So the dust has settled on another fantastic season of AFL football and the post-season reviews are starting to take place.
The Sydney Swans won the grand final, which is a great story. Collingwood didn’t, which is an even better one.
However, the most impressive thing about the 2012 AFL season was the re-introduction of Foxtel’s Fox Footy channel.
If you have $100 of spare cash to throw around a month and you love AFL football, Foxtel and the Fox Footy channel should be valuable additions to the lounge room.
I know that saying a product of the media is the best thing to happen in a season of a sport is slightly unorthodox, but that’s how revolutionary the channel has been.
Every week-night, two well-respected football journalists in Gerard Wheatley and Mark Robinson take us through the events of the day, in detail, for one hour.
On Monday evenings, the ultra-revolutionary AFL Insider program gives extraordinary insight into team structures, plays, and other sorts of tactics not caught at first glimpse, with the use of world-class technological advancements.
On The Couch with Gerard Healy, Mike Shehan and Paul Roos gives in-depth interviews with AFL personalities, as does Eddie McGuire Tonight and Mike Shehan’s Open Mike.
League Teams with Dermott Brereton, David Parkin, Tony Shaw, Liam Pickering, and Brad Johnson opens up the weekend of sport with all of the selections, injuries as well as a bit of banter and giggles along the way.
By the time the weekend comes along, all nine games are live, without any ad breaks, siren to siren. And although I sound completely brainwashed, which isn’t a far-fetched notion, Fox Footy’s telecasts are far more superior, insightful and watchable than Channel Seven’s dreary, tedious, three hour sessions of monotonous drivel.
There’s better commentary, better technology and you don’t have to listen to Bruce McAvaney ask one of his nonsensical rhetorical questions. However, if you choose to watch one of the four games a week broadcast by Seven, that unenviable position might just become your own.
And then after all of the interviews, the analysis, news and opinion and the nine live games of footy, After The Bounce with Danny Frawley, Jason Dunstall, Alistair Lynch and Andrew Gaze winds it all down with a show which doesn’t take itself too seriously, and provides viewers with a good wrap up of the weekend’s events.
And that’s where Fox Footy smashes Channel Seven. Seven’s coverage is too serious, and when it tries to throw the banter around (think Brian Taylor and Matthew Richardson), it fails.
Fox Footy is a genuinely professional outfit with the best reporters, the best coverage, the best technology, good charisma, legitimate humour and best of all; it just seems to work.
You feel as though Fox Footy have had a pretty good year, don’t you?
Damn you, Bruce McAvaney!
Big V
Guest
Dropped the movies and docos and just have sport and HD and it cost me $81 per month- much MUCH cheaper than an Eagles membership. Cannot get enough of AFL 360, Insider, On the Couch and of course Open Mike.
Loppy
Guest
Yes a preview show would be great. Currently they have the league teams replay. Also wouldn't be good if you could choose the commentary( say with the Red button). Don't mind 7's commentary but having that option would be good.
Jason Cave
Guest
What Fox Footy should do re Friday Night Football is to have Friday Night Countdown, which could be similar to ESPN's coverage in the NFL. Have AFL 360 on Monday-Thursday, then this could be the Friday night line-up: Friday 5:30-6:30-AFL Teams Friday 6:30-7:30: Friday Night Countdown Friday Night Countdown could have the last-minute news re team line-ups for the Friday Night game, plus a review of the AFL news of the week.
Jimmy
Guest
What a revelation AFL360 has been . Broadcasting the events of our great game the way it should be portrayed. Coaches, players, past players what more could you ask for and some of the best one liners for the year. "Weak as piss Simpson"I say no more!
Dingo
Guest
"Fifty Shades of Beige" or whatever it's called might do the trick. :D
Redb
Roar Guru
You havent been married long enough or lack a second TV. Make sure the missus is well set up to watch countless romantic vids. :)
Dingo
Guest
Foxtel = footy bliss vs No Foxtel = wedded bliss. Hmmmm tough call.
Redb
Roar Guru
lol. You wont regret it.
clipper
Guest
especially in NSW and QLD, Nathan.
Loppy
Guest
Even though I have Foxtel I don't mind the Friday night, Saturday night team, that it is a seven produced game.
Titus
Guest
Thanks for that Timmuh, I was thinking basic + sport was the sports package, which apparently includes 3 lifestyle channels as well.
Breezy
Guest
Why is everyone so anti Bruce? I like the Friday and Saturday night commentary teams on Seven, although not too sure about Tom Harley. A bit too nice for my liking.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
$61 apparentlly (http://www.foxtel.com.au/discover/packages/build-your-own/default.htm), on cable in the five main cities. On satellite or in regionals (or through Austar) it is considerably more.
liam
Guest
Wish that this was the coverage for nrl, ad free finals on fox really got me into afl, most frustrating thing was grand final was not on fox and I had to put up with ads and Bruce. Thank goodness for Dennis Commetti and the great quality game.
Titus
Guest
Really? I thought basic + sport was $92 and $107 if you want HD.
Dingo
Guest
OKAY, THAT'S ENOUGH ! ! ! ! ! ! What's Foxtels number?
Loppy
Guest
Yes Fox footy has been the best $60 I have spent. In our household we can't wait for AFL 360 each night. Their coverage has rediefined what sports coverage should be.
Breezy
Guest
He might not have played air guitar, but he did say that he once did a dance in his underpants though, ala Risky Business, so maybe he has a wild side. I think the Hall & Mooney segment is my favourite. Bazza looks like he could intimidate anyone.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
At the risk of starting a code war, it's exactly that sort of thing that makes me think that AFL broadcast deal was far and away the better deal, no matter how even the money. The fans got everything they could have wanted.
Horatio
Guest
Release Roger from Monty Python should be Remove Robbo What about recent ex umpire reviewing disputed decisions on previous weekend as they did previously...