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Seven shock: Wayne Carey dumped from prime time for AFLW legend

18th February, 2022
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18th February, 2022
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Channel Seven will move controversial AFL legend Wayne Carey away from its Friday night telecast in the 2022 season, as part of a major shake-up of on-air duties by the network for the new season.

Carey, whose presence on television has divided opinion due to the North Melbourne great’s history of high profile off-field misdemeanours, will move to Saturday night’s coverage, which will again be led by commentators Hamish McLachlan, brother of AFL CEO Gillon, and Luke Darcy.

Taking Carey’s place on special comments on Friday night will be AFLW champion Daisy Pearce, whose sharp insights have been met with acclaim from the viewing public across the last five years, including as the first female to take up the role for a grand final at the end of last season.

According to a report by the Herald Sun, Seven’s managing director Lewis Martin broke the news at the Herald Sun Lunch of Victoria’s Newsbreakers and Newsmakers on Friday afternoon, where he maintained the switch was ‘just to freshen up the roster’.

“There are a number of changes that are going to happen,” Martin said.

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“He’s [Carey] coming off SAS [Channel Seven’s series SAS Australia], so there’s going to be a number of rotations.”

Wayne Carey

Former player and media presenter Wayne Carey is seen during the Round 21 AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the St Kilda Saints at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Friday, August 10, 2018. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

Joining Pearce, who was hailed as a ‘star’ by Martin, in the prime time slot will be play-by-play commentators Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw, the latter of whom replaced retired doyenne Bruce McAvaney following his retirement 12 months ago, with further special comments provided by former Hawthorn triple-premiership captain Luke Hodge.

With the network expected to give greater prominence to female presenters in 2022, former AFLW player Abbey Holmes is expected to become a prime time regular in her roles as boundary rider and occasional expert commentator.

Holmes impressed early in 2021 as a last-minute replacement for experts Hodge and Carey for a Friday night match between Geelong and Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium, when a COVID-19 scare forced the pair to leave the ground.

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It is unclear what impact the switch will have on Pearce and Carey’s radio commitments for SEN 1116 and Triple M respectively, with Carey regularly part of the station’s coverage on Saturdays.

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