The Being Liverpool series might not be for everyone. You may dislike the club more than you hated the vegetables you hid in your mashed potato as a small child and therefore choose not to watch.
Still, the idea of a camera crew taking you into the inner sanctum of one of the most well known sporting organisations in the world is more than a little intriguing.
It’s not so much the interviews or the general narrative being weaved that draws you in, but more the moments you feel you’re not meant to see.
You’re in the change rooms, family homes and club meetings.
Viewers are allowed to hear one on one conversations between manager Brendan Rodgers and the players.
It doesn’t seem staged, as much as a manager walking around with a microphone on can be.
On one occasion he singles out teenage midfielder Raheem Sterling who had spoken back to him during a training match on their pre-season tour of America. He’s left in no doubt that a repeat offence will earn him an early trip back to Liverpool.
The access is unprecedented and it shows a side of the players and the club that is usually only viewed by a select few.
So far, it has been an amazing PR exercise.
The public gets to see the real side of the players and not the ones who choose not to offer much when anywhere near a reporter’s microphone.
It got me thinking whether an NRL club would ever allow something like this to take place?
Most sides are fairly guarded and a healthy distrust has developed in some quarters with the media.
Still, who would you like to see throw open the doors if it ever did get off the ground?
During grand final week most Bulldogs players were quick to tell you that Des Hasler was an amazing man manager. Few were willing to go into details.
Being Canterbury could wipe away some of the mystery that surrounds the man who loves to fly under the radar.
Being Melbourne could be interesting, especially on game day inside Craig Bellamy’s coaches box. That would have to be scheduled for after the children had gone to bed.
Being Parramatta would rival NCIS for drama.
It’s not just a way for supporters to have a sticky beak inside, but also an opportunity for a club to promote its culture and beliefs.
What better way to showcase yourselves to sponsors than to open the doors and show off what you have to offer.
Chris
Guest
"The access is unprecedented" - It's not really, is it? NFL Films have been doing the same thing for about half a century!
dynamitedave
Roar Rookie
I remember watching an AFL show a few year ago called year of the bulldog. think it was an ABC documentary. i don't enjoy AFL as a sport, I don't care who wins AFL premierships, whos injured etc, but to see the backroom stuff was entertaining. Learning why they win and motivation and the business deals i found more interesting. NFL do it really well where they have a season in review.
Titus
Guest
: )
Bondy.
Guest
Very interesting Luke I never knew the old northern spirit hey,fair points mate ,interesting point you make Luke with the doco when B Rogers draws the attention of the young lad for backchatting he the kid s### himself it was great tele. Sorry mate thanks for the heads up with sportsline also..
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
Hi Bondy, thanks for the comment. I'm actually a huge fan of the A-League and have been covering matches since season 1. I go to 1 match each week. Last week it was the Wanderers v Mariners at Parra and this week it will be the Sydney v Newcastle game at the SFS. I've always done my best as a reporter to tell the masses about the A-League and in-fact if you watch sportsline on sky news on Monday night at 10:30pm we actually dedicate a fair chunk of the show to the A-League with Myself, Damien Lovelock and Paul Wade. It's a fantastic league and i even used to be a reporter with a mag that doesn't exist anymore covering Northern Spirit games in the NSL. I remember sitting with about 4 other people at Pittwater Park by the end of it watching the Spirit go around. The only reason i don't write about it on The Roar is because it's generally well covered by Tony and Mike and others and while i'm sure i'll chip in throughout the season with some observations i wouldn't want to tread on their toes. But i agree mate, a fly on the wall doco with one of our A-League clubs would be worthwhile watching. They're already very open and helpful with the media though so i can't bag them for that.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
If I had a dollar for every positive news story i've had knocked back by a media manager i'd be a very very very very very rich man. It's a shame really.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
I think the "hard knocks" series actually spawned the whole liverpool "being" thing.
Luke Doherty
Roar Guru
That's my fear - that clubs think like that. If you were doing a mini-series - i think there'd be more value in hearing a coaches pre-game chat than the other rubbish.
PJ
Guest
Yeah lets do a documentry at the Titans and make sure it shows all the staff being told that pays will be late AGAIN and that superanuation hasnt been paid for months then show that fat cat Michael Searle jetting off on his American/Caribbean 1st class holiday. That will really get the viewers in!
Rixy
Guest
I was thinking the same thing, what about South Sydney Story? Wasn't the best produced program but pretty much did exactly what the article is asking for, at a rather interesting time for the club (Crowe had just taken over and Jason Taylor had taken them to the first finals series in 15 odd years)
Bondy.
Guest
Luke you were watching a football programme and you never thought of it working for the A League or with a A League club ?, does the A League exist to you Luke or just the real stuff in England. Luke do you like the A League ? .You never write about it though sit straight down to watch Liverpool, what has the sport done to you in Autralia Luke to virtually never cover the sport in Australia ?.
Michael
Guest
+1
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Well the show is basically a few weeks behind in the current season and anyone paying attention to Liverpool so far will know they are struggling a little,so i think episodes in the coming weeks will be far from "fluffy".
Sledgeandhammer
Guest
Not sure if it was mentioned above, but has anyone seen 'school of hard knocks'. One of my favourite sport documentaries. Here's a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsIRYl4SkjQ
Brett McKay
Expert
I believe the Queensland Reds have a similar series starting tonight on Fox Sports..
oikee
Guest
League fans have been turning on nine for years now, they still dont get it. Nine can die, nobody would turn up to the funeral, that is the following they have built. Here is the next warning, league reporters who think they are reporters, wearing very thin. I have stopped reading the drama queens, i have not read a D.W weedler story now for over a year. D.H is on the list along with R.W the woman, am i allowed to say that or am i a Myhoginist or whatever they call Abbott these days. :) They need to be careful, it is why the papers and these ugly story reporters are losing their jobs. I dont pay to read their rubbish either. I have not bought a paper now for over a year. They just dont take the hint, poeple have had a gutful, now where have you heard that before. Look at the Roar, the league bloggers are getting tired of the scrumpty bullocks stories every second day on this site. Take the warning.
View from the hill
Guest
Ryan. That sort of happened when we saw at halftime in Roosters & Raiders game Smith in the dressing room showing his team backline moves using drink bottles. Seen it re used a number of times in league shows since as a means to have a giggle at Smith's expense. So NRL clubs have let us inside the dressing rooms at half time & look what the media did with it.
Chris Chard
Expert
Agree this would be great if done properly, especially for clubs that don't get as much mainstream press. I think the Titans, Sharks or Panthers would be perfect candidates for a 'Hard Knocks' style series, given the rebuilding they're going through at each club. Also as Luke mentioned the fans are genuinely interested to know what thet players are really like, this piece here touches more on the topic http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8398483/how-tv-sports-docs-changed-reporting But hey, isn't everyone forgetting.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49mt7EdqCIA&feature=relmfu CC
JVGO
Guest
If that journalist was RH than I don't know why you'd listen. His follow up article re the NRL was just utter gutter trash. Stick to your guns Ryan. You have a million times more credibility and integrity than someone like him.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Boom, I retracted, as per a conversation I had with a SMH journalist, the part where I said ALL the media were there hoping for trouble. . .