- The year’s biggest match kicks off at 2.30pm on September 27
Fox Footy commentators such as Nathan Buckley, Garry Lyon and Anthony Hudson look likely to be barred from the MCG for the AFL decider due to strict broadcast agreements.
The AFL’s new broadcast deal gives Fox Footy the right to televise every match during the season, except for the grand final which Seven have the exclusive rights to.
Fox have reportedly asked the AFL if they can use a commentary booth at the ground, but air the game afterwards, according to The Age.
However, the contract states that nobody from Fox is allowed in the stadium on September 27 – and only a gesture of goodwill from Seven will change this.
The Fox Footy team will likely be calling the match remotely from a studio in South Melbourne.
Veteran footy commentator Brian Taylor has taken a few cheeky jabs at Fox throughout the year for doing remote commentary.
Fox Footy commentators such as Nathan Buckley, Garry Lyon (pictured) and Anthony Hudson will be barred from the MCG for the AFL decider
Seven has exclusive rights to the AFL’s biggest match, meaning Fox stars like Nathan Buckley (pictured) will have to cover the match from a studio in South Melbourne
The broadcasting agreement that came into force this year blocks Fox from broadcasting live coverage of the premiership decider on September 27
‘It’s good to be here at the Adelaide Oval,’ he said live on air in March.
‘The only broadcasters actually at the ground.’
The former Collingwood star, who is well known for his ‘Roaming Brian’ segment in the dressing sheds after games, fired another shot in May when Sydney were playing Melbourne at the MCG.
‘It is just interesting in this magnificent arena on a Sunday afternoon, a beautiful day, that you come here – and it’s magnificent to be here and look across to the box next door of our opposition, and none of them are here today,’ he said.
‘They haven’t come for the two-kilometre trek from South Melbourne.’
Seven rubbed salt into that wound by taking out a full-page ad in Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper bearing the words ‘we turn up’.
Seven director of Sport Chris Jones said he backs Taylor’s digs at their rival.
‘For BT to be able to be there and to be able to get down to ground level, talk to the players before the game, speak to those in and around the team, and then be able to have that full perspective of the ground – it is certainly something that gives him the best chance of calling and being his best,’ he said.
