The Seven Network have confirmed that sports industry titan Craig Hutchison will be returning to the screens of Channel 7 as a host on the new 'Agenda Setters' program in 2025.
SEN's founder and chief joins Kane Cornes and Caroline Wilson as former Nine football experts ditching the rival free-to-air network for Seven's refreshed coverage of the AFL. As the AFL's broadcast rights enter a new era, Seven have revamped their football shows and talent, with Nick Riewoldt and Hamish McLachlan as additional inclusions to the AFL broadcast and shows.
Hutchison will host Agenda Setters on Monday nights with Cornes and Riewoldt, whilst Tuesday's lineup has not been officially announced, although Cornes is confirmed to remain for both nights.
The 49-year-old returns to the Seven Network 18 years after leaving for Channel 9 in 2007. Hutchison formerly hosted popular weekday panel program Footy Classified, as well as The Footy Show and The Sunday Footy Show.
With the departures of Hutchison, Cornes, and Wilson, Nine's traditional shows will also need a replenishment of on-air talent, given the trio's major roles as panel experts on Footy Classified.
Across the landscape to Foxtel, where the pay-tv giant now owns the rights to all Saturday football games, the cable coverage of AFL will now include former Seven commentators and legends of the game Leigh Matthews and Shaun Burgoyne, as well as Tom Hawkins. Meanwhile, Gerard Whateley will commentate alongside Anthony Hudson on Friday nights, as Garry Lyon replaces Mark Robinson as a co-host on AFL 360.
Hutchison said that coming back to Seven nearly two decades later was "an honour".
โSeven is the home of free-to-air AFL, and has an unrivalled history, legacy and contribution to AFL football,โ Hutchison said.
โThese new shows will shape and set the agenda of the weekday discussion of football, which is at the heart of the game.
โThe media and opinions around the game is the zeitgeist of what fuels Australian football, and we will bring the game's biggest names to the table and call it as it is.
โAnd on a personal level, to return to Seven where I spent many years earlier in my career is an honour.โ
Seven's coverage in 2025 will begin with Monday- and Tuesday-night Agenda Setters, followed by Unfiltered with Hamish McLachlan and The Front Bar on Wednesday nights, before broadcasting all 23 Thursday night games throughout 2025. Seven will also broadcast Friday night and Sunday afternoon and night matches, as well as marquee games and finals next year, with additional weekend shows to boot.
