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.
“He’s [Carey] coming off SAS [Channel Seven’s series SAS Australia], so there’s going to be a number of rotations.”
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.
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.
American Swan
Roar Rookie
I completely agree with you and I have always thought Wayne Carey was one of the worst. He rarely offers any insight into the game.
American Swan
Roar Rookie
My only question is what took Channel Seven so long? I have for many years thought Wayne Carey was one of the worst commentators in the game. He rarely offers any insight to help a viewer understand the game better. He either repeats what one of the other commentators says or he makes observations that are obvious to even a casual fan of the game. Whether Daisy is a worthy replacement is a subject for debate; however, I like her as a commentator as she seems to understand the game well.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Who knew someone with the name “PC gone mad” would offer absolutely nothing?
ScottD
Roar Guru
I was trying to be nice.....
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
He would literally barrack for #freekickhawthorn, especially against Sydney. He used to wet his pants when Cyril or Poppy got the ball …
Knackaz
Roar Rookie
BT is nothing but a try-hard blowhard who should have been sacked years ago! I want the play commentated on, not his egotistic brain farts and the rubbish he craps on with when the ball is in play. Howie calls the game well. We need more commentators who actually just call the game. Ling is also terrible, as is Darcy. Richo sounds bored. In fact, Channel 7 should have a complete clean out, apart from Howie and Hodgy … Foxtel commentary is far superior …
RT
Roar Rookie
But Seymorebutts, you are the one in your first sentence who stated the Pearce was not qualified to comment on AFL because she had never played it. That means you rule out all women from commentating on AFL. That is what Jack was commenting on. The fact that you have now defended Williams as a tennis commentator shows you realise the absurdity of your original statement. You're welcome.
Seymorebutts
Guest
@Jack. You are not comparing apples to apples. Sarina Williams is a legend of the game, 20 odd grand slam titles, everybody in the world knows who she is. The equivalence would be a woman who played a few games of first grade womens tennis in Adelaide being asked to provide expert commentary at Wimbledon next to Boris Becker. If you put her in a lineup of legendary players I bet not even one in ten thousand football fans would have a clue who she was. How can she be a LEGEND when nobody has ever heard of her??????
Seymorebutts
Guest
@ScottD - I agree with your sentiment that we should be allowed to agree or disagree without being banned, blocked, censured, whatever. Open debate is about the exchange of ideas... if you dont exchange different ideas, how can you have a debate?? No point debating if everyone believes in the same thing. Throwing insults is not a debate, it shows the person doing it knows less about the topic than the person they are insulting. So I appreciate your rational comment, even though I dont agree with the first part of it. Cheers S.B
Seymorebutts
Guest
@Mick Gold Coast QLD - I'm a bit late on the reply, but cheers buddy ; ]
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Muting the best device on a remote , Big money on offer for a device that mutes adds on tv
robertbrob13226
Roar Rookie
Can,t be as bad as Ling
Nick
Guest
A bit?!
ScottD
Roar Guru
Yeah, I loved Bruce but truthfully he was a bit of a hero worshiper.
ScottD
Roar Guru
I agree with your sentiment but your argument is weak. None of Bruce, Drew or Huddo are characterised as “expert commentators” they are in fact professional sports presenters leading a team of “expert commentators”. A bit of a difference. I do enjoy the commentary from Daisy and agree she is pretty good and definitely is a long way from being a B grade commentator (unlike some former AFL players) but I think there are legitimate questions that can be asked without being told your comments are “disgraceful”.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I go with no sound; as you say, it's out of sync. If you stream it on Kayo you can mess around with timing to match it with the radio, but that's a lot of messing around. Plus, I live in NSW so I have to stream the radio as well. They're that bad that I'd rather listen to nothing.
RT
Roar Rookie
So when you turn the volume down, are you listening to commentary elsewhere (that last I checked radio was out of synch because the TV stations want to stop you doing just that)? I'd rather bad commentators with other sounds, than out of synch or no sound at all.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
Exactly.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
He’s terrible, sorry.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
You’re not as clever as you think. This must hard news for you to take.