The 2026 Smithy’s VFL Grand Final between Geelong Cats and Box Hill Hawks will be shown live and free on ABC TV VIC, with national streaming available on ABC iview and additional coverage through AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App. The match is scheduled for Sunday, 20 September 2026 at 2:05pm AEST at Ikon Park in Melbourne, with the VFL and VFLW deciders staged as a double-header.[1][3][4]
For British readers and international fans, the key takeaway is simple: this is a free-to-air AFL pathway fixture that is easiest to access through the ABC’s television and streaming platforms, rather than through the UK’s BBC, Sky, ITV or TNT Sports. That makes ABC the main broadcast home for the decider, while the wider AFL digital options offer another route to the action.[1][3]
The ABC’s commentary team on the television and iview broadcast features experienced caller Jason Bennett alongside Matt Clinch. Bennett has become one of Australian football’s most recognisable voices through his long-running work on AFL and VFL coverage, while Clinch has built a strong reputation across radio and television sport broadcasting, particularly through his AFL reporting and play-by-play work.[1][2]
The ABC Sport radio coverage lists Ben Cameron and Lauren Bordin as main commentators, with Adam Ramanauskas and Brent Harvey as co-commentators. Cameron is also known to listeners through ABC’s football and daily sport output, while Bordin has emerged as one of the newer voices in Australian sports broadcasting. Ramanauskas and Harvey bring significant playing pedigree: Ramanauskas was an Essendon premiership player, and Harvey is a North Melbourne great who finished as one of the most durable and decorated players in AFL history.[2]
There is also a strong local radio flavour via K Rock 95.5, which will feature Tom King and Ben Casanelia calling the match, with Matt Dowling as co-commentator and Jason Doherty reporting. K Rock has long been associated with regional Victorian football coverage, and its commentary line-up reflects the station’s traditional focus on local sport and community access.[2]
On the field, this final has the feel of a modern rivalry meeting at the perfect stage. Geelong and Box Hill have met repeatedly in VFL finals circles, and the 2026 premiership decider arrives with added interest because the contest sits within a broader double-header at Ikon Park. The venue and broadcast details mean fans across Australia can watch without a subscription barrier, which is one reason the ABC remains so important to state-league football coverage.[1][3][4]
For viewers in the UK, Europe, Asia and elsewhere, the most practical way to follow Geelong v Box Hill is through the ABC iview stream or the AFL’s digital platforms where available. With respected voices such as Jason Bennett, Matt Clinch, Ben Cameron, Lauren Bordin, Adam Ramanauskas and Brent Harvey involved, the coverage promises to deliver both informed analysis and a strong sense of occasion for one of the biggest matches on the VFL calendar.[1][2][3]
Article generated: 20 September 2026, 05:05 GMT
