The AFL final season starts Thursday night on Fox Footy with just eight games to sort out which of the eight remaining teams will face off in the AFL Grand Final.
Fox Footy will broadcast the eight games over the next three weeks ad-free during play for Foxtel’s Fox Sports and Kayo Sport subscribers.
The Fox Footy channel gets to show every AFL game of the year live and ad-free during play with one pretty important exception. That is the AFL Grand Final which remains an exclusive Seven property.
In the lead-up to the first final between Melbourne and Collingwood, Fox Footy has reported viewers streamed 5.2m minutes this year across the home and away season, an increase of 18% year-on-year.
“We’re chuffed to see fans and viewers growing each year which is a testament to the talent and product we’re showcasing,” said Steve Crawley, executive director of Fox Sports.
So far in the lead-up week to the first finals, Fox Footy has been featuring some of the coaches leading their teams into battle on the weekend. Lions coach Chris Fagan took a seat during On The Couch on Monday ahead of Carlton’s Michael Voss and then Sydney Swans’ John Longmire on AFL 360 at 7.30pm.
AFL 360 continued its final preview on Tuesday night ahead of a special Face To Face episode with Collingwood captain Darcy Moore being interviewed by Fox Footy’s Garry Lyon.
Another episode of the finals week Face to Face follows on Wednesday with Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow speaking with Fox Footy’s Nathan Buckley.
All these Fox Footy programs are available on-demand on the Fox Sports and Kay Sports platforms.
On Thursday, viewers are being promised the best seat in the house when Fox Footy’s Sarah Jones, Jason Dunstall, David King and Leigh Montagna broadcast live from the MCG when Collingwood takes on Melbourne.
One day later, Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Nathan Buckley and Jordan Lewis then take to the Fox Footy live stage at the MCG on Friday night for the Carlton v Sydney blockbuster.
The channel will also be screening live and ad-free during play the two remaining weekend clashes on Saturday between St Kilda and the GSW Giants and, in the only match outside of Melbourne this week, Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide from the Gabba.
Come Grand Final day coverage kicks-off early with the Grand Final Breakfast then the annual Fox Footy’s Longest Kick returns to the banks of the Yarra River to see superstars of the game boot the Sherrin further than their rivals. The only thing missing from Fox Footy that day of course is coverage of the Grand Final which is live and exclusive on Seven.
Between now and Grand Final Day, the channel will continue its weekly analysis programs On The Couch, AFL 360, Face To Face, First Crack and Bounce.
Kelli Underwood and Ruby Schleicher
AFLW on Fox Footy
The channel will also be screening the AFLW during the month of September. This is the first AFLW season where every AFL team is competing and Fox Footy will cover every clash including all the AFLW finals series including the AFLW Grand Final.
Special coverage will include the Festival of Footy in Round 5, Indigenous Round in Rounds 7 and 8, plus a Pride Round celebrating diversity and inclusion in Round 10.
Fox Footy’s call team AFLW All-Australian defender Ruby Schleicher, while Western Bulldogs star Ellie Blackburn is ready to dominate both on the field and in the commentary box.
Fox Footy AFLW Call team: Ruby Schleicher, Ellie Blackburn, Hannah Priest, Sarah Hosking, Meg McDonald, Alicia Eva, Amanda Farrugia, Kara Antonio, Ben Dixon, Will Schofield, Andrew Krakouer, Tom Rockliff.
Callers: Kelli Underwood, Adam Papalia, Jess Webster, Ben Waterworth, Jack Heverin.
See also: Gravity Media partners with JAM TV to produce AFLW season for Fox Sports and Kayo