Seven Poaches AFL Reporter Tom Morris
Seven has secured Nine’s chief AFL reporter, Tom Morris, who is known for covering both Australian football and cricket. After two years with Nine, Morris announced his departure on Friday morning, following a lucrative offer from Seven’s head of sport, Chris Jones, and SEN boss Craig Hutchison.
Morris’s passion for both football and cricket, both broadcast by Seven, influenced his decision to switch networks. The move comes amid a series of defections from Nine’s AFL talent pool in the last 18 months, including well-known figures Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson, and Craig Hutchison.
Morris’s contract with Nine officially ends on December 31. Previously, he was dismissed from Fox Footy, which stalled his career for a year or two before his return and subsequent move to Seven.
"Morris informed Nine on Friday morning after Seven’s head of sport Chris Jones and SEN boss Craig Hutchison put forward a lucrative deal."
"The move follows a raid on Nine’s AFL talent in the past 18 months which saw Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson and Craig Hutchison all jump ship."
Audience Reactions
- Some viewers express strong dislike for Morris, citing his controversial history and describing him as an unpleasant person.
- Criticism also targets Seven’s AFL commentary team, which some say is declining in quality over the years.
- There is speculation about the high percentage of former Nine staff joining Seven, with accusations of a somewhat incestuous hiring pattern.
Summary of Criticism
Critics have called Morris the worst AFL journalist and voiced disappointment over Seven’s increasing recruitment of ex-Nine employees. Nonetheless, some argue Seven is not the worst offender in this regard.
Author’s Summary
Tom Morris’s move from Nine to Seven reflects broader shifts in AFL broadcasting, fueled by career opportunities and the networks’ overlapping sports coverage.