Kelli Underwood OAM

Kelli Underwood OAM says her recognition in the Australia Day 2025 Honours List comes as a pat on the back for after 20 years since stepping out of her comfort zone.  

She is a radio and television sports broadcaster who was the first woman to commentate AFL. Altogether, Kelli has covered 25 seasons of the men’s game and every AFLW season since its inception in 2017.  

“I have been doing ball-by-ball commentating for the last 15 years, currently with Fox Footy and the ABC,” she says.  

“I’ve also hosted national TV sports programs, including Offsiders on the ABC, and co-hosted the Back Page on Fox Sports.  

“I’ve also commentated netball – the highlight was the Australian World Cup win in Sydney in 2015, and I’ve commentated tennis for the ABC and BBC – the highlight there was calling Serena Williams’ 23rd and final grand slam victory.”  

For her work, Kelli was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to broadcast media.  

“I’m really grateful for this acknowledgement of my hard work and resilience, at times in the face of adversity,” she says.  

“Sometimes I think all I do is just talk about 22 people running around an oval chasing a ball! I’m not saving lives; I’m not inventing anything – but Australians are united through sport. It brings people from all different backgrounds together.  

“The greatest joy during my career has simply been the story telling, to be the conductor of great sporting conversations and bring people joy.” 

Kelli says being part of a family obsessed with sport was a significant motivator to pursue her career.  

“Sport was always on the TV, we talked about it around the kitchen table, and I just absorbed it by osmosis,” she says.  

“The fact I have been able to take one of the great loves of my life and make a career out of it has been very rewarding.

“I’m motivated to bring a different style, a different perspective, a difference voice. I’ve got a passion to make sport accessible for everyone, to be an advocate for women’s sport, to encourage and promote diversity, to create a platform for others, and above all, make it entertaining and fun.”