With Fox taking the 7 feed but their own graphics etc, I noticed that they kept the left side box for the goal umpire during goal signal and used the box to show live play while the big screen was the replay.
Next week we will know if Fox will also implement this or continue with their approach of having the replay as the mini box and live the bigger box
They would most likely continue this, as the vision is shared between the two broadcasters, I’m unsure if the 7 director (host broadcaster for selected games) calls the shots for both broadcasters or not.
I prefer the barrel zoom onto the goal umpires when they signal a goal, add’s a sense of dramatic flare (See Showdown 44’s last goal, or any close game for example)
I would imagine that they would have access to the clean camera feed, but might also have access to some individual camera positions that they can switch to in addition to the main feed.
One thing I’m only now fully appreciating watching First Crack is that, now that Fox has access to clean feeds from 7’s matches, they no longer have to zoom in/crop footage from those game to avoid showing the scoreboard. Looks so much better.
Also I thought Jay Clark did alright hosting the show tonight.
Fox Footy, on Foxtel and Kayo Sports, has experienced a surge in viewership as the new AFL broadcast deal kicked off with 2025 Opening Round. With new graphics and dedicated commentary for the first time, average audiences on Fox Footy for 2025 Opening Round lifted 29% on 2024’s Opening Round.
The Opening Round clash between Sydney Swans and Hawthorn Hawks was up 35% on the Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons first game of the season in 2024 and is the most streamed AFL season opener of all time. It was also the second most watched AFL season opener of all time.
The Sydney v Hawthorn game also achieved the highest average audience ever for a sporting match on BINGE, bringing new audiences into the sport.
Friday’s Sydney v Hawthorn game saw the Fox Footy calling debut for legendary broadcaster Gerard Whateley alongside one of the most prominent Australian sports commentators Anthony Hudson.
The Sunday afternoon game between GWS Giants and Collingwood Magpies rose 20% on the same match-up which was played on a Saturday night in 2024. Dwayne Russell was joined by Matt Hill as dedicated Fox Footy commentators for the game.
AFL Opening Round 2025 kicked off a new broadcast era with Fox Footy producing its own games with new graphics and dedicated commentary teams.
Fox Sports Managing Director Steve Crawley said: “It’s a long race and we have just begun. So many of our Queensland and Northern New South Wales customers are cut off, and while our first numbers might be up year-on-year nationally we’ll hold the celebrations until everything is back to normal.”
All the AFL action continues on Thursday 13 April when Richmond hosts Carlton. The first ‘Super Saturday LIVE’ on Fox Footy then kicks off on Saturday 15 March when Geelong hosts Fremantle. ‘Super Saturday LIVE’ brings the best of live footy to subscribers and will see coverage and programming on Fox Footy from the first bounce to the final siren every Saturday. Fox Footy, available on Kayo Sports and Foxtel, will be the only place to watch live AFL on a Saturday in Victoria and Tasmania for every round of the home and away season, and nationally for at least the first eight rounds.
Corbin Middlemas will make his Fox Footy commentary debut calling the Adelaide v St Kilda game on Sunday.
Didn’t he comm one of the AAMI Community Series games for Fox this year?
I have no idea - I didn’t take much notice of who commentated those games.
But from a regular season perspective, this will be his first proper game.
Yes he did. No stranger to Fox audiences. Has called a handful of BBL games for Fox Cricket in last couple of years.
Looks like apart from Thursday, Friday & Saturday night (Pies v Power) all other 6 will games only have 1 designated caller
Is the scorebug a little smaller this week or is it just my imagination?
Hasn’t changed, it’s the same size.
Ive noticed the player details as they kick for goal have returned. Was annoying last week.
Does anyone else feel like theyre listening to the running of the Melb Cup with Matt Hill calling? 
If they just made the “RIC” box black instead of bright yellow, it would be less distracting.
Fox are exactly like the AFL - they wont admit to their mistakes and do the right thing for the fans. They’ll double down instead.
We were supposed to say we loved it. Then they would have changed it.
BTW - so far its been OK as I could switch to Ch7 to avoid that abomination (oh sorry, that gorgeous) scoreboard, but come Saturday games there is no alternative, we’re stuck with it.
Just an observation on the Fox mics for super Saturday with it also being on 7 (even if delayed)
During the interviews for the super Saturday part before the actual pre game stuff the interviews had the ‘Super Saturday Live’ mic with ‘Fox’ also on the mics but the coaches interview after the teams ran out (so 7 showing) had just ‘Super Saturday Live’ with no ‘Fox’ showing
Fox have put the score from the other game to the left of the Fox logo in the top right on the HD channel.
