- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Channel Seven’s AFL commentary shake-up for the 2025 season has continued, with polarising commentator Brian Taylor moved away from Friday night football for the season.
Taylor, who has been at Seven since 2012 and been a staple of Friday nights since taking over from commentary legend Dennis Cometti for the 2017 seasons, will instead call Thursday night football for the season, with the league confirming a major increase of matches in the timeslot in 2025.
Long-time co-commentator James Brayshaw will remain on Friday nights, and according to the Herald Sun, will likely be partnered by presenter Hamish McLachlan, brother of former AFL CEO Gillon.
Channel 7 commentators Matthew Richardson and Brian Taylor. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
The move comes as Seven’s battle for viewer numbers with fellow broadcaster Fox Footy increases, with the latter radically increasing their team to call every match live in 2025, having previously simulcast Seven’s broadcast for all matches shown by the free-to-air network.
Fox’s Friday nights will feature popular commentators Gerard Whateley and Anthony Hudson calling the action; the season will mark Whateley’s, long regarded as one of Australia’s best commentators, TV debut.
It is expected that Taylor’s ‘Roaming Brian’ post-match show, in which he gains access to the winning team’s rooms to speak to players and staff, will also be shifted to Thursday nights, with new post-game analysis show Extra Time to feature on Fridays.
Taylor’s shift is far from the only major change Seven have made to its broadcasting stable for the upcoming season, with veteran commentator Luke Darcy stepping away from the mic and oft-criticsed former great Kane Cornes joining the network.
Further details about Seven’s commentary team are expected to be unveiled in early 2025.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.