This year was bad for incumbents in global politics.

It remains to be seen whether that trend will transfer to football commentators in 2025 when viewers are, for the first time, given a choice of call teams when they sit down to watch the AFL on Thursday and Friday nights.

Channel Seven’s Brian Taylor (left) and Fox Footy’s Gerard Whateley will head the rival commentary teams on Friday nights in 2025.Credit: Stephen Kiprillis

In the incumbent corner in the prime-time Friday slot is likely to be the long-standing Channel Seven duo Brian Taylor and James Brayshaw, or “BT” and “JB”, as they are known. Their challengers: Fox Footy staples Gerard Whateley and Anthony Hudson.

If the early poll on this website is anything to go by, punters will be sending a clear message. As it ticked over 1600 votes and counting, 83 per cent had indicated their preference for the Whateley-Hudson call. Five per cent said they would tune in on the radio, leaving just 12 per cent........

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