As Brisbane prepares to host the first ever AFL Grand Final outside Victoria, one of its favourite sons, Lions legend Michael Voss, will join Seven’s star-studded football team for Saturday’s blockbuster premiership decider between competition heavyweights Richmond and Geelong.
Few have a better football pedigree than Voss. Now a senior assistant coach with Port Adelaide, the 1996 Brownlow medallist was one of the greatest finals performers of all time, captaining the Lions to their 2001-03 premiership three-peat.
Fans will enjoy Voss’ unique footy insight and experience on Saturday night when he joins the game’s undisputed No.1 calling duo Bruce McAvaney and Brian Taylor for the 2020 AFL Grand Final, a tantalising match-up between reigning premier Richmond and a powerhouse Geelong team that should provide a fitting finale to a truly unforgettable season.
And sports fans will never forget this Saturday on Seven when for the first time ever two of Australian sport’s greatest events will be held on the same day, with the AFL’s inaugural night Grand Final preceded by the 100th running of the iconic Cox Plate.
The Home of Footy will have every angle of the 2020 Grand Final covered with an unbeatable team that collectively boasts 30 AFL and AFLW Premierships, and also includes Wayne Carey, Luke Hodge, Daisy Pearce, Hamish McLachlan, James Brayshaw, Luke Darcy, Tim Watson, Jacqui Felgate, Matthew Richardson, Cameron Ling, Jobe Watson, Jimmy Bartel, Abbey Holmes, Simon Black and AFL legend Leigh Matthews.
In keeping with such a landmark day, Seven’s LIVE and FREE broadcast will run non-stop from the Weekend Sunrise AFL Grand Final edition at 8.00am Queensland time, through the Spring Racing coverage of Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley and Bondi Stakes Day at Randwick, right up until all the Grand Final post-match presentations and celebrations finally wind up at about 10.00pm.
Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport Lewis Martin commented:
“In a year like no other, Aussie sports fans are in for a day like no other this Saturday. To be able to enjoy the AFL Grand Final and Cox Plate on the one day is almost too good to be true, but it couldn’t have come at a better time. In a year when many of us have been kept apart, sport still has the power to bring all Australians together – and everyone is always welcome at Seven. There’s also no better place to be than with footy’s best team which – with this year’s outstanding addition of the incomparable Michael Voss – has 30 Premierships’ worth of experience.”
Seven’s Grand Final week action kicks off on Thursday night at 8.30pm AEDT with The Front Bar Grand Final edition, when Mick Molloy, Sam Pang and Andy Maher will welcome a cavalcade of special guests including AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan, Leigh Matthews, Carlton/Adelaide great Eddie Betts, master jaffle-makers Saverio and Anthony Rocca, along with show favourites Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald and Andy Lee.
And on Friday night, in the countdown to the Cox Plate, Seven will broadcast the coveted Manikato Stakes for the first time ever, with Seven’s coverage from Moonee Valley starting at 7.00pm Queensland time on 7TWO and 7plus.
Then the focus shifts back to the AFL Grand Final when Adam Cooney and Cam Luke settle into The Armchair Experts sofa at 10.30pm Queensland time on Friday to provide their unique take on 2020’s premiership decider, before the traditional AFL Finals Marathon relives some of the great finals of the past.
TV Broadcast times on Seven:
Thursday October 22
The Front Bar – Grand Final Edition
Sydney 8.30pm on Channel 7
Melbourne 8.30pm on Channel 7
Brisbane 8.30pm on Channel 7
Adelaide 8.30pm on Channel 7
Perth 8.30pm on Channel 7
Friday October 23
Moonee Valley – Manikato Stakes
The Cox Plate Carnival gets underway with one of spring’s major sprint races, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m), with Nigel Carmody, Henry Dwyer, Katelyn Mallyon and Jason Richardson leading Seven’s coverage.
Sydney 8.00pm LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus
Melbourne 8.00pm LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus
Brisbane 7.00pm LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus
Adelaide 7.30pm LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus
Perth 5.00pm LIVE on 7TWO and 7plus
Armchair Experts
Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney and AFL super fan Cam Luke turn their unique and often outside-the-square footy analysis towards the season’s biggest match.
Sydney 11.30pm on Channel 7
Melbourne 11.30pm on Channel 7
Brisbane 11.30pm on Channel 7
Adelaide 11.30pm on Channel 7
Perth 11.30pm on Channel 7
Saturday October 24
AFL Finals Marathon
Relive a selection of the greatest finals in League history along with some special AFL programming as the countdown to the AFL Grand Final begins in earnest.
Sydney 12.00am on Channel 7
Melbourne 12.00am on Channel 7
Brisbane 12.00am on Channel 7
Adelaide 12.00am on Channel 7
Perth 12.00am on Channel 7
Weekend Sunrise AFL Grand Final edition
The Weekend Sunrise team gets Grand Final Day started as they look ahead to the big game.
Sydney 9.00am on Channel 7
Melbourne 9.00am on Channel 7
Brisbane 8.00am on Channel 7
Adelaide 8.30am on Channel 7
Perth 6.00am on Channel 7
AFL Grand Final Brunch
The Grand Final build-up continues as Luke Darcy and Jacqui Felgate bring viewers all the growing excitement of the AFL’s biggest day, including live crosses to key locations in Victoria and big-name Cats and Tigers fans. Sammie O’Brien and Giaan Rooney will capture all the colour and emotion across Brisbane as the Gabba prepares to host the first ever Grand Final outside Victoria.
Sydney 10.00am LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 10.00am LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 9.00am LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 9.30am LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 7.00am LIVE on Channel 7
Spring Racing Carnival
Moonee Valley – Cox Plate Day
Randwick – Bondi Stakes Day
Australia’s pre-eminent broadcaster Bruce McAvaney and Hamish McLachlan will lead Seven’s coverage of one of the Spring Racing Carnival’s biggest days, which is headlined by the 100th running of the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley and a pre-race performance of The Horses by Aussie rock legend Daryl Braithwaite that will be unlike anything he’s ever done before. Seven will also have all the action from Randwick covered including the $1 million Bondi Stakes for three-year-olds, while the countdown to the Grand Final will continue with live AFL crosses throughout the broadcast.
Sydney 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus, 4.30pm LIVE on 7TWO
Melbourne 11.30am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus, 4.30pm LIVE on 7TWO
Brisbane 10.30am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus, 3.30pm LIVE on 7TWO
Adelaide 11.00am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus, 4.00pm LIVE on 7TWO
Perth 8.30am LIVE on Channel 7 and 7plus, 1.30pm LIVE on 7TWO
2020 AFL Grand Final Preview
As the opening bounce of the Grand Final draws closer, football’s No.1 team will have all the pre-game analysis and news covered. With James Brayshaw in the host’s chair, footy’s leading experts Wayne Carey, Luke Hodge, Michael Voss, Daisy Pearce, Leigh Matthews, Matthew Richardson and Cameron Ling will scrutinise all the burning issues and key player match-ups ahead of the premiership decider, while 7NEWS’ award-winning reporters Mark Stevens and Tom Browne will bring viewers all the late-breaking news.
Sydney 4.30pm LIVE on Channel 7, 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Melbourne 4.30pm LIVE on Channel 7, 6.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Brisbane 3.30pm LIVE on Channel 7, 5.00pm LIVE on 7mate
Adelaide 4.00pm LIVE on Channel 7, 5.30pm LIVE on 7mate
Perth 1.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
2020 AFL Grand Final
Richmond v Geelong, Gabba
Football’s undisputed No.1 commentary duo Bruce McAvaney and Brian Taylor will lead Seven’s Grand Final coverage from the Gabba, while fans will enjoy pre-match entertainment from DMA’S, Wolfmother’s Andrew Stockdale, Cub Sport and Electric Fields featuring Thelma Plum and Busby Marou. Mike Brady will also perform Up There Cazaly from the MCG, accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra live at the Gabba, while the half-time break will include a live performance for the first time ever, with chart-toppers Sheppard taking the stage.
Sydney 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 6.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 5.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 6.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 3.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
2020 AFL Grand Final: Presentation
The celebrations begin for the 2020 Premiers with the official presentation of the Toyota AFL Premiership Cup, along with the Norm Smith Medal to the player judged best on ground and the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach.
Sydney 10.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 10.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 9.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 9.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 7.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
2020 AFL Grand Final: Post-Match
The post-match coverage continues from inside the rooms as the new Premiers’ celebrations continue and the defeated Grand Finalists commiserate with family and friends.
Sydney 11.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Melbourne 11.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Brisbane 10.00pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 10.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 8.00pm LIVE on 7mate