CHANNEL 10 has axed AFL Before the Game.

The only possible lifeline is if the AFL footy comedy show, with Dave Hughes, Mick Molloy, Andy Maher, Neroli Meadows and Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehman, finds a new home on another network.

Before the Game has had a committed band of followers but Ten has been tentative in its commitment to the show since the network lost the football broadcasting rights to Channel Seven.

Now Before the Game has been given the boot.

"Before The Game will not be returning in 2014," a Ten spokesman confirmed. "Thank you to Roving Enterprises and the cast of After The Game and then Before The Game, who did a great job over the past 11 years."

There were strong rumours early this year that Seven was circling Before the Game - interested in scheduling it as a lead-in to its Saturday evening game telecasts. Seven poached former Before the Game panellist Samantha Lane.

It is believed that Dave Hughes and Mick Molloy could be part of a version of Before the Game if it was to be resurrected at another network.

The decision to axe Before the Game comes days after Hughes stepped down as one of the presenters of Ten's The Project.

Originally published as Ten axes Before the Game