Thank you, Fox Sports: Celebrating 15 years of iconic Australian football moments

For the last 15 years, Fox Sports has broadcast some incredible moments in Australian football history. 

From the Socceroos' 2015 AFC Asian Cup triumph, to the launch of the A-League, W-League and FFA Cup, to the Matildas winning the Tournament of Nations, there are many moments to reminisce on. 

And as our time on Fox Sports comes to an end, with ViacomCBS becoming the Home of Football from 1 August 2021, we take a look at some of the greatest Australian football moments on Fox Sports. 

The 2015 AFC Asian Cup 

On the 31st of January 2015, former Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak raised the AFC Asian Cup trophy into the Sydney night sky as the Green and Gold created history in front of a sold-out Stadium Australia.

It was a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over South Korea that rounded off a tournament of high-quality football, sold-out venues, record-breaking media coverage and the Socceroos' first major trophy in the Asian confederation.

Simon Hill and Andy Harper’s iconic commentary of James Troisi’s 105th-minute winner will be etched in the memory of Socceroos fans for generations to come.

 “Goal for Australia! James Troisi, can that be the Asian Cup? Oh boy, listen to this! Tommy Juric was backed into a corner but somehow, he found the gap and James Troisi was the Johnny on the spot. Australia lead again,” Hill screamed before Harper interjected.

 “Well Australia needed Tommy Juric to get involved in the game and not only does he get involved but he sticks to the task. He fights for possession, he gets rid of two opponents, he squares the ball into the penalty area and it's Kim Jin-hyeon who could only palm that ball into the onrushing James Troisi. That is sensational work from Tommy Juric!” Harper exclaimed.

More Socceroos moments on Fox Sports

The launch of the A-League and W-League

Since the beginning of the A-League in 2005 and the W-League in 2008, Fox Sports has been the main broadcaster for both competitions. 

There have been some iconic moments, from Brisbane Roar's epic comeback in the A-League Grand Final over the Central Coast Mariners to Melbourne City's W-League invincible season, and Tim Cahill's Derby winner to Western Sydney Wanderers' 5-4 Semi Final triumph, and the following video captures all of them in one epic six-minute package. 

 

 

The rise of the Matildas and women's football in Australia

You can’t be what you can’t see.

Whether that be at the grounds, in the newspapers, across social media, or on television, the visibility of sporting stars is so important.

For generations of football loving women and girls, they saw a sport that men and boys played. Consequently, it was the best players of the men’s game that thousands of young girls looked up to and wanted to be like.

That didn’t mean women and girls weren’t playing, just that they were doing it away from eyes and cameras.

Fox Sport Australia’s longstanding partnership with Australian football has been vital in ensuring the tides have turned when it comes to representation of women in football on Australian TV screens.

It has been the destination for fans of the women’s game to witness the highs, the lows, and everything between.

Whether it be in stadiums around Australia or in the middle of the night, Fox Sports has helped bring countless wins, debuts, goals, and saves to our attention. It has been a key component in helping more and more Australians fall in love with the Matildas.

We look back at some of the best Matildas moments shown on Fox Sports.

The creation of the FFA Cup 

Where would the FFA Cup be without Fox Sports Australia? 

The FFA Cup we love and know today would not be the same without the investment and faith shown in it by Fox Sports, and we pay tribute to them. 

From the very first night of Round of 32 action, all the way to the dominating Adelaide United performance in the FFA Cup 2019 Final, there have been some amazing moments in our beloved knockout competition. 

This article takes a look through some of the most iconic moments of the FFA Cup, broadcast on Fox Sports from 2014-2019.