Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions: Who is commentating and where to watch the AFL finals clash in the UK and around the world

Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions: Who is commentating and where to watch the AFL finals clash in the UK and around the world

The Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions AFL clash on Saturday, 19 September 2026 will be available to viewers and listeners across Australia and internationally through a wide range of broadcasters, with HBO Max and TNT Sports 1 among the key options for UK audiences, while Seven’s free-to-air coverage is led by Hamish McLachlan and Rebecca Maddern with Brian Taylor fronting the world feed commentary. The match, scheduled for 08:15 UK time, is one of the standout finals fixtures and will be carried on radio via major Australian stations including 3AW, 6PR and Triple M, alongside the television and streaming options for global fans.

For British viewers, the headline is the international rights package, which includes HBO Max in the UK and TNT Sports 1, meaning the game should be easy to find without needing an Australian subscription. Seven’s own production also feeds the wider world broadcast, so fans in multiple territories will hear the same core call team, with Brian Taylor, Hamish McLachlan, Luke Hodge, Kane Cornes, Mitch Cleary and Rebecca Maddern all involved in that global coverage. AFL broadcast guide

Seven’s on-air presentation remains one of the strongest parts of its AFL coverage. Hamish McLachlan has become one of the defining voices of modern Australian football television, combining play-by-play experience with polished host work, while Rebecca Maddern has built a strong profile across Australian sport and current affairs broadcasting. Alongside them, Luke Hodge and Kane Cornes provide elite-level special comments, bringing the perspective of recent champion and premiership-winning players who have both developed reputations as sharp and opinionated analysts.

Brian Taylor, one of the most recognisable voices in AFL commentary, is again a central figure in the world feed. Taylor’s long career as a player turned broadcaster has made him a staple of major football coverage, and his role here ensures that international viewers get a familiar, high-energy call. The global team is rounded out by Mitch Cleary and Rebecca Maddern on reporting duties, giving the broadcast both pace and context during one of the biggest games of the year.

Radio coverage is equally comprehensive. In Melbourne and Adelaide, 3AW and FiveAA will feature Tony Leonard, Shane McInnes, Matthew Richardson, Joel Selwood and Jacqui Reed. Matthew Richardson, the former Richmond forward, has become a popular and insightful media voice, while Joel Selwood brings the authority of a recent premiership captain and one of the most decorated midfielders of the modern era.

Perth listeners can tune in to 6PR, where Mark Readings and Karl Langdon lead the call with Brad Hardie and Glen Jakovich providing special comments and Eddie Summerfield reporting. It is a strong Western Australian line-up, and the presence of Jakovich, a former premiership star for the West Coast Eagles, adds extra authority when assessing finals pressure and defensive structures.

ABC Australia’s sport coverage also features a highly respected team, with Corbin Middlemas, Clint Wheeldon, Cameron Ling, Brett Deledio and Ben Cameron, plus former umpire Ray Chamberlain. That mix of commentary, player insight and officiating analysis has become a hallmark of ABC’s AFL output, especially for listeners who prefer a detailed tactical broadcast.

Fox Footy and Kayo Sports will again deliver heavyweight television analysis through Anthony Hudson, Gerard Whateley, Jason Dunstall, Garry Lyon, Jonathan Brown, Jordan Lewis and Tom Hawkins, with Kath Loughnan presenting. That panel combines some of the most recognisable voices in Australian sport, including Dunstall, a former Hawthorn champion and one of the all-time great full-forwards, and Whateley, whose radio and TV career has made him one of the most influential broadcasters in the game.

For fans seeking alternative radio coverage, LiSTNR / Triple M offers a different flavour through James Brayshaw, Leigh Montagna, Dale Thomas and Isaac Smith, while the National Indigenous Radio Service will broadcast with Barry Denner, Robbie AhMat and Chris Egan. With so many options available, Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions is set up as a major finals occasion both for committed AFL followers and for international audiences discovering the game through UK and global broadcasters.

Article generated: 19 September 2026, 08:15 GMT