Beloved 7AFL commentator Abbey Holmes to return to Seven's AFL coverage after welcoming son Braxton
Holmes will return to the screen for the Round 20 Friday night clash between Essendon and Western Bulldogs on July 25.
The former AFLW star celebrated the birth of her first child, Braxton John Brooksby, on June 11 and said she can't wait to get back into the heat of the action.
'I feel incredibly lucky to step back into a job I love, while also soaking up the joy of being a mum. It's the perfect balance, and I'm so grateful for the support from both my family and my work family to get me back doing what I love,' she said.
'Coming back to work fills me with so much excitement. I've missed the team, the buzz, and being part of the action, I'm ready to hit the ground running next Friday night at Marvel Stadium and can't wait for little Brax to see his mumma in action.
'It's been such a special time at home with Braxton and Keegan and I feel so lucky to be able to go back to a job that I love and come home to our family. I've been watching so much footy and now I'm rapt to be back in the thick of it.'
Holmes will be returning part-time, resuming her role of leading Seven's Friday and Sunday afternoon coverage while balancing her time with her new family.
'I'm so thankful to the amazing team at Seven who made it easy for me to take the time I needed, and who've welcomed me back with open arms,' she said.
'It's the best feeling to know I can have both – a career I love and precious time with my family.
'Being a mum has changed me in the most incredible ways, but one thing that hasn't changed is my passion for my career and the game. I couldn't be more ready to be back.'
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Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The 24-year-old came on as the sub in his first game back from hamstring surgery in last week's one-point win over Collingwood, but he was unleashed from the very start of Saturday's game before being subbed out early in the last. Young was the dominant figure of the opening term, and his ruthlessness in front of goal when his teammates continually missed was another sign of just how important he is to the club's flag push. "It's handy, and we've missed his ball use at times this year," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said of Young's accuracy. "I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, I thought he finished well. He was sharp. "He gives another big body around there as well, which helps Andy (Brayshaw) and Caleb (Serong) and the other mids." 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West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter. First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara. Later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals). West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time. Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display. Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a magical running goal by Harley Reid helped keep West Coast in the contest. Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points. The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points, before Fremantle finally found their range to blow the margin wide open. "I think the scoreboard flattered us probably for a fair chunk of that game," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said. "I think you saw a Fremantle team hungry, in a position where they're going to be fighting for finals, and their class probably just overwhelmed us." Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young has showcased what a weapon he will be in the club's AFL premiership push as the Dockers brushed aside West Coast by 49 points in a fiery western derby clash. Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday. 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Four-time Glendinning-Allan Medallist Serong had to work hard for his 20 disposals and eight clearances under a tight tag from Brady Hough. For West Coast, defender Reuben Ginbey kept Josh Treacy goalless from nine disposals, Tim Kelly found form with 26 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, and Harley Reid (15 disposals, three clearances, two goals) battled hard amidst the boos. Reid limped off in the dying minutes with an ankle injury after being crunched in a tackle by Karl Worner. The win keeps Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four, while West Coast (1-18) have lost nine on the trot and are headed for their second wooden spoon in three seasons. West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter. First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara. Later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals). West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time. Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display. Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a magical running goal by Harley Reid helped keep West Coast in the contest. Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points. The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points, before Fremantle finally found their range to blow the margin wide open. "I think the scoreboard flattered us probably for a fair chunk of that game," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said. "I think you saw a Fremantle team hungry, in a position where they're going to be fighting for finals, and their class probably just overwhelmed us."
