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Channel Seven’s coverage of AFL’s Saturday night football has reached new lows this year, and those calling the game are the ones to blame.
I like nothing more than to sit down on the weekend and watch whatever game is on the telly in the evening, but even my obsession with the game is being tested by the verbal diarrhoea we are being subjected to each week.
Memo to Brian Taylor and Luke Darcy – we actually tune in to watch the game and gain some insight into the game. Strangely enough, we couldn’t care less about the constant, self-absorbed, point scoring banter these guys go on with.
The incessant attempt to claim the higher ground at the expense of their fellow commentators is mind-numbingly boring, and is clear evidence they feel they are in fact the main attraction.
Heaven forbid Brian actually attempts to get the occasional player’s name right, or even more astoundingly use their actual name rather than a nickname.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind the use of the alternative moniker during a call, but it is done so frequently that you almost think that Jake King has officially changed his name to “Push-up”. They even resorted to banging on about a goal umpire’s nickname!
It also seems essential that each week the boys tackle one of the crucial issues in footy each week.
The umpires are often in the firing line, but a couple of weeks ago they spent an age discussing how well dressed one of the goal umpires was.
The following week, some poor bloke in the crowd was singled out for repeated attention due to the fact he had hairy shoulders. Riveting stuff.
Sadly, Matthew Richardson and Cameron Ling have also lowered their standards and involve themselves in this rubbish.
They both have strong insights into the modern game and provide some interesting comments during a Saturday night game, but they too get dragged into the schoolboy antics of their co-callers.
Brian Taylor made his name as a caller on the radio, where his ‘style’ is definitely more suited. Taylor and Darcy are by no means the only commentators on TV or radio who feel that without them there wouldn’t be a show.
Surely the main aim of the commentator should be to add to the experience, not to hog the limelight yourself.
Too often it feels as though you are listening to a few blokes down the pub or at the footy, having a few beers and ribbing each other all night.
If that’s the type of coverage Channel 7 are after, then all the best to them.
But it is ill-considered, self-important and actually diminishes the delivered product.
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