‘Nervy time’: Why Nathan Buckley is worried for his AFL TV job

Nathan Buckley says he and his colleagues are worried for their jobs at an AFL broadcaster, declaring “it’s a nervy time” for them.

Nathan Buckley says he and his Fox Footy colleagues might be at risk of losing their jobs after the AFL broadcaster announced a new initiative.

Buckley is heading into his third AFL season with Fox Footy and has well and truly found his feet in the media as a key member of On The Couch and as an expert commentator.

“I’ve loved my time there,” Buckley told news.com.au.

“We’ve got some great people in front of and behind the camera who put it all together. We’re really looking forward to seeing what we can do next year.

Want a PAID on-air role and mentorship with Fox Footy for Super Saturday LIVE in 2025? Enter the Kayo Call Up now. Submit a creative video and 100 words via https://thekayocallup.kayosports.com.au/ - Applications close Dec 11.

“It’s definitely a different lens to the game,” said Buckley, who was honoured this week with the opening of a museum at Collingwood’s headquarters featuring memorabilia from his career.

“I’m not a grandfather myself but I hear grandfathers say, ‘It’s all care, no responsibility. You can have the kids then hand them back’.

“My relationship with football from this lens is very different to being a player or a coach when you’re responsible for the care and wellbeing of elite athletes.

“To sit back, admire and enjoy the contest we’re watching and the responsibility to communicate what’s going on to the viewer is something I’m really enjoying.

“It’s a different relationship with the game, still working in a team trying to create the best product that we can, so there’s high performance mindsets to it, but very different to being in the cut and thrust of a coaching or playing challenge.”

Nathan Buckley said Fox Footy’s talent might be looking over their shoulder. Photo by Michael Klein

Fox Footy has already shaken up the industry with recent big-name signings including Shaun Burgoyne, Tom Hawkins and Leigh Matthews with further talent announcements to come.

The network said discussions with Richmond champion Dustin Martin ongoing.

Footy fans will be treated to Gerard Whateley and Anthony Hudson commentating Friday night games together in a match made in Aussie rules heaven.

But Buckley joked he might be worried about losing his commentary gig after Fox Footy announced the Kayo Call Up, a nationwide talent search to find the next Fox Footy on-air star who will feature on the new-look Super Saturday LIVE coverage in 2025.

‘Super Saturday LIVE’ is a new offering for Kayo subscribers – as part of the landmark AFL rights deal – which requires an expanded suite of hosts, commentators and experts who will provide more analysis and programming than ever before.

The Kayo Call Up competition winner will be offered a paid on-air role and mentorship for at least the first eight rounds of the 2025 home and away season.

“I think there’s a few experienced talent looking over their shoulder at Fox,” Buckley chuckled.

“Potentially we don’t have enough talent. We’ve gone to market looking for someone who thinks they might be able to match Gerard or Huddo or Gaz (Garry Lyon) or myself in special comments on a Saturday by giving people the chance to send in their videos and tapes to earn an opportunity to work with us throughout season 2025.

Nathan Buckley and partner Brodie at the opening of Collingwood’s Magpie Legend Exhibition at the Collingwood museum. Picture: Jason Edwards

Buckley with his sons Jett and Ayce. Picture: Jason Edwards

“It’s a nervy time for all of us existing talent.”

“Fox essentially owns live football on a Saturday,” Buckley said.

“That alone really stakes our claim in being the premier broadcasters for the AFL.”

Fox Footy – available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel – will be the place to watch AFL exclusively live on Saturday’s nationally for the first eight rounds of the home and away season (nine weeks, inclusive of Opening Round).

With Garry Lyon joining Whateley as AFL 360 co-host, Jack Riewoldt is stepping into the On The Couch hosting chair along with Buckley and Jonathan Brown.

“Browny and I have developed that relationship. Jack coming in, he’s obviously a really sharp footy brain and has ambitions to take over the world,” Buckley said.

“He’s got really high expectations of himself. He’s brought that into the next phase of his career.

“We’ll spend the off-season working out how we can improve it again. You want to provide for your viewers and subscribers as much as you can.”

3/4/24. Gather Round - former Collingwood coach & player Nathan Buckley for the longest kick over Torrens Fox promotion. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Buckley said Lyon’s famous walk-and-talks through Fox Footy’s studios and the program’s emphasis on the premiership window graphic would remain.

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“They’re big shoes to fill,” he said. “To be the guardian of the premiership window, we won’t expect Jack to do it all on his own, it’ll be a team effort.”

Buckley praised Fox Footy’s “great producers behind the camera and the technical guys who get things done”.

Jack Riewoldt said of the Kayo Call Up: “I’m lucky to work alongside such respected and talented experts at Fox Footy and this is a dream role for someone who wants a fast-tracked career in broadcasting as part of our Super Saturday LIVE coverage next season.”

For the first time Fox Footy commentary and graphics will also be made available during every match of the season, offering fans a stronger choice in how they consume football coverage. Every match will also be available in 4K with no ad-breaks during play.

Apply for the Kayo Call Up here. Applications close on December 11 and the winner will be announced in February next year after a shortlisting process.