‘Couldn’t have chosen worse teams’: Footy fans revolt over new AFL ‘Drive to Survive’ series

AFL fans are in for a new all-access docu-series about footy’s top-flight, but fans have been left fuming over details of the new production.

AFL fans will soon be able to sink their teeth into the behind-the-scenes drama of the sport, with the production company behind landmark documentary Drive to Survive beginning work on an AFL series.

London-based media company Box to Box Films is currently in Australia and it is already working with five AFL clubs for a show to be aired on Amazon.

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It’s understood Fremantle, GWS, Western Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Brisbane Lions are in the process of allowing cameras into their changerooms, training sessions and team talks, providing a rare glimpse into the life of a footy player, according to SEN.

Instead of focusing on the team, the new series will instead follow around a star player on each side, with Marcus Bontempelli and Toby Greene two of the confirmed stars of the new series.

However, fans aren’t happy, with Melburnians kicking up a stink that only one of their teams will feature … shock horror.

“Couldn’t have chosen worse teams if they tried,” one fan wrote in response to SEN’s announcement on Tuesday.

The AFL's own 'Drive to Survive' type documentary has been met with pushback. Image: Getty

“Great strategy to choose the clubs with the lowest audiences!!!!” another added.

“So, no big clubs, hey. Show must be for non-ratings period.”

But SEN’s Sam Edmund says it shouldn’t matter which players the series follows.

“If the stories are well told we’ll be watching regardless,” he wrote in response to the criticism levelled at the new series.

The series will focus on the last six weeks of the regular season and the finals run.

So the clubs chosen, which range from 2nd to 9th on the table, make complete sense.

The Lions are the reigning premiers, while the other four teams all face make or break matches in the coming weeks.

The series will follow around Marcus Bontempelli (Photo by Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The camera crew will also follow around Toby Greene. Photo: Brett Costello

Box to Box Films took the sports world by storm with the F1 series Drive to Survive in 2019.

As of March 2025, ‘Drive to Survive’, has had over 90,000,000 viewing hours since it was launched in 2019, according to Netflix’s latest audience report.

And as the AFL looks to grow its audience internationally, it will be hoping the new series can do just that by showcasing the incredible sport to the world.

The series will focus on the game’s stars rather than the teams they play for. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Back in 2021, the AFL tried a similar idea.

The ‘Making Their Mark’ docu-series was released on Amazon and featured Eddie Betts and Nic Naitanui, while also showcasing the Crows and GWS.

And while Fremantle star Sam Switowski told the West Australian he isn’t one of the stars set to feature, he believes it will be great for the sport.

“I can’t say it will involve me too much,” Switkowski told The West Australian.

“I haven’t noticed any extra cameras or anything like that, so I’m not too sure who will be in it.

“It will be good for the club, good for the sport as a whole, to be able to see a little bit more of what goes on for our fans and members.”