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ABC Sport will carry the AFL Saturday programme for the Hawthorn v Brisbane Lions preliminary final, with Corbin Middlemas presenting alongside Mick Malthouse and Luke Ball in the punditry team. The match is scheduled for 5:15pm AEST at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is 8:15am UK time on Saturday, 19 September 2026.[13][16][1]
For British viewers, this is not a BBC, Sky, ITV or TNT broadcast in the sources provided, so the key point is that the coverage is on ABC Sport rather than a mainstream UK television channel. That makes the programme most relevant to international AFL followers looking for a radio or digital commentary option rather than a UK free-to-air TV package.[13]
Corbin Middlemas is one of Australian radio and sports broadcasting’s most recognisable voices, known for his polished live coverage and AFL call work across major fixtures. Mick Malthouse brings heavyweight coaching pedigree to the broadcast: he is one of the most experienced figures in Australian football history, having coached multiple AFL clubs and won premierships, which gives him strong tactical authority in finals analysis. Luke Ball, a former St Kilda premiership player and Collingwood midfielder, adds recent-era playing insight and a player’s eye for midfield contests and finals pressure.[13]
The fixture itself has been confirmed as the first preliminary final, with Hawthorn hosting Brisbane at the MCG after the AFL locked in venues and times for finals week.[13] The start time is also listed by venue and fixture pages for the MCG event, reinforcing the 5:15pm local bounce and the 3:15pm gates opening window for members and the public.[16][19]
In competitive terms, this is one of the biggest games of the season: the winner advances to the grand final, while the loser’s campaign ends immediately. Hawthorn’s home advantage at the MCG is likely to be a major talking point on the ABC Sport broadcast, while Brisbane’s finals experience and recent big-game pedigree should also feature heavily in the pre-match discussion.[13][16]
For fans tracking the broader broadcast picture, the fixture listings indicate that AFL finals coverage is also available through major Australian broadcasters and streaming services, including Channel 7 and Fox Footy in Australia.[10] A separate fixture guide also lists the game on the wider international matchwatch ecosystem for overseas viewers, underlining the global reach of the AFL’s finals series.[11]
ABC Sport’s commentary lineup should appeal to listeners who want a blend of live play-by-play, coaching analysis and player perspective. Middlemas provides the pacing and match narrative, Malthouse offers the structural and tactical read, and Ball bridges the gap between modern playing standards and expert analysis, which is especially valuable in a high-stakes preliminary final.[13]
The MCG remains the natural stage for finals football, and the club and venue listings confirm Hawthorn v Brisbane as a headline Saturday event in Melbourne.[6][16] For international readers following the AFL’s September climax, this is the kind of fixture where commentary quality matters as much as the football itself, and ABC Sport’s experienced team gives the broadcast considerable credibility.[13]
More on the competition can be found via the official AFL fixture.
Title: Who is commentating Hawthorn v Brisbane on ABC Sport? Corbin Middlemas leads AFL Saturday coverage
Article generated: 19 September 2026, 03:06 GMT