''Footy Classified'' is an Australian television program broadcast two nights per week on the
Nine Network
The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television netw ...
, which discusses pressing issues relating to the
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...
and
Australian rules football
Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
. It debuted on Monday 2 April 2007. Its presenters are well known football analysis personalities
Craig Hutchison,
Caroline Wilson,
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd (born 16 April 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A highly decorated full-forward, Lloyd's AFL's honours include ...
and
Kane Cornes
Kane Graham Cornes (born 5 January 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early life
A product of Sacred Heart College and Glenelg in the SANFL, ...
on Monday nights, while
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph McGuire AM (born 29 October 1964) is an Australian television presenter, journalist and Australian Football League commentator. He is also an occasional ''Herald Sun'' newspaper columnist. He hosts Channel Nine’s Millionaire ...
and
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon (born 8 November 1966) is a former Australian rules football player and the senior coach of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously coached St Kilda from 2007 to 2011 and the Fremantle Footbal ...
replace Hutchison and Cornes respectively on Wednesday nights.
Overview
The show was originally known by the working title ''Footy Confidential'', before
Foxtel
Foxtel is an Australian pay television company—operating in cable television, direct broadcast satellite television, and IPTV streaming services. It was formed in April 2018, superseding an earlier company from 1995. The service was establi ...
later announced a gossip news show it was producing called ''
Confidential
Confidentiality involves a set of rules or a promise usually executed through confidentiality agreements that limits the access or places restrictions on certain types of information.
Legal confidentiality
By law, lawyers are often required ...
'', causing Nine to rename the show to ''Footy Classified''.
''Footy Classified'' consists of four panellists:
Craig Hutchison,
Caroline Wilson,
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan Judd (born 8 September 1983) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and captain of both the West Coast Eagles and Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Widely regarded as one of the bes ...
and
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd (born 16 April 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A highly decorated full-forward, Lloyd's AFL's honours include ...
. Following discussions on controversial events during the weekend of football, a special guest will arrive in the studio for an in-depth chat – usually a high-profile coach or player.
During its first season,
Wayne Carey
Wayne Francis Carey (born 27 May 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club and Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A dual-premiership captain at North Melbou ...
was the fourth panellist but was axed by Channel 9 after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend and police.
The show was known for its confrontations between Wayne Carey and Craig Hutchison, and between all panel members in general. One notable stoush consisted of
Craig Hutchison making a sign for
Wayne Carey
Wayne Francis Carey (born 27 May 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club and Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A dual-premiership captain at North Melbou ...
to hold up saying that he was "wrong" regarding
Dean Laidley
Danielle May Laidley (born Dean James Laidley; 27 March 1967) is a former Australian rules football coach and player, who played for the West Coast Eagles and North Melbourne in the Australian Football League (AFL) from 1987 to 1997, including ...
. Carey had previously stated that he wanted Laidley sacked because his poor media manner meant that he was not diplomatic enough to lead the club,
North Melbourne
North Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. North Melbourne recorded a population of 14,953 at the ...
. The team responded by winning four consecutive games and, eventually by making the Preliminary Final.
Wayne Carey was sacked from the program and Channel Nine on 30 January 2008 after allegedly smashing a wine glass into his girlfriend’s face causing lacerations to her mouth and neck. Carey was replaced by recently retired ex-teammate
Glenn Archer
Glenn Archer (born 24 March 1973) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played his entire career with the North Melbourne Football Club.
Archer had a reputation as one of the most courageous players ever to play the game. Th ...
.
For the 2009 season, Glenn Archer was replaced by former coach
Grant Thomas. After leaving the show, Archer has continued his media work, writing for a variety of newspapers.
It was reported on 21 September 2012 that Grant Thomas would not be returning in 2013. Nine announced on 28 November 2012 that former
Essendon Essendon may refer to:
Australia
*Electoral district of Essendon
*Electoral district of Essendon and Flemington
*Essendon, Victoria
**Essendon railway station
**Essendon Airport
*Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League
United King ...
Captain
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd (born 16 April 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A highly decorated full-forward, Lloyd's AFL's honours include ...
would replace Thomas in 2013.
In March 2016, it was announced that Damian Barrett would join the panel on a full-time basis. He replaced Garry Lyon, who was addressing personal issues.
In 2020, it was announced that the show would air on both Monday and Wednesday nights, with
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph McGuire AM (born 29 October 1964) is an Australian television presenter, journalist and Australian Football League commentator. He is also an occasional ''Herald Sun'' newspaper columnist. He hosts Channel Nine’s Millionaire ...
and
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon (born 8 November 1966) is a former Australian rules football player and the senior coach of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously coached St Kilda from 2007 to 2011 and the Fremantle Footbal ...
joining the Wednesday night edition as host and panellist respectively, while
Sam McClure
Sam McClure (born 7 July 1991) is an Australian sports journalist who works for the Nine Network, ''The Age,'' 3AW and Sports Entertainment Network.
Career
McClure began his media career at 3AW as a broadcasting assistant in 2011, before movi ...
joins the show as resident news-breaker.
Segments
*''Good Call, Bad Call'' – introduced in 2009, this popular segment involves one of the panelists making a statement, followed by another replying with either "Good Call" or "Bad Call", and then explaining why.
*''Closing Cook'' – Matthew Lloyd criticises 'low profile' individuals involved in AFL for making small mistakes, or for other reasons. These may include timekeepers, members of the crowd etc. Has evolved into a gaff for the panelists to laugh at as the show reaches its conclusion.
*''Caro's Arrow'' – this was introduced in 2011, following Craig Hutchison stating that Caroline Wilson demanded her own segment. Within it, she criticises 'high-profile' individuals within the AFL administration, or AFL presidents like
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph McGuire AM (born 29 October 1964) is an Australian television presenter, journalist and Australian Football League commentator. He is also an occasional ''Herald Sun'' newspaper columnist. He hosts Channel Nine’s Millionaire ...
. The segment begins with an 'action hero' animation of Wilson.
Panellists
* Current panellists:
**
Craig Hutchison (2007–)
**
Caroline Wilson (2007–)
**
Matthew Lloyd
Matthew James Lloyd (born 16 April 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A highly decorated full-forward, Lloyd's AFL's honours include ...
(2013–)
**
Kane Cornes
Kane Graham Cornes (born 5 January 1983) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early life
A product of Sacred Heart College and Glenelg in the SANFL, ...
(2020–)
**
Eddie McGuire
Edward Joseph McGuire AM (born 29 October 1964) is an Australian television presenter, journalist and Australian Football League commentator. He is also an occasional ''Herald Sun'' newspaper columnist. He hosts Channel Nine’s Millionaire ...
(2020–)
**
Sam McClure
Sam McClure (born 7 July 1991) is an Australian sports journalist who works for the Nine Network, ''The Age,'' 3AW and Sports Entertainment Network.
Career
McClure began his media career at 3AW as a broadcasting assistant in 2011, before movi ...
(news) (2020–)
* Former panellists:
**
Glenn Archer
Glenn Archer (born 24 March 1973) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played his entire career with the North Melbourne Football Club.
Archer had a reputation as one of the most courageous players ever to play the game. Th ...
(2008)
**
Wayne Carey
Wayne Francis Carey (born 27 May 1971) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne Football Club and Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
A dual-premiership captain at North Melbou ...
(2007)
**
Grant Thomas (2009–2012)
**
Damian Barrett
Damian Barrett is an Australian journalist who works for AFL Media and covers Australian rules football.
Career
Barrett has worked in the Australian sports media, covering a variety of sports, for over 30 years. He has worked for the Herald Sun, ...
(2016)
**
Garry Lyon
Garry Peter Lyon (born 13 September 1967) is a former professional Australian rules football player and was captain of the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Since his retirement from football, he has been mai ...
(2007–2015, 2017)
**
Chris Judd
Christopher Dylan Judd (born 8 September 1983) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and captain of both the West Coast Eagles and Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Widely regarded as one of the bes ...
(2016, 2018–2019)
**
Ross Lyon
Ross Lyon (born 8 November 1966) is a former Australian rules football player and the senior coach of the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously coached St Kilda from 2007 to 2011 and the Fremantle Footbal ...
(2020–2022)
* Guest panellists:
** Chris Judd (2016–2019)
[TV Tonight]
Chris Judd becomes Footy Classified regular
29 April 2016 substituted for Damian Barrett on multiple occasions.
** Damian Barrett (2016–2017) – regular fill-in presenter
** Kane Cornes (2018–2019) – fill-in panellist
Timeslot and ratings
''Footy Classified'' dominates the hotly contested and lucrative 10:30 Monday night time slot. After a rescheduling of programming in August 2009, this program now airs in Sydney and
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
at midnight on Tuesday.
While the show airs during the AFL premiership season, occasionally it may air outside of the football season in the event of major news.
References
External links
*
{{Nine Network programming
Australian rules football television series
2007 Australian television series debuts
2010s Australian television series
English-language television shows
Nine's Wide World of Sport
Television shows set in Melbourne