Talking Footy

The program was first broadcast from 1994^[1] until 2004.^[2] It was created by Gary Fenton, the Seven Network's then Director of Sport.

The show was hosted by Bruce McAvaney from 1995–1998 and 2001–2003, Tim Lane in 1999, Gerard Healy in 2000 and Tim Watson in 2004.^[3]

Regular couch members included Mike Sheahan, Malcolm Blight, Terry Wallace, Caroline Wilson and Leigh Matthews.

It was initially screened on Monday evening at 8:30 pm from 1995 until 1997,^[4] then on Monday at 11:00 pm in early 1998,^[5] then on Monday at 10:30 pm from late 1998^[6] until the end of 2000.^[7] In 2001 it moved to Tuesday nights and stayed there until the program was axed at the end of the 2004 season.^[3] The program struggled in the last few years due to the network not having the rights to broadcast the AFL while also having poor ratings.

In August 2013, the Seven Network revived the series, which aired on a Thursday night throughout the 2013 final series with Bruce McAvaney, Luke Darcy, Wayne Carey and Andrew Demetriou as panelists.^[1]

The following year saw the show return to Monday nights at 7:30 pm on 7mate in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and on delay at midnight the same day in Sydney and Brisbane.

The show is hosted by Luke Darcy with Wayne Carey, Tim Watson and Jacqui Felgate. It is broadcast from Seven's Docklands studios in Melbourne. Other panellist to appear on the program included Brian Taylor, Campbell Brown, Sam McClure and Mick Warner.

In June 2020, the program was temporarily axed along with AFL Game Day due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The show was confirmed cancelled by Seven's head of sport Lewis Martin in March 2021 with a new “Footy Magazine” set to replace it.^[8][9]

Various segments on the show include:

• "The Blowtorch"
• "Inside 50"
• "Say That Again"

In August 2023, the Seven Network confirmed that Talking Footy would return with a new format labelled Talking Finals. James Brayshaw hosted the series with Tim Watson, Trent Cotchin and Joel Selwood appeared as panellist. Mitch Cleary provided sports breaking news, trade updates and team updates. The show was broadcast from the first week of the 2023 AFL finals series and run for four episodes in the lead up to the finals.^[10]

The first episode of the new Talking Finals was at 10:00 pm and following episodes were at 9:00 pm.^[10] The first episode was broadcast on Tuesday 5 September 2023^[10] and Talking Finals ended on Tuesday 26 September 2023. No confirmation from 7 Upfronts if Talking Footy/Finals will return, speculating due to low ratings the show will be axed.

On 22 February 2024, it was confirmed by Seven that Talking Footy is returning in 2024, for the 2024 AFL season. James Brayshaw is hosting the program with Tim Watson, Trent Cotchin and Joel Selwood all appearing as panellists and Mitch Cleary providing sports breaking news, trade updates and team updates. The revival program premiered on 6 March 2024.^[11]

• Bruce McAvaney (1994–1998, 2001–2002)
• Tim Lane (1999)
• Gerard Healy (2000)
• Luke Darcy (2014–2020)

In 2005, comedian Andrew Startin appeared on the rival Nine Network with a send-up of the show on The Footy Show. Gary Ayres was sent up with his catchphrase "at the end of the day" and "You've got your Buckleys, your Hirds, your Ricciutos"; Mike Sheahan with "what do you think?"; and Bruce McAvaney with "Special!".

The lyrics to the song are as follows:

The weekend's come and gone,
As we talk up a storm,
'Bout our team, bout our form,
And how it could be.

But when Monday comes around,
Talk around the town,
It's what happened on the weekend in the footy.

Monday nights, we're Talking Footy.

When the show switched to a Tuesday night timeslot (which led to its demise), the lyrics changed somewhat. During the 2014 relaunch, only the second verse is used.

In the original season, the theme song was "Monday's Experts" by Weddings, Parties, Anything.