Years ago, Irish-born sports journalist Catherine Murphy and fellow ABC colleague Tony Armstrong had a Saturday morning radio gig with the national broadcaster.

Together, they unpacked the big sports stories of the week, interviewed legends of sport, the characters from community clubs and incorporated humour and a song of the week into their program.

They had a blast.

Fast forward five years, and sports fanatics, Murphy, and former AFL footballer Armstrong, 34 – who became the first Indigenous person to call Aussie Rules football on commercial radio – have reunited with a TV panel show, Monday’s Experts.

‘Finally happening’

When Murphy posted on social media the show was a thumbs up, their fanbase couldn’t wait: “Love you two working together”, “finally happening” and “a couple of weapons” were their general sentiments.

“We had so much fun [making the radio show] … maybe too much fun … maybe they had to separate us … maybe we needed a few years off,” she told The New Daily in between breakfast radio and TV commitments, producing her sports podcast and preparing for the show.

She recalls an on-air radio incident in which one of their weekly radio songs – which she and Armstrong loved, and “forensically” checked – backfired.

“I looked through the glass to the producer, and her face just dropped and she went pale … unfortunately there were a few f-bombs in the first 10 seconds, but neither Tony and I hadn’t noticed,” she said.

“I think it was the first and last time we were allowed to pick our own music … we still have our jobs … and we’re committed to much better behaviour.

“A lot of people who listened back then have got in touch saying they are really excited that we’re back working together again. So am I, because it’s the dream job, to get up and go to work and actually work with one of your friends.”

Point of difference

Every free-to-air network is home to dedicated sports panel shows.

Seven has The Front Bar with co-hosts Andy Maher, Mick Molloy and Logies host Sam Pang, followed by James Brayshaw hosting an all-male panel on Talking Footy every Wednesday.

Nine has the long-running The Sunday Footy Show with an all-male panel with Tony Jones at the wheel.

Over on Fox Footy, SEN radio’s Gerard Whateley and the Herald Sun‘s chief football writer Mark Robinson co-host nightly panels.

Light-hearted approach

So what will Monday’s Experts deliver to audiences?

“While Tony and I are both obsessed with sport, and that’s what we do every day, we want to bring a light-hearted approach. That’s our personality types,” she said of the show.

“We love having a laugh. We want it to be a show that people who are obsessed with sport like we are, get to see the major moments, hear about the big stories, but we also want it to be a show that gives you a laugh on a Monday,” Murphy said.

“It feels relaxed … whether you binge sport all weekend like we do – I am terrible for that – then you’ll get something from it and have a laugh too.”

Every week, they’ll bring on a cast of stars, ready and willing to talk footy – Broden Kelly from Aunty Donna, and stand-up comedian Lizzy Hoo will feature in the first episode.

Two Irish players, Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor helped get Geelong a premiership in 2022, and Murphy loved it. Photo: AAP

Irish roots

Murphy started her career in the sports department of Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ, before moving to Australia in 2006 to work with Fox Sports.

Growing up, she would watch AFL highlights on an Irish-language TV channel, and has always loved watching local players get drafted into the AFL.

She joined the ABC in 2018 and has never looked back, loving any opportunity to interview athletes and discover what makes them tick “behind the scenes”.

“I was at the MCG in 2022 when Zach Tuohy and Mark O’Connor won the premiership with Geelong and to think that two out of their squad of 22 players were Irish,” she said.

“I have always loved that relationship that Ireland has with Australia through our Indigenous sports codes.

“I always try and think of myself as the lucky fan, who gets to sit here on behalf of all the fans and see if I can try and learn something new.”

She says she “smiles every time” she walks into a studio, joyous in a place that has “always let me be myself”.

“As you know from Tony, he has always shown his personality [think soccer celebrations at Federation Square], but he has two more Logies than me … 0ther than that I think we will get on just fine.”

Monday’s Experts premieres on June 17 at 9.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview