Seven has signed Australian football media’s most quoted voice, Port Adelaide great, Kane Cornes. He will join Seven’s AFL coverage in 2025.
The potential trade of Melbourne’s Christian Petracca is being touted as one of the biggest player trades ever. The move of Cornes from Nine to Seven is one of the biggest sports media trades for some time. It is probably on the same level as Gerard Whateley leaving the ABC for SEN in 2018.
A 300 gamer, premiership player and four-time Port Adelaide best and fairest winner, Cornes will join the 7AFL team for season 2025 and beyond.
News shows for Cornes
Seven has said he will provide live expert commentary on screen for the first time, as well as delivering opinion and analysis throughout the week across multiple programs. Cornes this morning said he’s looking forward to working on Seven’s Thursday night footy. He hinted he will also be part of a new panel show coming to Seven. There could also be a column for 7News.com.au plus a new podcast too.
Footy fans can also expect to see Cornes on screen frequently across the week, when he lends his voice to the biggest and most controversial AFL news and issues on 7NEWS.
Ahead of his arrival at Seven, Kane Cornes said: “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.
“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,” he said.
The new signing is the biggest move at Seven sport with new leadership following the recent departure of former head of sport Lewis Martin.
Kane Cornes
Seven sports team that dropped the bomb
New Seven Network director of sport, Chris Jones, said: “Kane 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.
“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,” he said.
“As we embark on an epic run home to the 2024 AFL Grand Final – broadcast live and free on Seven and 7plus – we have our eyes set firmly on the future and we cannot wait to share more of our plans with all Australians very soon.”
See also: Seven West Media redundancies – Three of network’s top executives exit
Seven’s director of news and current affairs and Seven West Media editor-in-chief, Anthony De Ceglie, added: “Kane is the number one voice in footy. He’s either creating the news or presenting the smartest take possible on issues.
“We cannot wait to welcome Kane into the Seven family and look forward to hearing his sharp insights regularly on 7NEWS throughout the year.”
Seven’s head of AFL and sport innovation Gary O’Keeffe said: “With an already talent-stacked group of experts and world-class match callers, Kane’s arrival will further bolster Seven’s unbeatable AFL coverage and we couldn’t be more excited.
“Alongside a group of the most trusted voices in the game, led by Brian Taylor, James Brayshaw, Abbey Holmes, Matthew Richardson Luke Hodge and Dale Thomas, Kane will bring an extra edge to Seven’s AFL broadcast that cannot be replicated. It’s going to be massive.”
Cornes to stay with SEN for radio work
Speaking to Garry and Tim on SEN 1116 today, Cornes confirmed he will be staying with SEN. Among his work for SEN, Cornes co-hosts the Melbourne breakfast show with David King. Garry Lyon and Tim Watson asked Cornes about other TV shows on the network. He said he definitely would not do Dancing with the Stars, but he would be keen to do SAS Australia if Seven brings it back.
SEN chief executive Craig Hutchison indicated to his Melbourne breakfast hosts he may have to fine tune some parts of Cornes’ contract with the radio network.
Cornes told SEN breakfast it was a hard decision to leave Nine. “They have been amazing and it was a great place to work.” Kornes was part of Nine’s Sunday Footy Show and Footy Classified.