By Jon Pierik
Prominent commentator Kane Cornes will join Seven next season in a major coup for the network.
Cornes, a long-time AFL expert on Nine, including the Sunday Footy Show and Footy Classified, was off contract and chased by Fox Footy and Seven – the sport’s pay television and free-to-air rights holders - through the year.
On the move: Kane Cornes is leaving Nine for Seven.Credit: ninevms
Seven said on Tuesday Cornes – also a columnist with this masthead and a prominent voice on the SEN radio network – would deliver greater impact in opinion and analysis, while also providing expert commentary of one game each week.
He joins as Seven and Fox Footy begin a new seven-year broadcast rights deal, which will also involve change at Fox Footy which will have its own commentators at all games.
“I’m thrilled to join the Seven Network in 2025 and beyond. I have immense confidence in the network’s leadership and the exciting direction of 7AFL’s cutting-edge broadcast,” Cornes said.
“The chance to work on the biggest games in free-to-air coverage and share my insights across 7News and throughout the week is an incredible opportunity. Seven is the true home of the AFL, and next season promises to be the most exciting one yet, and I’m looking forward to being a part it.”
Cornes, 41, played 300 games for Port Adelaide, is a premiership player and a four-time best-and-fairest winner.
Chris Jones, Seven Network director of sport, said Cornes “is an agenda setter who backs up his opinion with an unrivalled work ethic and passion for the game”.
“Kane’s demonstrated history of sharing his hard-hitting opinions with footy fans, paired with his signature candid commentary will take Seven’s AFL coverage to a new level in 2025,” Jones said.
“In a massive year of growth for Seven, the 2025 season will also see the introduction of digital rights, meaning footy fans all over Australia will be able to stream every round of the footy live and free on 7plus for the first time.”
Tim Watson, Seven’s No.1 sports reader on 7News, and AFL expert, said Cornes would make a splash.
“He’ll be part of the broadcast of football. He’ll be doing one game each weekend and will be part of another couple of football programs. He’ll be doing some news-type items regularly on Channel Seven news as well,” Watson told SEN.
“He was sought by everyone and sundry. Obviously, Channel Nine were very keen to keep him and Fox, but he has decided to (move to Seven).
“That is great news for Channel Seven because I think in the short time that he’s been in the media he has made as big an impression as anybody that has come from playing into the media.”
Seven’s director of news and current affairs and Seven West Media editor-in-chief Anthony De Ceglie said Cornes was the “number-one voice in footy”.
“He’s either creating the news or presenting the smartest take possible on issues,” De Ceglie said.
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