One of the key attractions at Foxtel’s most-watched sports channel is footballer turned media star Jonathan Brown. From an initial role at Nova Brisbane during his playing days with the Brisbane Lions, Brown has become a key figure at dedicated AFL channel Fox Footy where he is part of the Monday On the Couch team in addition to Friday and Saturday commentary roles.
This year he has added to his TV duties becoming part of the all-star team on Best on Ground. The new show will launch in Round 3 at the end of March and sounds like a tonight show with a panel.
“Late night Saturdays,” Brown reminded Mediaweek of when to watch it. Speaking of the talent involved, he added: “I’m not sure how the salary cap [at Fox Footy] is going as we have Nathan Buckley, Nick Riewoldt, Kath Loughnan, Mark Howard and myself. It will be a wrap-up of the day with an entertainment angle and it should be plenty of fun.
Fox Footy’s On the Couch team: Jonathan Brown, Kath Loughnan, Nathan Buckley and Nick Riewoldt
“Nick Riewoldt has been pushing for a band so I’m not sure if it will resemble The David Letterman Show. We are hoping to be on about 10pm most weeks and it will be a punchy hour. It will be great to hear from Bucks who is just fresh out of the game.”
“It’s certainly busy and my wife is starting to ask a few questions about what’s going on regarding work.”
When asked about loading up his footy season schedule, Brown said he’s looking forward to the more “normal” season.
“I love the footy and I am probably more energised this year because hopefully, we are able to go back to the footy, something I have struggled with in the past couple of years.
“On radio we have plenty of fun every morning and it is a good way of getting out of having to get the kids ready for school. I manage to miss the rush hour in the morning which my wife hates.
“I love my other family at Nova and it works in well with the football season.”
Who’s in Team Brown?
“Sam Pang organises our golf games for the week. As my wife often says, ‘As if you blokes don’t already spend enough time together. We try and sneak a couple of games in and Sam runs all his jokes by me on the fairways.
“Chrissie Swan we love and she’s like an older sister. She’s also a magnificent chef and soon plenty of soups will start rolling in. My wife Kylie sometimes wonders who takes pride of place – the radio family, the footy family or the home family.
“I just like being busy. I am one of those guys and I get bored very, very easily. Now the kids are getting a bit older I’m finding it’s not as cool for them to hang around with the old man anymore.
“I’ve even been banished from the coaching role I had with my daughter’s under 13s team.”
Helping guide Brown’s packed media schedule is manager Craig Kelly. “He spends more time on the golf course than Sam and I,” Brown laughed. “So it’s Sally Harris [at Elite Sports Properties] who looks after everything.”
Brown said when it comes to Nova 100, the radio program can’t be all AFL. “You must have the right balance. We do have football and we try and have guests and regulars that are entertainers and know how to laugh at themselves. We have been lucky – we have had Max Gawn, Jack Riewoldt, and this year we have Max on again.
“Nathan Broad was on today and he came in. He had a laugh and he’s played in three premierships. We all love AFL and it is in a good place at Nova.”
The rest day of the week for Brown is Sunday, but he’s kept busy with kids footy. “My nine-year-old boy said he was going to retire from football this year. His mum and I said that’s OK and it means we don’t have to get up early on a weekend morning. It’s fair to say he doesn’t have the same passion for football as his elder sister and his old man.”
Nova 100’s Chrissie, Sam and Browny
Jonathan Brown on footy players in the media
“It’s a very difficult transition for footballers as they leave that adrenalin surge behind. I’ve been lucky that my old bosses at Nova, Jay Walkerden and Sean Ryan in Brisbane, pushed me into radio. I was also fortunate enough to be given a job early on at Fox Footy at On the Couch. I’ve been lucky to have those two great employers. It’s a nice balance – it’s not all about football at Nova, where I can also talk about the Kardashians [laughs], but at Fox obviously it’s all about football.”
Brown said he’s got to watch a lot of football and it’s also important to talk to people in football. “I don’t think you can just walk up and do it off the cuff. You have to work at it.”
See also: Foxtel launches Fox Footy 2022 with Kayo set to join OzTAM ratings soon