Geelong cult hero Billy Brownless set for shock commentary comeback

One of the AFL’s most loveable characters is set to make a blockbuster return years after he stepped away.

Loveable AFL icon Billy Brownless is set to make a shock return to TV screens when he picks up the microphone for Channel 7 next month.

Brownless will line up in the commentary booth alongside several greats of the game for the Victoria vs All Stars Legends Game on August 28.

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The 58-year-old Geelong cult hero will join Hawks icon Robert ‘Dipper’ DiPierdomenico, Brian Taylor, Matthew Richardson, Rebecca Maddern and Andy Maher in calling the iconic contest.

The appearance for Brownless on the rival network comes after his long-running stint with Channel 9’s Footy Show ended in 2021.

Since departing the screen, Brownless has made sporadic appearances on the Sunday Footy Show but has mainly kept to radio with his Triple M show The Rush Hour with JB & Billy.

Brownless will be on hand for the match which has been rebranded as the Legends Game for Prostate Cancer and marks 30 years since footy legend E.J. Whitten passed away from the disease.

The contest is set to feature a handful of returning superstars with Gary Ablett Jr, Cyril Rioli, Nick Riewoldt, Luke Hodge and Brendan Fevola all set to pull on the boots.

Billy Brownless will be back behind the microphone. (Photo by Sam Tabone/Getty Images)

Dipper is also returning for the Legends Game. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brownless’ return to the commentary booth comes after he left his family horrified last month by posting a photo of himself skinny dipping on social media.

In the midst of a mid-year getaway with partner Crystle Fleur in Western Australia, the Geelong icon decided to share some happy snaps from the trip.

But it was one image from a swimming pool in Broome that stole the show. The image showed him relaxing in the pool with his obvious lack of swimwear leaving little to the imagination — thankfully he was facing away from the camera.

“Some call it ‘Skinny Dipping’ I like to call it ‘Fat Dipping’ #fatstraveldiary,” he wrote.

Safe to say the X-rated post was a bit of a surprise to Brownless’ friends and family.

Former AFL star Dale Thomas joked: “Reverse angle is a Nirvana album cover.”

Bec Judd commented: “Ahahaha. Nice seeing you yesterday. Glad you had some clothes on.”

Brownless’ horrified daughter Ruby commented: “Wow it gets worse”, after responding to his swimming pool post with “Honestly no words”.

Brownless told the Herald Sun his partner had uploaded the viral skinny dip photo to his Instagram account without his knowledge.

Billy Brownless was living his best life on holiday. Photo: Instagram.

The Geelong icon left little to the imagination. Photo: Instagram.

“She thought it was fun. I was just paddling around in the pool, splashing around,” he said.

“She said I’ve got a shot here for you. Darl, we’ll get rid of those shorts and we’ll just have a bit of fun with it. And she thought it would be funny to go nude. She knows how to post off my account. 120,000 views, the punters loved it.”

The Cats Hall of Famer said his kids let him know they were less than impressed.

“They’re the ones who aren’t so happy,’’ Brownless said.

“Ruby is the most outspoken, she rang me. She said ‘dad, you’re a dickhead’.”