Continuing on with the "favourite/best/under-rated" themes - which have generated a lot of debate! - let's turn our attention to the men (and women) behind the microphone....
Who are your favourite footy commentators?
I used to love listening to Rex Hunt on 3AW - I spent many weekend afternoons with the TV sound down listening to Rex, Clinton Grybas, Bondy and Wallsy. It was like a circus, but laugh-a-minute funny! These days I don't listen to radio commentary, but never miss the Triple M pre-match as it is (in my opinion) hysterical!
It is great to have Sandy Roberts back calling footy on TV, I think he and the late Clinton Grybas are the best TV callers I have heard.
Favourite: Dennis Cometti with his humorous analogies, but his calling is usually spot on and accurate.
As a side note, least favourite would be a toss-up between Basil Zempilas and Dermott Brereton. Basil is just hopeless, a "good kick" to him is one that goes straight to the opposition. And Dermott is unbelievably Vic-biased!
May be controversial but my favourite is the Richo/ BT Combo.
Yes they talk crap, yes alot of what they say doesn't make sense and YES BT is more often than not completely wronG!! But at least they have a bit of fun and look at the lighter side of football. I am so sick of hearing from ex- players who think they are the all knowing and treat football like it is the most serious thing in everyones life. I mean the "WAR ROOM"...........turn it up!!
And worst commentators are Dermot Brereton, Malcolm Blight, Shaw and Stephen King. Biggest flogs on radio and spend most of the time talking about themselves and how good they were when they played.
Play-by-Play: Cometti
Colour: Ricciuto
Boundary: Richo & Hall (maybe Mooney, but not Geelong games)
They have too many in the booth, look to the US sports and see how many are calling the action. BT and Darcy are insufferable and actually diminish my enjoyment in watching the game; McAvaney is a cliche riddled over-excited mess; Brereton sounds like he's munching Valium like they're M&Ms, and struggles to get players names right.
I don't mind listening to Bruce and Sandy, but think Denis Cometti is the best caller. Also don't mind Anthony Hudson, the Nick Davis 'I see it but I don't believe it' call from 2005 Prelim is one of the greatest calls ever. Dislike listening to Eddie the most, I think not only is he the worst commentator but I'm seriously just over listening to his voice, it drives me crazy. Also don't like listening to BT and Dermie.
Taking Richo off my list after his performance last weekend. If you're copping heat from the crowd, complain through official channels, don't sook about it on TV.
Disparaging the crowd will not make you more welcome, and they're not the only crowd in Australia to show a little disdain when a player of theirs is crudely KO'd
Taking Richo off my list after his performance last weekend. If you're copping heat from the crowd, complain through official channels, don't sook about it on TV.
Disparaging the crowd will not make you more welcome, and they're not the only crowd in Australia to show a little disdain when a player of theirs is crudely KO'd
Amazing how much stick the Eagles crowd gets for things every single other crowd does.
As I read somewhere, can you imagine Luke Hodge announcing his retirement and then get knocked out? The commentators and media would be bashing the player and the Hawthorn players and supporters sticking up for him would get all the credit in the world.
Cometti to retire at the end of his current contract, which finishes after the 2016 season. Sounds like the travel is starting to bite, so he might still pop up for local gigs in Perth.