The new deal “contemplates”the possibility of the introduction of a 19th team from Tasmania,McLachlan said.

He added the AFL was “optimistic of reaching some agreement with the Tasmanian government” before the league went to its existing clubs.

Fox will have its own commentary teams and graphics for all games under the new deal.

At least 30 AFLW home and away games and all AFLW finals will be live on free to air or Seven’s digital service.

Earlier,a senior media industry source confirmed toThe Age andThe Sydney Morning Herald that the deal would run for seven years and was a significant increase on the previous deal,worth $946 million over two years.

Seven and Foxtel were considered the front-runners despiteNine Entertainment Co,which owns this masthead,making an offer on Monday worth roughly $500 million a year.

At Tuesday’s announcement,AFL chairman Richard Goyder said it was a historic day for the league,supporters and the code’s future.

“It’s a proud day that we announce the biggest broadcasting deal in Australian sport and deliver on our purpose to progress the game,so everyone can share in its heritage and possibilities,” Goyder told reporters from Perth.

He said the latest deal balanced the best possible outcomes for viewership,and ensured a greater investment in grassroots football.

McLachlan said the investment would go back into the code to make it accessible,keep ticket prices down and invest in facilities.

“When we thought it couldn’t be any better we experienced the greatest open finals round of all time,” he said.

Seven West chief executive James Warburton emphasised the broadcaster had secured “a comprehensive package of digital rights to the AFL” which meant fans could watch games “anywhere,on any device for free”.

Seven chairman Kerry Stokes said he was excited to continue the partnership which would ensure the AFL could grow over the next decade.

“We can think in terms of a decade,and over that decade with the support of the AFL and our other partners,” Stokes said.

“I am sure we’re going to take the AFL to whole new levels.”

Ten was disappointed to lose its bid,but its streaming arm Paramount wished the other broadcasters the best.

“We would like to sincerely thank the AFL for its invitation to participate in the bidding process,” a spokesperson said.

“While we are disappointed not to be awarded the rights,we believed strongly in our ability to continue to grow the sport across multiple platforms particularly free-to-air in the northern markets and the AFLW,and provide coverage that sports fans would have revelled in,we retain confidence in the integrity of the process and the sincerity of those involved.

“We wish the AFL and the successful consortium all the best for the game.”

Goyder and McLachlan sat near Stokes at last Saturday night’s elimination final between Fremantle and the Western Bulldogs,which made some industry executives believe the deal was effectively done.

The deal is one of the key tasks McLachlan wanted to tick off before leaving the job later this year.

He will now focus on Tasmania’s bid for a 19th team,a new pay deal for the AFL’s male players and club finding. All deals are expected to be finalised before McLachlan exits.

In 2015,Rupert Murdoch intervened directly in media rights negotiations to ensure News Corp’s Foxtel,Seven and Telstra secured a then-record $2.508 billion,six-year deal that ran between 2017 and 2022.

The two-year $946 million extension was secured in 2020,which ensured the rights stayed with Seven and Foxtel until the end of 2024 at a cost of $473 million a year.

The prospect of streaming services gaining access to broadcast rights drew the attention of the federal government.

Last month,Communications Minister Michelle Rowland publicly warned the sporting code against reducing the number of live matches available for free before speaking tokey executives at the sporting body. Rowland is reviewing the laws,which only prevent Foxtel – not other streaming services – from putting major sporting events behind a paywall.

A new deal with Seven West Media and Foxtel would not breach the anti-siphoning laws,which determine which key sports and cultural events should be available for free and have been a major focus in this round of broadcast negotiations.

Seven and Foxtel wereat loggerheads for months over key elements of the deal,including the number of live matches on free to air TV.The AFL considered delaying two free to air games each week by up to two hours in interstate markets to give Foxtel more exclusivity for its streaming service Kayo Sports.

Rowland welcomed the AFL’s announcement there wouldn’t be a reduction in the number of matches on free to air TV.

“Obviously,this has just come out and the precise scheduling is yet to be fully clear. But I think it does emphasise the importance of free to air accessibility - a free,ubiquitous and stable platform and how important that is for Australians,” she told ABC TV.

With Caroline Schelle,Vince Rugari andLisa Visentin

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