The 2022 AFL premiership season is returning to the Seven Network from 7:00 pm Wednesday, March 16, with Melbourne Demons v Western Bulldogs kick-starting the opening round.
Fans can experience six live and free AFL and AFLW games over four days on Seven and 7plus.
The AFL action will start early on Seven, with 7NEWS’ Rebecca Maddern reading today’s news live from the MCG boundary line from 4.00pm AEDT. Peter Mitchell will join the team at the MCG to host the 6.00pm Melbourne news bulletin ahead of the Wednesday Night Football Pre-Game Show at 6.30pm AEDT.
The commentary team will take fans live to the MCG to witness Melbourne’s highly anticipated flag unfurl ceremony – their first in 54 years. Then, Max Gawn’s Demons come face-to-face with Marcus Bontempelli’s Bulldogs for the first time since their Grand Final victory in 2021.
The Front Bar returns to normal programming straight after tonight’s opening match. Andy, Mick and Sam will assume their usual positions at the bar, where they will cross live to the Melbourne and Western Bulldogs’ rooms at the MCG to celebrate with the winning team.
The live and free matches this week on Seven and 7plus are:
• Melbourne Demons v Western Bulldogs – 7:00pm AEDT Wednesday
• Carlton v Richmond, MCG – 7.00pm AEDT Thursday
• St Kilda v Collingwood, Marvel Stadium – 7.00pm AEDT Friday
• AFLW Qualifying Final One – North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos v Fremantle, Arden Street Oval – 2.00pm AEDT Saturday
• AFLW Qualifying Final Two – Brisbane Lions v Collingwood, The Gabba – 4.00pm AEDT Saturday
• Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide, The Gabba – 7.00pm AEDT Saturday
Fans in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia can also watch Round One matches involving teams from their home states live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus.
Seven’s commentary team will be on board for this week’s AFL coverage, featuring Brian Taylor, James Brayshaw, Luke Hodge, Daisy Pearce, Matthew Richardson, Shaun Burgoyne, Luke Darcy, Jason Bennett, Jobe Watson, Nathan Jones, Abbey Holmes, Alister Nicholson, Wayne Carey, Abbey Gelmi and Chris Johnson.
On Friday Night:
For the first time, footy fans can join fan-favourite Matthew Richardson for the Friday Night Countdown pre-game show, previewing the clash between St Kilda and Collingwood from Marvel Stadium from 7.00pm AEDT.
Following Friday night’s match, Adam Cooney, Georgie Parker and Cam Luke will settle in on the sofa once more, offering viewers their unique take on the match of the round as Armchair Experts returns to Seven and 7plus.
On Saturday Night:
Seven’s highly decorated new recruits, Shaun Burgoyne and Chris Johnson will join live from The Gabba, following Burgoyne’s AFL commentary debut at Wednesday night’s clash at the MCG.
Seven’s AFL Women’s Finals coverage will be led by Jason Bennett, Nigel Carmody, Sam Lane, Abbey Holmes, Jo Wotton, Emma Vosti, Mel Hickey and Lauren Arnell.
On Sunday Night:
Perth footy fans will once again be treated to Seven’s Western Australian post-match show The Game, live on Channel 7 from 4.00pm AWST.
TV broadcast times on Seven:
Wednesday, 16 March
Pre-Game Show
Sydney 6.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Melbourne 6.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 5.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 6.00 live on 7mate and 7plus
Perth 3.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
AFL Round One: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (MCG)
Sydney 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Melbourne 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 6.00pm live on 7mate, 7.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Adelaide 6.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 4.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus, 5.30pm live on 7mate
The Front Bar
Sydney 9.45pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Melbourne 9.45pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 8.45pm live on 7mate, 7.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Adelaide 9.15pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 8.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus, 5.30pm live on 7mate
Thursday, 17 March
AFL Round One: Carlton v Richmond (MCG)
Sydney 7.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Melbourne 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 6.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 6.30pm live on 7mate, 6.55pm Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 4.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Friday, 18 March
Friday Night Countdown
Sydney 7.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Melbourne 7.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Brisbane 6.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 6.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Perth 4.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
AFL Round One: St Kilda v Collingwood (Marvel Stadium)
Sydney 7.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Melbourne 7.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 6.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 4.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Saturday, 19 March
AFLW Qualifying Final One: North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos v Fremantle
Arden Street)
Sydney 1.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Melbourne 1.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 12.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 12.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 10.00am live on Channel 7 and 7plus
AFLW Qualifying Final Two: Brisbane Lions v Collingwood (Gabba)
Sydney 3.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Melbourne 3.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 2.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 2.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 12.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Saturday Night Football Pre-Game Show
Melbourne 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 6.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Adelaide 6.30pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Perth 4.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
AFL Round One: Brisbane Lions v Port Adelaide (Gabba)
Sydney 8.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus
Melbourne 8.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Brisbane 7.00pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Adelaide 7.30pm live on Channel 7 and 7plus
Perth 5.00pm live on 7mate and 7plus