The AFL's first-ever female commentator Kelli Underwood is set to make her league return 10 years after her history-breaking debut, per the Herald Sun.
Underwood will call Wednesday night's clash between Richmond and Fremantle with Fox Footy after plying her trade with the AFLW.
After joining Channel 10's broadcast in 2009, Underwood said her latest appointment won't be anything new.
โIt has been a long time coming hasnโt it?โ Underwood said.
โIโve done all the AFLW seasons on Fox Footy, Iโve called for more than a decade now on ABC radio and Iโm older, Iโm more experienced.
โIโve called hundreds and hundreds of games now and for me itโs my job, itโs what I do, so it was a no brainer.โ
After speaking with Fox Sports director Steve Crawley, Underwood learnt she would be the broadcast's latest match-caller.
Underwood said she hopes her new role will be just as worthwhile as her initial trailblazing job.
โI think it was just a handful of games (with Ten) but it was initially terrifying,โโ she said.
โBecause the longest Iโd been on TV before that was a 90 second news cross and suddenly youโre calling in a three hour broadcast.
โI look back and think oh my goodness it was such a big ask, but I have never regretted it. Itโs opened so many doors and other opportunities have come from it.
โAll Iโve ever wanted to do is be good at my job and earn peopleโs respect.โ
Crawley acknowledged how exciting it is to have expert female broadcasters available to join his team.
โItโs 2020, itโs old fashioned to carry on about women in sport and I honestly believe thatโs something people did a long time ago,โโ he said.
โIf someone is good enough to call theyโre good enough to call, itโs not about their gender.
โThereโs no doubt that we will (use more women). The important thing is itโs never tokenism. I think the world is changing finally.โ
