Craig Hutchison set to host Channel 7’s new Monday Night footy show Agenda Setters

Craig Hutchison is set to go head-to-head with his former Channel 9 show after being confirmed as the host of one of Channel 7’s new footy offerings for 2025.

Craig Hutchison is back on Monday nights with the former Footy Classified host confirmed as the front man for Channel 7’s new show Agenda Setters.

Hutchison will join former Classified panellist Kane Cornes and another of Seven’s new recruits, Nick Riewoldt, on the show which will go head-to-head with Nine’s flagship footy program and Fox Footy’s popular On The Couch.

The full Footy Classified band isn’t quite back together yet with Caroline Wilson not being formally announced at Seven despite also leaving Nine at the end of the season.

It’s believed there are legal issues around her contract with Nine which are delaying her confirmation as the fourth member of Agenda Setters.

Craig Hutchison is set to host Channel 7’s new show Agenda Setters. Pic: Sam D'Agostino

Hutchison had remained coy about whether he would return to the big screen after ending his 18-year reign with Footy Classified.

“If I’m ever on television again it will be in line with our business and it won’t be in any other way,” Hutchison said.

“If I’m not on television ever again, I’m comfortable with that.”

His business empire — Hutchison is the chief executive of Sports Entertainment Group – is the reason he is cutting ties with Channel 9 given his production company Rainmaker will be producing several new AFL programs for Channel 7.

In a statement, Hutchison added: “These new shows will shape and set the agenda of the weekday discussion of football, which is at the heart of the game.

“The media and opinions around the game is the zeitgeist of what fuels Australian football, and we will bring the game’s biggest names to the table and call it as it is.

“And on a personal level, to return to Seven — where I spent many years earlier in my career — is an honour.”

After being criticised for not doing enough outside of match day — including by the AFL — Seven has gone nuclear with a bevy of new signings and shows.

Cornes was the first big domino to fall and as well as the Agenda Setters he will host his own show called Kane’s Call.

Kane Cornes has joined Channel 7.

Seven will also have Hamish McLachlan hosting an interview style program called Unfiltered once a week, plus post footy programs Extra Time, The Wash Up and Sunday Footy Feast in the lead up to the Sunday football broadcast.

The Front Bar will remain and a new documentary has been commissioned called Full Sweat which will follow a club in pre-season.

Nine has reacted to the move by moving its Wednesday night Footy Classified to Tuesday with Eddie McGuire to again host alongside Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, journalist Damian Barrett and new recruit James Hird.

Long-time Monday Classified panellist Matthew Lloyd returns but the make-up of the rest of the show is yet to be confirmed with regular Sam McClure and newsbreaker Tom Morris likely to be involved.

Fox Footy has also made a raft of changes ahead of 2025 with Richmond premiership forward Jack Riewoldt to host On The Couch with Garry Lyon moving to the co-hosting seat alongside Gerard Whateley on AFL360.

Collingwood, Brisbane and Hawthorn great Leigh Matthews has also joined Fox Footy.