Channel 7 launches new footy show Talking W with Abbey Holmes as Erin Phillips joins AFLW commentary team

Digital Staff

7NEWS Sport

4 Min Read

26 Aug 2024

7AFL and AFLW commentator Abbey Holmes will host Talking W. Credit: Getty

The Seven Network has unveiled its AFLW commentary team for 2024 alongside a brand-new footy show, Talking W.

The new season begins this Friday night with Sydney and Collingwood under lights at North Sydney Oval, live and free from 7pm AEST on Channel 7, 7mate and 7plus.

Scroll down to see Seven’s AFLW Round 1 schedule

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More games follow on Saturday and Sunday before fans will be treated to the first episode of Seven’s new weekly AFLW talk show hosted by Abbey Holmes on Monday.

Holmes will be joined by expert Kate McCarthy alongside a rotating group of current and former players as they tackle all the biggest headlines and analyse the round that was.

“After an unbelievable 25 weeks of the AFL season, I couldn’t be more pumped to have arrived at the beginning of another AFL Women’s season,” Holmes said.

“The players have been working incredibly hard throughout a long off season to ensure they are prepped, primed and ready to roll, so we can all be assured the game will go to yet another level in season nine.

“On top of the excitement for another epic season, I cannot wait to sit alongside Kate McCarthy to deliver all the biggest talking points every Monday for Talking W.

“Kate has an incredible footy brain, with a deep passion and knowledge of AFLW and I couldn’t think of anyone better to sit beside to analyse the game we both love so much.”

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The matchday commentary team is headlined by new recruit Erin Phillips following the dual AFLW best-and-fairest’s first full season behind the mic on Seven’s AFL men’s coverage.

Seven also welcomes back a star-studded line up of the game’s best callers and experts in 2024, including Jason Bennett, Libby Birch, Nigel Carmody, Natalie Edwards, Melissa Hickey, Abbey Holmes, Sam Lane, Kate McCarthy, Alister Nicholson, Sarah Olle and Jo Wotton.

Seven’s AFLW team will also include 7NEWS reporters Ryan Daniels, Theo Doropoulos, Anna Hay, Kate Massey, Alissa Smith and Laura Spurway for matches in their home states.

Joining them will be former AFLW player Akec Makur Chuot in her commentary debut.

Throughout Round 1 a group of the game’s most well-known voices — Matthew Richardson, Dale Thomas and Nathan Jones — will also form part of Seven’s commentary.

Head here to watch AFLW live and free on 7plus

Erin Phillips and Abbey Holmes headline Seven’s AFLW commentary team. Credit: Seven Network

“We have reached an exciting point of the AFLW story, and we cannot wait for footy fans across the nation to see what this season has in store,” Head of AFL and Sport Innovation Gary O’Keeffe said.

“Every year since the competition began, we have witnessed these athletes go to another level, and season nine will be no different.

“With a group of many of the game’s biggest names and most trusted voices behind the mic for Seven, bolstered by the competition’s most successful player, Erin Phillips, and unrivalled access to the AFLW’s biggest stars, there is no better place to be this season than right here on Seven and 7plus, Your Home of Footy.”