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Artwork for The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show

The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show

The West Australian
AFL
West Coast Eagles
Hawthorn
Brisbane Lions
Collingwood
Sydney Swans
Gold Coast Suns
Essendon
Richmond
Fremantle Dockers
Fremantle Football Club
North Melbourne
Australian Football League
Geelong
GWS Giants
Port Adelaide
Western Bulldogs
Carlton
Adelaide
Brisbane

Your new favourite footy podcast. Hawthorn premiership player Xavier Ellis (robbed of the Norm); 7NEWS sport presenter Ryan Daniels and Nick Rynne lead the roster of football dribblers, current schedule:

MONDAY: Two Minute Warning - two minutes on each team.

TUESDAY: Mailbag - answering your questions.

THURSDAY: TABtouch Teams - two minutes on each game & Hard Ball Bets.

PublishesDailyEpisodes105Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show

Latest Episodes

Xavier Ellis, Ryan Daniels and Nick Rynne read your mail for the final time this season.

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/hardballgetsafl/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YouTube

Xavier Ellis, Ryan Daniels and Nick Rynne finally unpack this year's AFL grand final between the Dockers and the Lions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YouTube

Xavier Ellis, Ryan Daniels and Nick Rynne are all in Melbourne to preview the 2026 AFL grand final between Fremantle and Brisbane.

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/hardballgetsafl

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YouTube

Xavier Ellis, Ryan Daniels and Nick Rynne read your mail after preliminary finals weekend.

Send us a question for next week's mailbag: hardballgets@wanews.com.au

Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/hardballgetsafl/

See omnystudio... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Selby Lee-Steere
Fantasy football expert; guest on episode
Selby Lee-Steere Fantasy
Episode: TWO MINUTE WARNING: Round 1 review
Lachie Byrne
Channel 7 sports presenter and guest on the show
Channel 7
Episode: QUICK 9: Round 17 preview
Jackson Barrett
Sport presenter on assignment in Adelaide
7NEWS
Episode: QUICK 9: Round 5 preview

Hosts

Nick Rynne
Host of The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show with a long-running presence in WA football media.
Xavier Ellis
Hawthorn premiership player and co-host, pairing expert analysis with locker-room insights.
Ryan Daniels
7NEWS sport presenter and co-host, adds broadcast credibility and quick-fire takes.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 854 ratings
  • Best footy pod

    Except Ryan sits to wee

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RobD95
    Australiaa month ago
  • Getting warm

    Here’s a Kit Kat for ya:

    Get on and watch a truly special podcast

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scarborough sauna
    Australiaa month ago
  • Freo to beat Hawks in the GF

    Truly Special

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    @bigaltn
    Australiaa month ago
  • Truly Special

    Listening for the last 8 years, nothing but laughs and discussion on every team. SAUNA

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    A Fishy Sauna
    Australiaa month ago
  • Null null

    This podcast is truly special.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CamG🏉
    Australiaa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the strong banter, depth on AFL topics, and weekly betting content.
Fans praise the chemistry among hosts and the insider footy culture they build.
Several reviews highlight consistent energy and entertaining, relatable analysis.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

MAILBAG: Eagles fans pile on, best team since 2000 & GF pre-game conspiracy
Q: Should a 39-touch performance automatically earn Brownlow votes?
There's debate about stat sheets vs. on-field impact, with some arguing 39 touches should not guarantee votes and others arguing for broader recognition of contributions.
MAILBAG: Eagles fans pile on, best team since 2000 & GF pre-game conspiracy
Q: Dusty 2017 or Dacos 2026, which season is viewed as greater?
Dusty 2017 is favored by most for its dominance, but opinions vary and some view Dacos 2026 as a modern benchmark for impact and consistency.
MAILBAG: Ryan backs Mini, compo pick farce & mullet conspiracy
Q: What are your thoughts on the current draft order and potential out-of-whack picks?
The hosts broadly agree there are differing opinions on who should go where, with some suggesting Will Ashcroft and Reid ahead of Jinby, and others arguing for a stronger emphasis on immediate impact over potential long-term growth.
MAILBAG: Worst team over five years, cooked Suns & WA forwards curse
Q: What are some proposed structural changes to avoid tanking and improve draft fairness, such as Tassie joining the league and a lottery-style top picks?
They discuss a hypothetical three-stage proposal where Tasmania joins to create 19 teams, with a league-wide bye after 18 rounds and a tiered ladder (top six, middle six, bottom seven) to protect draft order and reduce tanking, aiming to preserve competitiveness while ensuring fair draft outcomes.
MAILBAG: Worst team over five years, cooked Suns & WA forwards curse
Q: Luke, is West Coast on the precipice of joining North Melbourne as the worst performing team over a five year stretch dating back to the introduction of the 22 game VFL season in 1970?
The panel references historical examples of poor five-year runs and, using available data, places West Coast in a historically poor stretch alongside Fitzroy (1992-96), Sydney (1990-94), and North Melbourne (2020-2024), suggesting it would be a notable, but not unprecedented, standing if West Coast's current form continues.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show

What is The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A high-energy AFL-centric show built around banter, hot takes, and listener interaction. Regular trio covers post-season reflections, finals buzz, and ongoing player movement with recurring sponsor reads and betting-oriented segments. Episodes blend on-field analysis with lighthearted humor, reader mailbags, and bets, anchored by strong personalities and WA-football culture. The format is fans-first, often merging game-day analysis with behind-the-scenes anecdotes and current-state debates across AFL clubs, including expansion discussions and draft/family-legacy topics. Noteworthy is the consistent mix of analysis, humor, and live betting chatter that keeps conversations casual yet data-informed, appealing to engaged footy fans who enjoy ca... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show:

1. Shelter FootyCast
2. BackChat
3. AFL Daily
4. FOX FOOTY Podcasts
5. SEN Breakfast

How many episodes of The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show are there?

The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show launched 8 years ago and published 105 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show?

Recent guests on The Hard Ball Gets AFL Show include:

1. Selby Lee-Steere
2. Lachie Byrne
3. Jackson Barrett

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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