Radio SEN are doing football commentary this season and although dubiously badging themselves as "the home of football" they've introduced some real talent into the market.
Grant Thomas is excellent in his special comments role. As a coach he was prone to slip into management speak, probably because he was constrained by a coach's reluctance to give anything away, but as a commentator he is a million miles away from your average cliché riddled footy trog.
Didn't hear much of Nathan Buckley, but from the little bit I did hear, he sounds the business.
Didn't hear any of Liam Pickering, and if last year commentating the VFL is anything to go by, he needs to sharpen up his act. But he has been excellent on weekdays filling in for Frankie Leach and on Saturday mornings over summer with Mark Allen. With luck he can transfer his willingness to speak his mind to his game-day duties during the season.
Dermott Brereton is SEN's high profile recruit, but with his pretentious hipster delivery, manglerizationing of the English language and tortured over-analysis, he better watch his back.
And then there's Andrew Jarman. Surely football commentary is more than a ridiculous laugh.
(A particular criticism of SEN is their relentless plugging the product. Not just sponsors, that's a given on commercial radio, but themselves. All through the day they keep telling us they are covering football in various degrees from exceptional to sensational. Stop it. We are already listening. Don't get me started on the myriad Sports Updates, either.)
Speaking bigger picture: SEN are currently rating next to rock all, so they'll be shattered if their full frontal assault on football doesn't pull some numbers.
Over on Radio Feral 3AW, tucked away from the histrionics and tryhard humour of Rex Hunt, Clunt Grabarse, etc (granted, they have a pretty good pre-game), Graham "Smokey" Dawson did the Sydney vs. Illeagles game. He was terrific in the Eighties and it's been a puzzle that he hasn't had a higher profile since. If it was up to me it would be Smokey, not Drew Morphett, doing the ABC commentary. He's clearly in the top rank of callers and it was great to hear him again from Syddey on SatDee night. Someone give him a bigger gig.
Smokey has been based in Melbourne but calling games for 6PR for a number of years.
Agree re: Drew Morphett. Smokey is a class above.
Posted by: Anthony from Chippendale | 04/02/2007 at 08:10 PM
Smokey: "Duperouzel picks up the ball on the edge of the square. He sidesteps Paton. Around Ayres. But here comes Dermot. Here comes Matthews. HERE COMES DIPPER! Whammo thumpo! Oooooooooo. Biggs?"
Doug Bigelow: "Bruce Duperouzel - you were mugged."
Posted by: Tony.T | 04/02/2007 at 09:34 PM
Any comments on MMMs footy coverage Tone?
I didn't hear the call friday night but their pre-show was a pisser.
In other news, I tipped 7 - bloody Dees let me down.
Posted by: Vindicate | 04/03/2007 at 02:22 AM
Seven?!? Four words describe a score that high: elevated levels of testosterone.
Posted by: Tony.T | 04/03/2007 at 10:48 AM
What AfC said. He's been paired with Brad Hardie on 6PR for maybe five years. Never did much for me (although that could have been because he was paired with Brad Hardie).
Posted by: Gareth | 04/03/2007 at 10:50 AM
Brad Hardie strikes me as Perth's version of either KG or Cornsie. Very much radio fathead. Gimme Smoke at the ABC with someone like Liam Pickering.
Posted by: Tony.T | 04/03/2007 at 10:57 AM
Bingo, but with the added "credibility" of having won a Brownlow Medal...
Posted by: Gareth | 04/03/2007 at 03:43 PM
It's called Dipper Credibility.
Posted by: Tony.T | 04/03/2007 at 06:16 PM
Footy with the mute ON is underrated.
Posted by: Burty | 04/05/2007 at 03:26 PM
Only because the majority of commentators are fatheads with nothing worthwhile to add to the coverage.
Posted by: Tony.T | 04/05/2007 at 04:20 PM