REPORT | Eddie McGuire and Ross Lyon to join Footy Classified on Nine

Former Fremantle coach, Ross Lyon looks set to join Eddie McGuire on a new-look version of Footy Classified this year.

Details of the new show were leaked by Tim Watson yesterday on his SEN Breakfast radio program.

According to Watson, the new show will air in a Wednesday timeslot, and feature Ross Lyon under an arrangement that would also see him take on a regular role in TripleM’s football commentary team.

A spokesperson for Nine declined to confirm or deny the radio reports indicating announcements would be made “in the near future”.

TV Blackbox understands the new show is unlikely to cause significant changes to the existing program. Media mogul Craig Hutchison is expected to continue as host on the Monday edition, while Caroline Wilson and Matthew Lloyd are expected to appear on both nights.

Nine is yet to announce a replacement for Chris Judd on the Monday show after he quit at the end of last season, but TV Blackbox can confirm this role will be filled by former Port Adelaide footballer and ‘controversial’ opinion-maker Kane Cornes.

Nine has been keen to relauch its AFL programming since a rebooted version of The Footy Show failed last year. The Wednesday timeslot will allow the new show to avoid clashing with Thursday night football matches, and Seven’s ratings hit The Front Bar.

TV Blackbox understands respected AFL journalist Sam McClure will also play a significant role in Nine’s expanded AFL programming.

McClure recently signed a multi-platform agreement with Nine. The new deal will see him contributing content to Nine News and AFL programming, while also continuing to write for The Age newspaper, and co-hosting Sportsday on Nine Radio’s 3AW alongside Gerard Healy.

Eddie McGuire’s production company McGuire Media will produce both editions of Footy Classified.