IF they did the get the cricket rights, you'd probably have Gerard and Huddo calling. If you wanted a team with three callers, offer Alison Mitchell some good coin to join from ABC. No idea who they'd get to be their experts. If they get cricket rights though, they really need to make SEN NATIONAL.
Late last year, SEN did a poll on what "football"-ie our game- should be called. In Vic., WA., SA, & Tas., nearly everyone calls it "football" or "footy". All School honour boards also refer to "Football"; & all Leagues are "Football" Leagues -not "AFL" Leagues.
I shuddered at the time -I don't like how some journos. etc say people play "AFL"; & I thought this poll might be a harbinger for SEN changing its name of the Code.
In NSW, the ACT, Qld., & the NT, however, I understand why the AFL sees strategic merit & "recognition" benefits in universally "branding" the Code as "AFL" there -"football" there can now refer to any of the 4 codes.
With the appointment of the high profile Whateley, who is well known nationally, I think it is probable that SEN wants to significantly expand its national footprint -& perhaps referring only to "football" for the code of Australian Football would be confusing in NSW, Qld, ACT, & the NT.
I would prefer that all national sporting & media organisations use the words "Australian Football" when referring to those who are playing our game. Our game's official title has been " Australian Football" since the 1880's. It has never been Australian Rules, Aussie Rules, or just Rules -these terms were first used in the nthn. states.
Soccer is trying to usurp the words "football" & "Australian football" for its game -to undermine the sense of national pride many have when we refer to our game as
Australian Football. Soccer orgs. want to diminish our game's "
Australian-ness"; & limit/negate/eradicate widespread useage of the words
"our Australian game", "football", & "Australian Football". Soccer orgs. would prefer our patriotic leanings, for the game many of us think is the best in the world, are diminished.
In the USA, their soccer League is universally called Major League Soccer, & people play "soccer". Media orgs., sporting orgs., & soccer supporters would be HOWLED down if they referred to soccer as "American Football"; or only called American Football "NFL".
The USA, however, certainly has FAR less (per capita & possibly raw nos.) cultural cringers that Australia, unfortunately, has.
There is never any confusion when the games are called Australian Football, Rugby Union (or Union), Rugby League (or League), & soccer. "Soccer" is clear - & was widely used by the vast majority of people in Australia for c.100 years until 2005. The majority of the public here (& in the USA, Canada, Ireland, & NZ) still call that game " soccer" -no confusion! In the UK, it is still sometimes called soccer. We previously had the National Soccer League, & State "Soccer" Federations -& still have "Socceroos".