The ESPN Footy Podcast

Which AFL club would you have wanted to support most since the turn of the century? Of course, the answer to that question has to be your own team, but if we did get a second choice, who would you pick? In other words, which club has provided its fanbase with the most happiness? Join Rohan Connolly and Jake Michaels for our offseason special - the footy fan 'joy index'! 00:00 Intro 01:40 Gold Coast - least joyful 03:35 Carlton 06:20 North Melbourne 08:50 Essendon 13:20 GWS 16:05 St Kilda 18:50 Fremantle 23:05 Melbourne 26:10 Adelaide 29:40 Port Adelaide 33:30 Western Bulldogs 37:35 West Coast 41:40 Richmond 45:55 Collingwood 49:35 Sydney 52:30 Hawthorn 57:15 Brisbane and Geelong - most joyful Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The duality of footy ... the 2026 AFL Grand Final was a harrowing, living nightmare for Fremantle fans and players, but unbridled ecstasy and jubilation for Lions players and fans as they completed the threepeat. We break it ALL down here. Join Matt Walsh, Jake Michaels, and Champion Data's Christian Joly on the ESPN Footy Podcast. 00.00 Intro and Something You Noticed 06.35 Freo's living nightmare 14.35 Wharfie Time - what happened after 23.10 Despite, it was Freo's best performance all finals 26.15 Where to for Fremantle? 31.20 Where to for Brisbane? 35.05 Norm Smith Medal discussion 43:15 Where does Chris Fagan stand in footy circles? 47.05 Is the hype justified or is it hyperbole? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Red Time, JB and Mason preview the 2026 Grand Final as Freo prepare to take on Brisbane for a shot at the club’s first premiership. Coxy also discusses his unique Grand Final experience, Freo’s finals form, Brisbane’s attacking firepower, and what it takes to handle the biggest game of the season. Plus, the boys debate in-game activations with the AFL preventing ‘Wharfie Time’ from being used, the pre-finals bye, Taylor Walker’s perfect retirement move, and more. Intro 0:00 The epic prelim win 1:52 The ‘wild’ Grand Final requests 3:35 Airline price-gouging 5:09 Coxy’s invaluable Grand Final experiences 7:14 Is Freo’s form a concern? 8:40 The Dayne Zorko feud 14:00 What a flag would mean to Fremantle 15:32 Start, Bench, Drop 16:44 No Wharfie Time?! 16:55 The wild Hawthorn-Brisbane finish 18:20 The pre-finals bye concept 20:24 Tex Walker’s incredible retirement move 22:33 Hot Stat Checklist, powered by StatMate 25:25 Don’t Be Surprised If… 29:19  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, there's almost too much to talk about! From Friday night's amazing comeback and Hayden Young's clutch effort for the Dockers, to the Jarman Impey decision, Lachie Neale ban, James Sicily's conduct, and Nick Watson ... that's before we even preview the Grand Final! Join Matt Walsh, Jake Michaels, and Champion Data's Christian Joly on the ESPN Footy Podcast. 00:00 Intro and Something You Noticed 07:50 Brisbane's win over Hawthorn 10:45 What is Wizard's ceiling? 15:20 How the game was won 18:55 Lachie Neale suspension 23:35 James Sicily and the Hawthorn fans 27:00 Grading the Hawks' season 29:20 Fremantle's win over Sydney - Hayden Young's goal 31:30 How the Dockers turned the tide 34:20 Freo's key forwards are a concern 37:35 The 'Pullman 5' at Sydney 40:00 Grading Sydney's season 41:30 MASSIVE Grand Final preview 50:15 Tips and margin 52:35 Norm Smith tips 55:15 Brownlow - will Nick Daicos break the record? 58:20 Mason Cox vs. Daynze Zorko! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Red Time, JB and Coxy dive into the biggest talking points, including whether prelims are actually harder to win than Grand Finals, the AFL’s potential plans to shorten matches, and what Zak Butters’ arrival means for the Bulldogs. Plus, the boys debate Pat Voss’ set-shot time management, the timing of last week’s Wharfie Time activation, and look ahead to this week’s huge finals clashes with the Hot Stat Checklist.   Intro 00:00 Start, Bench, Drop 00:56  Prelims are harder than GFs 01:06 The toughest matchup in the AFL? 04:36 Time to shorten quarter lengths? 07:07 No more excuses, Bulldogs 10:40 Wharfie Time wasn’t used correctly! 12:49 Patrick Voss’ time-wasting tactics 14:38  Hot Stat Checklist, powered by StatMate 17:13  Don’t Be Surprised If… 21:30  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the ESPN Footy Podcast, the team breaks down Fremantle and Brisbane's wins and grade the seasons of Adelaide and Geelong. Plus Champion Data's preliminary final previews, Chris Scott punching the 'wall', Zak Butters, a day Grand Final and a LOT more! Join Matt Walsh, Jake Michaels, and Champion Data's Christian Joly on the ESPN Footy Podcast. 00:00 Intro and Something you noticed 06:36 Fremantle's win over Geelong 13:00 Chris Scott's poor press conference 19:48 Grading the Cats' season 21:56 Brisbane's win over Adelaide 35:45 Grading the Crows' season 37.33 Prelim preview - Sydney vs. Fremantle 46:40 Prelim preview - Hawthorn vs. Brisbane 55:30 Is the hype justified or is it hyperbole? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Red Time, JB and Coxy unpack a huge week in footy, including why the NFL at the MCG is set to be a raging success and what the AFL can do to help the spectacle. Plus, should players who fake head knocks be forced to undergo a mandatory HIA? Why are coaches always the easiest scapegoat? Should finals count towards MOTY and GOTY? And a look-ahead to this week’s contests.  Intro 00:00 Hawks loss and Cats look-ahead 00:30 NFL Down Under 06:35 Clubs are too quick to blame a coach 15:51 Players faking injuries 22:44 Change the timing of these awards! 25:00  The AFL award no one talks about 27:00  Hot Stat Checklist, powered by StatMate 29:03 Don't Be Surprised If... 33:00 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the team breaks down the weekend’s four finals and see what went right -- or wrong -- for every team. Plus, huge semifinal previews, the GOTY debate, Taylor Walker vs. Tom Morris, the SCG crowd, and more! Join Matt Walsh, Jake Michaels, and Champion Data's Christian Joly on the ESPN Footy Podcast.  00.00 Intro and Something You Noticed 10:10 Fremantle 'shockers' 22:10 Cats took away Carlton's strengths 29:05 Grading the Blues' season 32:15 Swans defy the odds vs. Brisbane 38:30 Should finals count for MOTY and GOTY 42:30 Crows get the monkey off the back 48:50 Grading the Bulldogs' season 52:35 Freo vs. Geelong preview 57:25 Brisbane vs. Adelaide preview 1:02:05 Is the hype justified or is it hyperbole? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on Red Time, JB and Coxy debate whether Scott Pendlebury’s No. 10 should be retired by Collingwood, and what impact he’ll have at the Suns. Plus, is Matthew Nicks is being judged too harshly? The Tassie delay that could deter top-line talent from joining the club, and a look-ahead to this week’s big finals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, the team dissects the two crazy wildcard matches and we give our judgement on the concept. Plus, Melbourne and Collingwood’s seasons graded, four massive finals previews, and Ticketek's cheeky cash grab. Join Matt Walsh, Jarryd Barca, and Champion Data's Christian Joly on the ESPN Footy Podcast. 00:00 Intro and Something You Noticed 09:15 Melbourne vs. Carlton 18:45 Western Bulldogs vs. Collingwood 24:20 Was the wildcard a success? 32:55 Scott Pendlebury's legacy 27:15 Grading Dees' season 29:50 Grading Pies' season 35:55 Fremantle vs. Hawthorn 39:55 Geelong vs. Carlton 43:05 Sydney vs. Brisbane 47:35 Adelaide vs. Western Bulldogs 51: 45 Is the hype justified or is it hyperbole? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices