Fox Sports lands major coup with Leigh Matthews as AFL TV shake up continues

One of the AFL/VFL’s greatest of all time has found a new home as the seismic shift in the sport’s broadcasting stables continues.

Legendary AFL/VFL star turned four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews has continued the shake up of the AFL media landscape by joining Fox Sports for the 2025 season.

The AFL’s TV offering will have a distinctly different feel in 2025 after a mass exodus from Channel 9 and a huge shake up in the commentary and analysis teams across Fox Footy, Channel 7 and Channel 9.

Watch the highly anticipated 2024 Telstra AFL Draft WED 20 NOV | LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Footy on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

Nine has seemingly been the big loser in the shake up with the likes of Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison all leaving for a beefed up offering from Seven.

Seven have expanded rights in 2025, which includes digital rights, meaning the free-to-air rights holder for both AFL and cricket will now be able to stream matches via 7plus.

But after Matthews left Nine in late September, after he had only joined this year from Seven to host Sunday night’s Footy Furnace, Fox Footy has revealed he will now join the pay-TV broadcaster where he will provide “expert opinion”.

Matthews was replaced on Footy Furnace by Essendon legend James Hird, who will join Tom Morris and Geelong great Jimmy Bartel.

Having previously announced that both Shaun Burgoyne and Tom Hawkins would join the Fox Footy stable, several new roles were also named.

Leigh Matthews with the 1983 VFL premiership cup.

Leigh Matthews after the Lions’ three-peat.

After long-time AFL 360 host Mark Robinson was moved on from the role after 15 years in the host chair, Garry Lyon has been announced as his replacement to co-host the show with Gerard Whateley.

It leaves his seat on On the Couch vacant, with Richmond great Jack Riewoldt to move into the role alongside Jonathan Brown and Nathan Buckley.

Whateley will also have an expanded role on the network, calling Friday matches along with Anthony Hudson.

“There is no bigger name in the AFL than Leigh Matthews,” Fox Sport managing director Steve Crawley said in a statement.

“His playing and coaching career is unrivalled and when he talks – everyone pays attention.

“We’re honoured he’s chosen us to share his insights. We just hope Jason (Dunstall) is comfortable having another ‘legend’ on the team.

“We’re expecting new subscribers in ‘25 and we can’t wait for them to enjoy the combination of Huddo (Anthony Hudson) and Gerard (Whateley) calling Friday nights. These two aren’t strangers to calling together, but a new combo for Fox Footy, we know our audiences will value their clear, accurate, and descriptive call.

“We’re proud of our bench, we’re thrilled Garry (Lyon) will be joining Gerard on AFL 360 and we can’t wait to have Jack joining our great Couch team as our new host. It’s been a busy off-season and we’re not done yet.”

Leigh Matthews is heading to Fox Sports. Picture: David Caird

While the statement answers some of the questions about Fox Footy’s 2025 line up, there’s still plenty more commentary line ups to be revealed as Fox Sports will produce its own commentary for every home and away match of the season.

Every match will also be available in 4K on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

Super Saturday Live will also be the only way to watch games live on a Saturday until round 8 in South Australia and Western Australia, round 10 in NSW, Queensland and the ACT and all season long in Victoria, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Matthews is one of the greatest figures in AFL history, having won four VFL premierships in 332 games as a player for Hawthorn, while also coaching Collingwood to the 1990 premiership and the Lions to a three-peat in 2001-2003.

He’s also a member of the AFL’s team of the century and has also been granted legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Sport Australia Hall of Fame and Hawthorn Hall of Fame.