Few voices in Australian sports broadcasting carry the weight of Kelli Underwood’s—especially when you consider the doors she kicked open along the way. As the first woman to call an AFL match on television and radio, she didn’t just break into the commentary box; she helped reshape what it looks like. This piece traces her career milestones, the recognition she’s earned, and the personal details that remain, deliberately, out of the spotlight.
Profession: Radio and television sports journalist ·
First woman to commentate AFL: Yes ·
Seasons covered in men’s AFL: 25 ·
Netball games for Australia: 54 ·
Award: OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia) ·
Born: 1977
Quick snapshot
- First woman to call AFL on radio and television (Governor-General of Australia)
- Covered 25 seasons of men’s AFL (Governor-General of Australia)
- Played 54 netball games for Australia (Wikipedia)
- Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2023 (Governor-General of Australia)
- Recognized for services to broadcast media (Radio Today)
- First AFL commentary: 2009 on TV, 2005 on commercial radio (Fox Sports)
- Departing ABC’s Offsiders in 2025 (Wikipedia)
Six key facts, one pattern: Underwood’s career is marked by firsts that opened pathways for women in Australian sports media.
| Full name | Kelli Louise Underwood |
| Born | 1977 |
| Occupation | Sports journalist, sportscaster |
| Specialization | Australian rules football, netball |
| First AFL call | First woman to call AFL match |
| Netball international caps | 54 |
What happened to Kelli Underwood?
Career overview
- Underwood began as a match-day reporter before moving into AFL commentary (Radio Today).
- She became the first woman to call an AFL match on commercial radio in 2005 (Simon Owens Radio Archive).
- Her first television AFL call came in 2009 on Channel Ten, where she called 14 games over two seasons (The Guardian).
- According to the Governor-General profile, she has covered 25 seasons of men’s AFL and every AFLW season since 2017 (Governor-General of Australia).
- She has also commentated netball—highlight being Australia’s World Cup win in Sydney in 2015—and tennis for ABC and BBC (Governor-General of Australia).
Recent developments
- Underwood is leaving ABC’s Offsiders in 2025, with the reason linked to a personal career focus (Wikipedia).
- She continues to commentate AFL games for Fox Footy and ABC in 2025 (Governor-General of Australia).
The pattern: Underwood remains active across multiple sports, even as she scales back one high-profile role. The implication is that her broadcasting footprint isn’t shrinking—it’s pivoting toward the sports and formats where she built her reputation.
Underwood’s career arc shows that being first doesn’t mean being last. She has survived and thrived in a commentary landscape that is only now catching up to her pace.
Does Kelli Underwood have a partner?
Personal life status
- Underwood’s marital status is not publicly confirmed. No verified reports list a partner or spouse (Wikipedia).
- Related searches indicate public interest, but no official source provides details on a partner.
The catch: public curiosity around her personal life has not been matched by any confirmed disclosure. Underwood keeps her private sphere tightly guarded.
Who is Kelli Underwood’s father?
Family background
- Underwood’s father’s identity is not widely publicized. No official source (Wikipedia, government profiles, major news outlets) lists his name (Wikipedia).
- She was born in South Australia in 1977 (Wikipedia). Beyond that, her family background remains private.
What this means: Underwood has successfully maintained a boundary around her family. The absence of a named father in any credible source suggests deliberate privacy, not a reporting gap.
Is Kelli Underwood still commentating AFL?
Current commentary role
- Yes. Underwood continues to commentate AFL games in 2025 for Fox Footy and ABC (Governor-General of Australia).
- She has covered 25 seasons of men’s AFL and every AFLW season since the league began in 2017 (Governor-General of Australia).
AFLW involvement
- Underwood has been a constant presence in AFLW coverage, commentating every season since the league’s inception (Governor-General of Australia).
- A 2017 Guardian report noted she was still the sole female play-by-play commentator in the AFL at that time.
The trade-off: Underwood’s continued presence across both men’s and women’s leagues reinforces her position as the standard-bearer for female AFL commentary—but it also raises the question of succession. Who follows her?
What is Kelli Underwood’s nationality?
Australian identity
- Underwood is Australian, born in South Australia in 1977 (Wikipedia).
- She represents Australia in her work as a sports commentator for ABC, Fox Footy, and BBC, covering Australian rules football, netball, and tennis (Governor-General of Australia).
Why is Kelli Underwood leaving Offsiders?
Departure details
- Underwood is leaving ABC’s Offsiders in 2025. The reason cited is a personal career focus (Wikipedia).
- She has been a host on Offsiders since taking over the role in 2018 (ABC News).
Future plans
- Underwood continues her commentary work with Fox Footy and ABC, and her role in netball and tennis broadcasting is ongoing (Governor-General of Australia).
- No official statement specifies a new role or project post-Offsiders.
The pattern: Underwood is pruning a role that may have become secondary to her core commentary work. For a broadcaster who has long balanced multiple commitments, dropping Offsiders frees bandwidth for the sports where her voice carries most authority.
If Underwood’s Offsiders departure clears space for more live match commentary, Fox Footy and ABC viewers stand to gain—she brings 15 years of ball-by-ball experience to every call (Governor-General of Australia).
What award did Kelli Underwood receive?
OAM recognition
- Underwood received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2023 Australia Day Honours for service to broadcast media (Governor-General of Australia).
- Radio Today described her as “a trailblazer for women in sports broadcasting.”
- She was also honored with the Best Coverage of Sport by an Individual award at the Australian Sports Commission Awards in 2018 (Mediaweek).
“I have been doing ball-by-ball commentating for 15 years, currently with Fox Footy and the ABC.”
— Kelli Underwood, quoted by the Governor-General of Australia
“The numbers don’t lie – women make their mark on AFL in commentary box.”
— The Guardian (2017), highlighting Underwood’s pioneering role
- Underwood became the first woman to call an AFL match on television and radio (Governor-General of Australia).
- She has commentated netball, with the Australian World Cup win in Sydney 2015 as a highlight (Governor-General of Australia).
- She has covered tennis for ABC and BBC, including Serena Williams’ 23rd and final Grand Slam victory (Governor-General of Australia).
- Underwood was also a regular panellist on Fox Sports’ The Back Page (Wikipedia).
- A Fox Sports profile noted her “pinch myself moment” when awarded the OAM.
Timeline
- : Kelli Underwood born in South Australia (Wikipedia).
- : First woman to call AFL on commercial radio (Simon Owens Radio Archive).
- : First woman to call AFL on television, on Channel Ten (Fox Sports).
- : Commentated Australia’s netball World Cup win in Sydney (Governor-General of Australia).
- : Every AFLW season since inception (Governor-General of Australia).
- : Took over hosting ABC’s Offsiders (ABC News).
- : Received Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) (Governor-General of Australia).
- : Announced departure from Offsiders (Wikipedia).
Confirmed facts
- First woman to commentate AFL on radio and television (Governor-General of Australia)
- 25 seasons of men’s AFL experience (Governor-General of Australia)
- Received OAM in 2023 (Governor-General of Australia)
- Leaving Offsiders in 2025 (Wikipedia)
- Played 54 netball internationals (Wikipedia)
- Born in 1977, South Australia (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Her partner status – not publicly confirmed
- Her father’s identity – not publicly disclosed
- Her future plans after leaving Offsiders – no official statement
- Details of her education – not widely reported
For Australian sports broadcasting, the choice is not between Underwood and the next generation—it’s about how many more seats get opened at the table. Her departure from Offsiders frees her to focus on live match commentary, where her authority is unmatched. For fans of the game, that means one of the sharpest voices in the box isn’t going anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kelli Underwood married?
Underwood’s marital status has not been publicly confirmed. No verified source reports a spouse or partner.
Does Kelli Underwood have children?
There is no publicly available information about Underwood having children. She has not discussed family details in verified media interviews.
What sports does Kelli Underwood cover?
She covers Australian rules football, netball, and tennis, working with Fox Footy, ABC, and BBC (Governor-General of Australia).
How many AFL seasons has Kelli Underwood covered?
She has covered 25 seasons of men’s AFL and every AFLW season since 2017 (Governor-General of Australia).
What is Kelli Underwood’s role at ABC?
She has been a host on ABC’s Offsiders since 2018 and also commentates AFL and tennis for the broadcaster (ABC News). She announced her departure from Offsiders in 2025.
Has Kelli Underwood worked in netball commentary?
Yes. She has commentated netball, with the highlight being the Australian World Cup win in Sydney in 2015 (Governor-General of Australia).
Where did Kelli Underwood study?
Underwood’s educational background is not widely publicized. No official source lists her university or college.
Is Kelli Underwood on social media?
She has a public Instagram presence relevant to her professional work, though specific account handles are not confirmed through official channels.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Voice, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.