Channel 7 has announced the worst kept secret in football TV with industry giant Craig Hutchison making the move to the network.

Seven’s Wednesday morning confirmation also showed its hand to rival Channel 9 as the networks prepare to go head to head in 2025.

The footy media is undergoing one of its biggest shake-ups and Hutchison is one of the final pieces Seven is putting in place to challenge Nine’s mid-week dominance.

One of the biggest moves announced recently was Fox Footy’s coup in signing up legendary AFL/VFL star turned four-time premiership coach Leigh Matthews.

Four-time premiership player Shaun Burgoyne and Geelong champion Tom Hawkins will also join Fox Footy’s commentary team in 2025.

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Hutchison, meanwhile, is returning to Seven after previously being with the network for 18 years.

Wednesday’s announcement showed Hutchison will be directly going up against his former colleagues from Channel 9’s Footy Classified when he hosts Seven’s new The Agenda Setters program.

The footy panel show will feature on Monday and Tuesday nights. Hutchison will host the Monday edition.

Hamish McLachlan will host the new Wednesday night project.

Hutchison’s production company Rainmaker will be producing several of the new AFL programs on Seven.

The SEN chief executive will be forced to cut all ties with Nine as a result.

Seven announced in a statement big signings Kane Cornes and Nick Riewoldt will join Hutchison on the Monday night.

Seven’s football productions will look almost unrecognisable in 2025 with veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson also saying her move to the network is imminent.

Wilson on Tuesday teased there was going to be “interesting” news from within the footy media industry and her information was spot on.

Nine’s biggest move has been the hiring of Essendon great James Hird.

Seven has also said goodbye to some talent with Luke Darcy stepping away from his media roles with the network and Triple M. Tim Watson is also finishing up at the end of 2024.

Presenter Rebecca Maddern is also going to take up a newly-created role as chief sports presenter with Channel 7.

Seven’s new direction to beef up its football content comes after years of private concern from the AFL that the network had not been doing enough to promote the game.

That is about to change. Dramatically.

Hutchison said in a Channel 7 statement: “Seven is the home of free-to-air AFL, and has an unrivalled history, legacy and contribution to AFL football. 먹튀검증가이드 These new shows will shape and set the agenda of the weekday discussion of football, which is at the heart of the game.

“The 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.

“And on a personal level, to return to Seven where I spent many years earlier in my career is an honour.”

During the 2025 AFL season, Fox Footy commentary and production will be available on all games for the first time along with no ad-breaks during play.

With Fox Footy able to commentate all nine games each round, it’s expected the likes of Gerard Whateley and Matt Hill will call games on the network