AFL 360

AFL 360
Show name	AFL 360
Genre	Sports talk show
Presenter	Gerard Whateley; Mark Robinson; Caroline Wilson; Damien Barrett; others
Country	Australia
Language	English
Num seasons	15+
Runtime	60 minutes
Company	Crocmedia; Foxtel; Fox Sports
Channel	Fox Footy; Fox Sports
First aired	2010

AFL 360 is an Australian sports television program focusing on the Australian Football League, featuring roundtable discussion, analysis, interviews, and viewer interaction. The program has been a regular fixture on subscription sports channels, attracting footballers, coaches, journalists, administrators, and entertainers to debate weekly topics. Hosted by high-profile media figures, the show intersects with broader Australian sporting culture and media institutions.

Overview

AFL 360 occupies a niche at the intersection of professional sport and broadcast media, drawing contributors from across the AFL, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel Seven, Nine Network, Network Ten, and independent outlets like SEN. Guests have included players from Essendon Football Club, Collingwood Football Club, Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions, West Coast Eagles, and Richmond Football Club as well as coaches from Geelong Football Club, Hawthorn Football Club, Melbourne Football Club, St Kilda Football Club, Western Bulldogs, and Adelaide Football Club. The program often references marquee events such as the AFL Grand Final, Brownlow Medal, AFL Draft, Mark of the Year, and competitions like the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships. Coverage extends to league governance with figures linked to the Australian Football League Commission and policy matters historically deliberated by entities like AFL Players Association andAFL Coaches Association.

Format and Presenters

The format blends live studio discussion, pre-recorded segments, and phone-ins or social media interaction via platforms associated with Foxtel and Facebook. Primary hosts and panellists have included sports journalists and broadcasters with backgrounds at The Age, Herald Sun, The Australian, ABC Sport, and SEN 1116. Regular contributors have been connected to media personalities such as Gerard Whateley, Mark Robinson, Caroline Wilson, and Damien Barrett alongside past figures associated with Darren Lockyer, Leigh Matthews, Matthew Richardson, Brent Harvey, and Adam Goodes. The show also features interviews with AFL administrators including former CEOs and commissioners, and often hosts commentators from international sports media like ESPN and BBC Sport.

Production and Broadcast History

AFL 360 premiered in the early 2010s on subscription television and was produced by companies linked to Crocmedia and later consolidated under production arms of News Corp Australia and Foxtel. Broadcasts moved between channels such as Fox Sports and the dedicated Fox Footy channel following rights negotiations involving major broadcasters including Seven Network, Nine Network, and Network Ten. Scheduling adapted to AFL fixtures including the AFL finals series, pre-season matches at venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Adelaide Oval, and special broadcasts during events such as the Anzac Day clash and Dreamtime at the 'G. Production has at times relocated to remote sites during pandemics and lockdowns coordinated with public health authorities like Australian Government health directives and state governments in Victoria (Australia), New South Wales, and Western Australia.

Notable Episodes and Guests

Noteworthy editions have featured in-studio interviews with premiership coaches such as Alastair Clarkson, Damien Hardwick, Chris Scott, and high-profile players such as Dustin Martin, Nat Fyfe, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, and Ben Cousins. Episodes addressing off-field controversies attracted guests from legal and governance circles including representatives connected to Andrew Demetriou, Gillon McLachlan, and former administrators tied to clubs embroiled in tribunal cases like ASADA-related matters and salary cap inquiries. Special episodes have coincided with ceremonies like the Brownlow Medal count and retrospectives featuring legends such as Ron Barassi, Kevin Sheedy, Tom Hafey, Ronald Evans-era figures, and Hall of Fame inductees.

Reception and Impact

Critics and audiences have linked the program to broader debates in Australian sport media, citing its role in shaping narratives around policing of on-field conduct, media treatment of indigenous players such as Adam Goodes and Polly Farmer, and policy reforms promoted by the AFL Commission. The show has influenced public discourse alongside long-running programs and publications including A Current Affair, The Project, Four Corners, and daily sports sections of The Sydney Morning Herald. It has been cited in academic analyses within institutions like University of Melbourne, Deakin University, and La Trobe University for its impact on sports journalism and fan engagement. Ratings trends reflect its position on subscription platforms compared with free-to-air broadcasts of marquee matches on networks like Seven Network and streaming services tied to Kayo Sports.

Controversies and Criticism

The program has courted controversy over presenter comments, interview confrontations, and editorial choices, provoking responses from figures such as club presidents from Collingwood Football Club and Essendon Football Club, players' managers associated with AFL Players Association, and media regulators including the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Criticisms have centered on perceived bias toward particular clubs, sensationalism paralleling tabloid coverage in outlets like Herald Sun and The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), and editorial handling of sensitive issues involving indigenous communities and mental health advocates including representatives from agencies like Beyond Blue. Defences have cited journalistic independence and the program's role in facilitating accountability among institutions such as the AFL Commission and club boards.

Category:Australian sports television series