AFL takes the field on Seven in 2015
Seven's football kicks off next week as we welcome a Collingwood premiership captain, more local footy with the VFL, SANFL and WAFL, expanded Sunday Football coverage including a special pre-match each week from 2.30pm, and the return of the biggest names and best callers with over 3000 AFL games and 19 premierships between them.
In 2015 Seven's AFL is back with all of the fans' favourite callers Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Brian Taylor, Hamish McLachlan and Basil Zempilas.
Tim Watson, Leigh Matthews, Luke Darcy, Wayne Carey, Cameron Ling, and Matthew Richardson all return to the expert comments chair, along with Jude Bolton and Andrew Welsh.
Collingwood premiership captain Nick Maxwell also joins the team as a field commentator on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Saturday Night pre-game stars Sam Lane and Mick Molloy also return, while Seven News chief football reporter Mark Stevens will bring news to Seven's AFL coverage throughout each weekend.
Sunday Football starts half an hour earlier at 2.30pm each week with an expanded preview and build-up to deliver all of the latest team strategies, news, and colour of the personalities that make up our great game.
In a boon for local football, Seven will broadcast VFL, SANFL and WAFL matches live, free and exclusive.
The VFL 'Match of the Round' will be broadcast live on Seven in Melbourne every week throughout the regular season, as well as VFL finals and the VFL Grand Final.
Seven and 7mate will broadcast the SANFL and WAFL match of the round in SA and WA respectively, along with finals and the Grand Final.
Seven's AFL coverage will again feature:
- Thursday Night Football - back with five games produced by Seven
- Talking Footy returns Monday nights with Luke Darcy, Tim Watson and Wayne Carey
- AFL Game Day returns 10am Sundays hosted by Hamish McLachlan
- Four games every round; including the marquee Friday night and Saturday night games
- 2015 AFL Grand Final LIVE and EXCLUSIVE
- Every AFL final and the Brownlow
- NSW, QLD, SA, WA fans guaranteed every game involving teams from their home states
MATCH BROADCASTS
- Thursday Night Football is back with five huge games including the Carlton v Richmond season opener
- Friday Night Football is the big stage, kicking off most rounds and setting the agenda for the weekend's footy with the biggest stars in the game
- Saturday Arvo Footy lets families enjoy a relaxed afternoon after finishing their own local sport
- Saturday Night Footy is back again with their irreverent and edgy take on the footy, including comedian Mick Molloy in the pre-game
- Fans will enjoy an expanded preview on Sunday Football from 2.30pm, including interviews with the biggest stars
AFL PROGRAMS ON SEVEN
- Seven's iconic AFL chat show Talking Footy returns in 2015 at 7.30pm on 7mate with host Luke Darcy. Hall of Fame greats Tim Watson and Wayne Carey sit alongside Darcy to dissect all the AFL news and issues, on and off the football field.
- Hamish McLachlan and the current stars of the AFL sit alongside the heavyweights of Seven's commentary team every Sunday morning at 10am to review and preview all the weekend games.
- Footy Flashbacks takes fans on a trip down memory lane, looking back at some of the most memorable matches and moments in the history of the game.
SEVEN'S AFL TEAM
- Bruce McAvaney, host and commentator - With a much deserved place in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, McAvaney is widely renowned as Australia's pre-eminent sports broadcaster, with an infectious passion for AFL.
- Dennis Cometti, commentator - Widely regarded as the most entertaining AFL commentator in the business. A record 10-time winner of the AFMA's Most Outstanding Television Caller, his sharp wit, style and 'Cometti-isms' are legendary.
- Tim Watson, expert comments - Truly one of the AFL greats, an Australian Football Hall of Fame player and triple premiership star with Essendon, renowned for his skill and explosive bursts of pace. An articulate and insightful observer of the game, Tim also presents sport for Seven News Melbourne each weeknight.
- Cameron Ling, expert comments - A Geelong premiership captain dubbed the Mayor, Cameron Ling was one of the most respected players in the game with three flags to his name. Lingy has proven to be a natural in the commentary box and highly popular with fans, players and coaches.
- Wayne Carey, expert comments - Arguably the greatest player of all time, two-time North Melbourne premiership captain Wayne Carey will again deliver his insights and opinions on Friday Night Football and Talking Footy.
- Leigh Matthews, expert comments - An Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend, Matthews is a winner of four premierships as a player and coach, a captain of Victoria and eight-time Hawthorn Best & Fairest. When Matthews speaks, in his forthright and pragmatic manner, he often sets the footy agenda.
- Matthew Richardson, expert comments - Richmond champion and crowd favourite Richardson is back on Friday and Saturday nights on Seven's AFL coverage. One of Tasmania's favourite sons, Richo amassed 800 goals in an acclaimed playing career, including the most ever at the MCG with 464.
- Brian Taylor, commentator - The rousing and colourful Taylor brings the excitement of Seven's Saturday Night Footy to fans again in 2015. BT began his playing career at Richmond before moving to Collingwood where the full forward kicked 100 goals in 1986 to win the Coleman Medal.
- Luke Darcy, expert comments - The respected former Bulldogs star is regarded as one of the most successful ruck-forwards of the modern era. A winner of the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Player's Association's MVP, the father-of-four has carved out a burgeoning career as a radio and TV personality.
- Hamish McLachlan, commentator - One of Seven's most versatile sports broadcasters, hosting and presenting at Seven's horseracing and tennis coverage as well as calling AFL. In 2015 McLachlan will again host AFL Game Day and Saturday Arvo Footy alongside Basil Zempilas and call more Sunday Football matches.
- Basil Zempilas, commentator - An acclaimed TV host, reporter and commentator, having covered AFL in Perth for over 20 years as well as calling at five Olympic Games - including, most famously, Steven Bradbury's 'Last Man Standing' Winter Olympics victory.
- Mick Molloy, Saturday Night Footy pre-game show - Comedian and self-confessed Tigers tragic Molloy returns with his 'voice from the outer' taking aim at everything in the game.
- Mark Stevens, Seven News chief football reporter - An award-winning AFL news-breaker and analyst, Stevens will work across Seven News, Seven's AFL broadcast and online platforms. He is a past winner of the AFL Media Association's award for best news-breaker and best feature writer.
- Sam Lane, Saturday Night Footy - Again back on the pregame panel asking all of the searching questions of the players, coaches and administrators, as well as enjoying the lighter side of the game. Lane is a past winner of a Melbourne Press Club Quill award as well as the AFL Players' Association and AFL Coaches Association football writer of the year awards.
- Nick Maxwell, field commentator - The Collingwood premiership captain joins Seven's AFL commentary team full time in 2015, having previously worked as a guest match analyst and AFL Game Day panelist with Seven for four years. Fans can look forward to more of his honest and forthright assessments.
- Jude Bolton, field commentator - Swans dual premiership hero and 325-AFL game veteran takes up a field commentary role again on Seven's AFL team. Known for his undying determination and brutal attack on the football, Bolton still holds the AFL record for the most number of tackles ever in a single game with 19.
- Andrew Welsh, field commentator - The former Essendon defender and vice captain is a polished TV performer. 'Welshy' is a Game Day regular who has never rubbed anyone out in the weekly match review panel segment, as well as a panelist on 7mate's Sports Fan.
