AFL

The Nine Network is set to lead its bid for the next round of AFL rights with a plan to offer live Friday night football in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Nine has started talks with the league over bidding for the broadcast rights for the 2012-2016 AFL seasons which is set to come with a $1 billion price tag. The current five-year rights deal, shared between Seven, Ten and Foxtel, was worth $780 million.

AFL chief Andrew Demetriou would not comment on the discussions, but told the Sunday Herald Sun that there is growing demand for live coverage:

“Our research has shown us that live or near-live sport does not impact on crowd numbers, but increases the interest and awareness of sport and contributes to greater growth in the long term. It is the AFL’s view that there is an increasing demand for live sport among fans and AFL fans have been telling us that they wish to see more live football as part of our next rights agreement.”

A recent survey of readers of the Sunday Herald Sun showed that 90 per cent supported the change to live AFL coverage on Friday nights.

Seven, the current Friday night rights holder, delays the airing of Friday night games to allow for the screening of lifestyle program Better Homes And Gardens.

Source: Media Spy.

Sunday 10am

Ben Cousins will talk exclusively about his hamstring recovery process to Nathan Buckley on AFL Game Day in Sunday’s Round One 90 minute special edition.

Cousins will outline the treatment and rehabilitation process he will undertake and his expected return date.

Sydney Swans star forward Barry Hall will also appear on AFL Game Day to give us his views on what happened in the battle against his former club St Kilda the night before.

Brownlow medallist Nathan Buckley, three-time premiership player Tim Watson, and Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson join host Hamish McLachlan to review and preview the weekend’s matches and have some fun along the way.

Last week AFL Game Day heard from Luke Hodge and what really happened to his ribs in last year’s finals series, Jason Akermanis came face-to-face with Leigh Matthews and AFL Game Day was first to show Wayne Carey’s remorseful speech as he was inducted into North Melbourne’s Hall of Fame.

Sunday March 29 at 10am on Seven

Your footy fix sorted with 90 minute AFL Game Day special

Footy fans won’t want to miss this Sunday’s Round One 90 minute special edition of AFL Game Day.

“After a long hot summer finally, the footy’s back. We celebrate the return of the season with an extended edition of AFL Game Day where every move and moment will be examined, along with a few laughs,” said host Hamish McLachlan.

Sydney Swans star forward Barry Hall will appear on AFL Game Day this week to give us his views on what happened in the battle against his former club St Kilda the night before.

Brownlow medallist Nathan Buckley, three-time premiership player Tim Watson, and journalist Mark Robinson join host Hamish McLachlan to review and preview the weekend’s matches and have some fun along the way.

Last week AFL Game Day heard from Luke Hodge and what really happened to his ribs in last year’s finals series, Jason Akermanis came face-to-face with Leigh Matthews and AFL Game Day was first to show Wayne Carey’s remorseful speech as he was inducted into North Melbourne’s Hall of Fame.

AFL Game Day

Sunday 10am

Thursday March 26 & Saturday March 28

ROUND ONE

ALL TIMES ARE LOCAL TIMES. ALL SIMULCAST ON TEN AND ONE UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE.

THURSDAY, MARCH 26

Richmond vs Carlton, MCG

Commentary team: Stephen Quartermain, Tim Lane, Robert Walls, Luke Darcy and Andrew Maher.

Melbourne 8.00pm

Adelaide 8.00pm

Perth 8.00pm

Sydney 11.15pm

Brisbane 11.15pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 28

Collingwood vs Adelaide, MCG (Foxtel)

Adelaide 1.30pm (TEN ONLY)

2009 sees Network Ten welcome two new faces to our team of Expert Commentators. Matthew Lloyd and Matthew Richardson (pictured). Tonight’s match sees Richmond legend Matthew Richardson team up with one of the most experienced in the game, Robert Walls.

St Kilda vs Sydney, Telstra Dome

Commentary team: Anthony Hudson, Tim Lane, Robert Walls, Matthew Richardson and Mark Howard.

Melbourne 7.30pm

Sydney 7.30pm

Adelaide 6.30pm (live)

Brisbane vs West Coast, Subiaco (Foxtel)

Brisbane 7.30pm

Perth 5.00pm (live)

AFL Legend Leigh Matthews will join Channel Seven’s AFL coverage.

The addition of the four-time premiership player and four-time premiership coach will add to an already formidable and authoritative commentary line-up on Seven’s AFL coverage.

In a playing and coaching career spanning five decades, Matthews has done just about everything an individual can in the game. He has won premierships as player and coach, captained Victoria, won eight Hawthorn Best & Fairests and delivered a first-time premiership to the Lions and a drought-breaking flag to Collingwood. His standing in the game is unquestionable, explains his status as an AFL Hall of Fame Legend and now adds further weight to Seven’s AFL coverage.

Matthews will join Seven’s 2009 AFL commentary team that will include Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Nathan Buckley, Tim Watson, David Schwarz and Rick Olarenshaw.

Commenting on Matthews’ appointment Seven Melbourne general manager Lewis Martin said:

“Leigh was an outstanding success on Seven’s AFL coverage throughout the 2007 and 2008 finals series. So it was only natural we wanted such an AFL Legend to be part of our football team.”

Matthews was equally as excited at joining Seven’s AFL commentary team.

“Seven has a long and proud association with football and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my involvement with Seven over the years,” he said. “I look forward to seeing all the action and excitement of the season unfold and giving viewers an insight into what’s going on.”

Leigh Matthews football achievements

• Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend
• Four-time premiership player with Hawthorn (1971, 1976, 1978, 1983)
• Four-time premiership coach (Collingwood 1990, Brisbane 2001, 2002, 2003)
• Hawthorn captain 1981-1985
• Eight Hawthorn Best & Fairests
• Six-time Hawthorn leading goal-kicker
• 332 VFL games, 29 VFL finals matches, 915 VFL career goals
• Represented Victoria 14 times and captained Victoria in 1980

Leigh Matthews AFL TV career

• Channel Seven football commentator (1996–98)
• Commentated three Grand Finals with Seven (1996-98)
• Football expert on Seven’s Talking Footy (1997, 1998)
• Lips of Lethal (2002-04) – this award winning program matched Leigh Matthews’ comments from the coach’s box with the 2002-04 Grand Final vision.

Channel Seven welcomes the 2009 AFL fixture with the Grand Final re-match between Hawthorn
and Geelong set for Seven’s first match in Round 1.
“We’re rapt with the 2009 AFL fixture as footy on Seven will again be a winner for footy fans with
a fantastic line-up of Friday Night Football and Sunday Football,” said Channel Seven Melbourne
general manager Lewis Martin.
“We look forward to showing fans all the highs and lows of the 2009 AFL season in what will
again be brilliant television

Host Hamish McLachlan along with comedians, AFL commentators, and two of Australia’s most glamorous women are set to combine to take an entertaining and sometimes-irreverent look at AFL season 2008.

Channel Seven takes a fun and light-hearted approach to the AFL season’s highlights in a 90-minute special, The Season’s Best, as Grand Final week builds towards the big game.

The Season’s Best will highlight some of the biggest hits, best marks and goals, coaches’ dummy spits and clangers, along with a look at the lighter side of the game. And reveal exclusively who superstars Gary Ablett Jnr and Brent Harvey rate as their top seven players.

Tim Watson, Jason Akermanis and Andrew Welsh will all appear as we remember the moments that have made season 2008 so memorable.

And for another take on football, Sonia Kruger and Jo Stanley illustrate the more glamorous side of the game with a look at the players’ wives and girlfriends, and try and finalise once and for all, which player has the best body in the AFL.

Dave Lawson and Stephen Curry also delve into the more controversial moments of the season and have some fun as they look at the fans from the outer.

Wednesday 24 September, 9.30pm in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth

Saturday September 27 12:30pm (G)

The AFL season reaches its crescendo with that one day in September. Seven Sport has all the action live from the biggest day on the AFL calendar, the AFL Grand Final.

Tune in at 12.30pm for the pre-match entertainment and match analysis before the big game gets underway.

Sunday August 31 2:00pm (G) – LIVE

The improving Tigers will be confident of toppling the Demons for the second time in 2008, but with a review of the Tiger’s football department already claiming one scalp, all of the Tigers will be on notice.

Meanwhile, the Demons will be looking at a host of young players and who will be with them as they re-build for the future. See all the action as the co-tenants do battle at the MCG.

PLEASE NOTE: Screening in Sydney and Brisbane only at this time

Friday August 29 11:30pm (G)

Still missing suspended stars Heath Shaw and Alan Didak, Collingwood is in desperate need to secure four points to salvage something from the season.

Fremantle will be trying to salvage something from a disastrous season by allowing some of its youngsters more game time. Collingwood will be aiming to chalk up only its third victory ever against Fremantle at Subiaco.

PLEASE NOTE: Screening in Sydney and Brisbane only at this time