The ESPN Footy Podcast

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?

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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 

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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!

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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

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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?

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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

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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?

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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.

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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?

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This week on Red Time, JB and Coxy discuss what Collingwood will be missing without Scott Pendlebury in the finals. The boys also debate whether new coaches at rebuilding clubs are set up to fail, the ethics of doorstopping players after a delisting, and Max Gawn's record ninth All-Australian selection. Plus, a preview with numbers of this week’s blockbuster matches.  

0:00 Intro

3:01 Essendon's McVeigh timing

6:03 Coaches set up to fail

9:43 Doorstopping delisted players

11:57 Who will break Gawn's record?

15:48 Pendles' finals influence

18:33 Hot Stat Checklist, powered by StatMate

22:24 Don't Be Surprised If... 

24:43 A tribute to Swita!

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