added programming.

According to reports, Cornes and Thomas will work side by side on Channel 7’s Thursday night footy broadcasts and will also be involved in “other projects” together.

Seven has in recent years been unable to compete with Nine’s mid-week footy shows despite holding the TV broadcast rights through to the end of the 2031 season.

Seven’s Talking Footy, fronted by Essendon legend Tim Watson, James Brayshaw, Richmond great Trent Cotchin and Geelong legend Joel Selwood, has largely flopped.

Under Jones, it appears Seven is preparing to undergo major surgery in order to challenge for supremacy in a tough Monday night market that has been dominated by Fox Footy’s AFL 360 and On the Couch — and Nine.

According to The Herald Sun, Seven’s recruitment raid is not over with Fox Footy host Gerrard Whateley also linked to Seven.