Heading into an historic 75th season of defining the code’s biggest moments, 3AW Football is injecting fresh voices into its broadcast ranks for 2027, signing five-time flag winner Dermott Brereton, barrier-breaking caller Kelli Underwood OAM, and homegrown talent Nick Butler.

Across three-quarters of a century, the station has set the benchmark for trust, sharp analysis, and unfiltered match day emotion. The arrival of this powerhouse trio strengthens that legacy, backing ball-by-ball commentary with elite tactical insight across both broadcast and Tapt Media’s expanding digital network.

New recruits to the 2027 team:

Dermott Brereton

A five-time premiership player and an inductee into both the AFL Hall of Fame and the Hawthorn Hall of Fame, Brereton brings more than 30 years of broadcast authority to the team. In 2027, he will deliver special match commentary each week for 3AW Football, feature weekly on Tapt Media’s daily AFL podcast Footy Fix, and join the weekly YouTube panel.

Kelli Underwood OAM

With a 25-year career across television and radio, Underwood returns to the station where her journey behind the microphone began – having broken ground on 3AW as the first woman to call Australian rules football on commercial radio. A Life Member of the Australian Football Media Association who was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2025, Underwood will call at least one AFL match weekly, play an integral part in 3AW’s 2027 AFLW coverage, and appear on the weekly YouTube panel.

Nick Butler

An accomplished sports journalist, host, and podcaster with over two decades in the industry, Butler returns home to 3AW, where he began his football calling career in 2008. Butler will take on a key schedule across the week, calling two matches per round, hosting the Footy Fix podcast once a week, as well as contributing to the YouTube panel, and launching a new dedicated 3AW podcast in 2027.

Tapt Media Head of AFL, Luca Gonano said: “As we enter our 75th year of V/AFL broadcasting, 3AW Football has a proud history of featuring the most trusted commentators in the game. We have been a home for those who share our audience’s passion for celebrating the theatre of our sport. As we evolve alongside our game and our community, we are thrilled to welcome three individuals who will continue to add to that legacy.”

“Dermott continues to be one of the game’s most respected figures and will bring his unique blend of entertainment and analysis to our broadcasts and podcasts. Kelli and Nick are two of the AFL’s most dynamic commentators and we look forward to them taking our broadcasts to an even higher level. All three are fantastic people and we are certain their approach to footy commentary will honour our legacy while keeping us at the forefront of sports entertainment.”