‘Bigger and better’: Fox Footy confirms staggering line-up changes
Fox Footy has announced its biggest commentary line-up ever with the network undergoing massive changes following the recent AFL media war.
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Fox Footy has unveiled its blockbuster Super Saturday plans, as well as its star-studded commentary line-ups for Thursday and Friday night football coverage, ahead of the network’s biggest season yet.
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For the first time, Fox Footy will have its own dedicated commentary teams and bespoke graphics over every home and away match in 2025, including in the two marquee Thursday and Friday night timeslots.
From Round 1 onwards, Matt Hill and Mark Howard will call Thursday night matches alongside triple premiership Tiger Jack Riewoldt. Sarah Jones will anchor the coverage, with dual premiership Kangaroo David King, dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna and Hall of Fame legend Jason Dunstall to feature on the pre-game, half-time and post-game panels.
As previously announced, award-winning broadcaster Gerard Whateley will join forces with superstar commentator Anthony Hudson for play-by-play calling duties on Friday nights. They’ll share the commentary box with Dunstall and Melbourne champion Garry Lyon, who’ll also host the pre-game, half-time and post-game panel spots with Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley, triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown and four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis.
The network is also turbocharging its Saturday coverage, considering Fox Footy – available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel – will be the only place to watch live AFL on a Saturday in Victoria and Tasmania for every round of the home and away season, and nationally for the first eight rounds.
Super Saturday LIVE will see coverage and programming on Fox Footy from midday on Saturday to midnight on Sunday. Respected host and broadcaster Kath Loughnan will anchor the coverage alongside Riewoldt and King from the Melbourne studios, with Fox Footy’s commentary and special comments teams live from around the grounds.
Kayo Call Up competition winner Jarra Davis – a 22-year-old from Gippsland who beat 450 entrants to win a Fox Footy contract – will also join the Super Saturday LIVE team. He’ll provide social insights and behind-the-scenes fun from venues.
A new year also means new on-air faces at Fox, with Hall of Fame legend Leigh Matthews, premiership coach Adam Simpson, four-time premiership star Shaun Burgoyne and triple premiership Cat Tom Hawkins to provide expert commentary on games.
As well as Whateley, gun caller Corbin Middlemas joins the stable of Fox Footy play-by-play commentators, alongside Hudson, Hill, Howard, Montagna, Dwayne Russell, Kelli Underwood and Adam Papalia.
Middlemas will also be part of the team on Midweek Tackle, which this year will be hosted by Herald Sun reporter and Fox Footy AFLW boundary rider Lauren Wood on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.
There’ll also be a strong news element on popular Sunday night program First Crack, with Herald Sun newsbreaker Jay Clark to host the show alongside star analysts King and Montagna.
Staple program On The Couch this year will be hosted by Riewoldt, alongside rotating experts Buckley, Brown, Lewis and Montagna. Riewoldt replaces Lyon, who’ll join Whateley on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights for AFL 360, which enters its 15th year.
Bounce returns every Sunday after the footy, hosted by Dunstall with Andrew Gaze, Cameron Mooney, Schleicher, Ben Dixon and Bernie Vince.
“Season 2024 was a record-breaking year for Fox Footy but with the greatest respect this season’s coverage will be bigger and better,” Fox Sports managing director Steve Crawley said.
“It’s the only place where you can see every game of every round live, not to mention with the best callers and the best pictures, and we’re ad-break free in play.
“Everyone at Fox Footy has been working hard to make sure we bring fans what they deserve – the best of the best. Bring it on!”
The 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership season gets underway on Thursday, 6 March with 2024 Premiers Brisbane taking on Geelong.
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FOX FOOTY COMMENTATORS 2025
Hosts
Sarah Jones, Kath Loughnan, Kelli Underwood (+ calling), Lauren Wood
Experts
Eddie Betts, Jonathan Brown, Dermott Brereton, Nathan Buckley, Shaun Burgoyne, Nick Dal Santo, Ben Dixon, Jason Dunstall, Tom Hawkins, Gerard Healy, Brad Johnson, David King, Jordan Lewis, Alastair Lynch, Garry Lyon, Leigh Matthews, Leigh Montagna (+ calling), Cameron Mooney, Matthew Pavlich, Mark Ricciuto, Jack Riewoldt, Will Schofield, Ruby Schleicher, Adam Simpson.
Callers
Matt Hill, Mark Howard, Anthony Hudson, Corbin Middlemas, Adam Papalia, Dwayne Russell, Gerard Whateley.
WEEKLY SHOW LINE-UP (all times AEST/AEDT)
Monday
6pm: AFL Tonight — hosted by Ruby Schleicher.
6.30pm: AFL 360 — hosted by Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon.
7.30pm: On The Couch — hosted by Jack Riewoldt, with a rotating panel featuring Nathan Buckley, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lewis and Leigh Montagna.
Tuesday
6pm: AFL Tonight — hosted by Drew Jones and David Zita.
6.30pm: AFL 360 — hosted by Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon
7.30pm: Midweek Tackle — hosted by Lauren Wood, with a rotating panel featuring Jon Ralph, Scott Gullan, Glenn McFarlane, Josh Barnes and Corbin Middlemas.
Wednesday
6pm: AFL Tonight — hosted by Drew Jones.
6.30pm: AFL 360 — hosted by Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon
7.30pm: Midweek Tackle — hosted by Lauren Wood, with a rotating panel featuring Jon Ralph, Scott Gullan, Glenn McFarlane, Josh Barnes and Corbin Middlemas.
Thursday
6pm: AFL Tonight — hosted by Ruby Schleicher and Drew Jones.
6.30pm: Thursday Night Footy on Fox
— Panel: hosted by Sarah Jones, with Jason Dunstall, Leigh Montagna and David King.
— Commentators: Mark Howard, Matt Hill, Jack Riewoldt, David King/Leigh Montagna, Brad Johnson and Eddie Betts.
Friday
6.30pm: AFL Tonight — hosted by David Zita.
7pm: Friday Night Footy on Fox
— Panel: hosted by Garry Lyon, with Jonathan Brown, Nathan Buckley and Jordan Lewis.
— Commentators: Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Garry Lyon and Ruby Schleicher.
Saturday
12pm-12am: Super Saturday LIVE — hosted by Kath Loughnan, with Jack Riewoldt and David King.
Sunday
Sunday Ticket
After the footy: Bounce — hosted by Jason Dunstall, with Andrew Gaze, Cameron Mooney, Bernie Vince, Ruby Schleicher and Ben Dixon.
After Bounce: First Crack — hosted by Jay Clark, with David King and Leigh Montagna.
Originally published as ‘Bigger and better’: Fox Footy confirms staggering line-up changes
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