Bruce McAvaney to host Seven’s AFL coverage
Legendary sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney will host Seven’s AFL coverage for the 2025 season.
This marks a homecoming of sorts for McAvaney, who first joined Seven’s AFL commentary team in 1990, and went on to call over 1,000 games, including 20 AFL Grand Finals. He has also hosted the Brownlow Medal awards night a record 21 times.
Last year he joined the network for its AFL Finals series coverage, and was also heard on air as part of ABC Radio’s Olympic Games call. In 2025, McAvaney will host Seven’s coverage across Sunday nights and marquee matches.
“I’ve always had a deep passion for the game,” McAvaney said, “but returning to the 7AFL team for the 2024 Finals Series reminded me just how much I love being part of it. I can’t wait to be back alongside Seven’s outstanding football team in a hosting role for the 2025 season.
“Some of my fondest memories have been in Seven’s AFL commentary box, and I can’t wait to witness more unforgettable moments during the 2025 season.”
Seven Network’s director of sport, Chris Jones, called McAvaney’s return a major win for fans and the network.
“Bruce McAvaney is simply unrivalled and the greatest sports broadcaster of our generation,” he said.
“He is a beloved member of the Seven family, and we are thrilled that he is returning to our AFL coverage for Sunday nights and marquee matches this season.
“When Bruce returned to our AFL coverage during the Finals in 2024, we saw an outpouring of love from footy fans all over the country and we can’t wait to see Australians embrace him again throughout the 2025 season.”
Seven’s head of AFL and sport innovation, Gary O’Keeffe described McAvaney as “a living legend in sports and AFL broadcasting”, adding, “his experience, passion and contribution will be invaluable to an already talent-stacked AFL line up at Seven and welcomed by footy fans around the country”.
McAvaney is the latest big name to join Seven’s AFL team recently, as the network deal expands to include streaming rights in 2025.
Sports Entertainment Network CEO Craig Hutchison returned to the network after 18 years, to host Seven’s AFL talk show, The Agenda Setters, alongside fellow Nine defectors, Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt.
Melbourne sports anchor, Tim Watson, retired from Seven after 30 years at the network, while Brownlow winner Adam Cooney was axed at the end of 2024, along with his program Armchair Experts.
There may still be more big names coming to the network, with Nine heavyweight, Eddie McGuire spotted in meetings with Seven ‘s news boss, Anthony De Ceglie during upfronts season last year.
The combination of AFL and cricket streaming rights is a boon for Seven. Speaking to Mumbrella last November, Gereurd Roberts, group managing director of Seven Digital, admitted the network previously had “one hand tied behind our back in terms of live streaming, which is primarily driven by sport”.
“It’s a really radical game changer for us next year, having the two: the biggest summer sport and the biggest winter sport, in AFL and cricket.”
Roberts pointed out that the AFL has never been available to stream for free for Australians.
“That’s quite incredible,” he remarked. “You can imagine the impact it’s going to have when they come onto 7plus for the first time, free to Australians – we think it’s significant.”
Ross predicted that 2025 will see “a radical shift in that landscape of free-to-air streamers, where 7 Plus will leapfrog 9, will leapfrog the ABC, to become the dominant free-to-air streaming platform next year”.
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Nathan Jolly is the Features Editor at Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Thank goodness. An expert in all aspects who knows not only the historical relevance [quite unbelievable and brings so much more to the telecast] but actual understanding of less-is-more a la Martin Tyler EPL etc. comment when relevant to let us watch the game. Certain winning decision, hope others take note. With any luck hopefully this extends to horse racing; and encyclopaedic knowledge.
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