Big change coming to hit AFL show as beer goliath walks away

One of Australia’s most popular sport shows has announced a big change for 2023 after a beer goliath pulled the plug.

Viewers will notice big changes to cult footy show The Front Bar in 2023, Channel 7 has announced.

The popular AFL comedy program has linked with Victorian brewer Furphy after its long-time sponsor Carlton Draught pulled the plug.

Carlton — and its parent company Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) — had been with the show since its inception as a short online streaming production in 2015 and followed the show to Channel 7.

The Herald Sun first reported it was CUB that ended the partnership.

“We’ve been with the Front Bar from the very beginning in 2015, so it was a difficult decision,” a CUB spokesman told the newspaper.

“We love The Front Bar, but it’s time for us to take a fresh approach to promote Carlton Draught with footy and pub fans.”

Andy Maher, Mick Molloy and Sam Pang on The Front Bar. Picture: Supplied

Furphy is part of rival beer goliath Lion Nathan’s stable of flagship beers.

Seven confirmed the changes in an announcement on Monday.

Fans will get to see more of the show in 2023 with the show expanding to a 37-episode season, beginning on Wednesday, February 1.

The show’s star trio of Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher will be returning.

Molloy said in a press release: “Furphy slid into my DMs, we hooked up and the rest is history,” he said.

“I’ve always been a fan of Furphy. It’s a beer. It’s from Geelong and…it’s a beer.

“It’s great to have Furphy on board. They had to pass my stringent taste test first, which went for about two weeks, but I have high standards.

The band is back for a ninth season. Photo: Ian Currie.

“I have a reputation in the industry as a tough deal maker, but the free six pack eventually got me over the line,” he said.

“We wanted to change something, and once I checked that Andy Maher’s contract was watertight, we decided to switch to Furphy.”

Molloy has also recently invested in Melbourne craft brewer Bricklane and has featured in promotions for the emerging, independent label.

Originally published as Big change coming to hit AFL show as beer goliath walks away