Seven Poaches AFL Reporter Tom Morris
Nine’s chief AFL reporter Tom Morris has been recruited by Seven after two years with Nine. According to the Herald Sun, Morris informed Nine 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 influenced his decision, as Seven broadcasts both sports. This move continues a trend of Seven acquiring Nine’s AFL talent over the last 18 months, including Kane Cornes, Caroline Wilson, and Craig Hutchison.
Morris is officially out of contract on December 31. His career had stalled after being dismissed from Fox Footy, with a hiatus of one to two years before returning to the industry.
"I will turn him off when Tom Morris appears on screen. I don’t think he is a very nice person given that he had history of controversies."
Criticism is growing towards Seven’s AFL commentary team, with some viewers feeling the team’s quality declines annually. Morris, in particular, is seen by some as one of the least respected AFL journalists.
There is speculation about the number of former Nine staff now working for Seven, with claims that the sports broadcasting business is highly intertwined.
"Seven aren’t even close to the 'worst offenders'."
Author’s Summary
Tom Morris’s move from Nine to Seven highlights ongoing shifts in AFL broadcasting talent, sparking debate over professionalism and team quality within the networks.