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.
Ray Gilbert
Guest
Cliche after cliche,I turn it off.
Geoff Hannah
Guest
Spot on Ray. I would like to watch the footy on TV with no commentary but with the crowd noise for atmosphere.
Valda pain
Guest
I am not a football fanatic but the biased comments by the commentators in the 3rd quarter of the port- hawthorne game was disgusting in favour of Hawthorne. And then obviously after a reminder from the production staff they tried to make up for it . We're the commentators all wearing brown & gold shirts ???
jerome
Guest
I have watched too many televised AFL games in which my enjoyment was seriously undermined by a substandard and inappropriate commentary by Brian Taylor. Some may enjoy his comments and bafoonery but they are out of keeping with the professionalism of today's game. Surely there are some other commentators that Channel 7 can secure who are more articulate, insightful and able to enhance the game with a lively DESCRIPTION.
Rod
Guest
Channel 7 commentators are the worst in the business. Don't mind Dennis and Ling. McAvaney is terrible. He is very bias. Darcy and Richardson are absolutely terrible. Darcy is an introvert and can only comment by referring to his stats sheet or by using cliches. He cant read what is happenning around the ground. He must feel bad putting out his hand for his paypacket each week. Richardson is also pathetic and unfortunately unemployable, thus he needs to stick to commentating. I have never heard anything constructive come out of his mouth. My 6 year old could commentate on their level. If you listen to people like Brereton and King and co. on FOX FOOTY, they actually let you know what is going on tactically. I love this style of commentating.
Jenny Middleton
Guest
Watching gws leading against collingwood and the commentators have spent the entire game talking about how collingwoqod will be in the top 8 if they win this one. They must've said this over 50 times! How pathetic. What about a bit of balance? It would be nice to hear something about gws's efforts for a change.
erin
Guest
Well that says it all. This homophobic bloke has the audacity to criticise someone who happens to be waving to the crowd and taking a bow of sorts......while Taylor himself is so self-absorbed in making himself the centre of attention that he forgets the footballer's names! He needs counselling and educating big-time as others have pointed out. Does he not realise that homophobic outbursts from supposedly heterosexual men is basically expressing a fear abput their own sexuality?
pancho
Guest
Shmick,things haven't improved this year,going from bad to worse,and youcan throw in self indulging dermott Brereton ,I think he's the worst of all
ray
Guest
How about Bruce and his new "Hey" at the end of every second sentence??? STOP IT......It is aggravating; and for someone who is meant to be one of the most "intelligent" callers of the game it sounds like he is try to "dumb it up" by sounding like a half arsed Kiwi/South African import, Hey!!!!
getBToff
Guest
Watching Adelaide v Kangaroos tonight, BT (the elitist) has managed to make reference to everyone in Adelaide having mullets on atleast 5 separate occasions, this is coming from someone who is still rocking a 70's moustache! An occasional dig here and there is fun. but seriously grow up BT. It surprising that channel 7 doesn't pull him up on this sort of nonsense, does he not realise that half of the audience is probably from Adelaide?
Graeme Yeomans
Guest
I wonder if Channel 7 realise the turn off to AFL when Brian Taylor and his cohorts appear on TV. They could not be accused of being serious sports commentators. Often the game continues whilst they talk about everything apart from the game . Why are the bad comments only about the Saturday night team?IE Brian Taylor and his team. I hope the AFL realise the poor promotion of our great game when awarding the next TV rights deal.
Phil Jobson
Guest
The commentary on the Essendon v Richmond game was again disgraceful. As with the Saturday night commentary team, you try to ignore it, but when Brian Taylor came out with OMG that was the end. Brian, OMG is a girl expression, not a man's, and this is a man's game. Would you not be better suited to commenting on women' s netball? Cameron Ling, try answering a question without saying ABSOLUTELY, or don't you know any other words. If your ambition is to coach, maybe you should go back to school and learn some more. Luke Darcy, perhaps you may be better off carrying around a photo of yourself, that way you don't have to keep looking at the TV monitor all the time. Better still change the whole commentary team for Saturday night's footy, we may then be able to enjoy it again.
neville
Guest
BT coverage of Hawthorn & Port was so biassed and BT so full of shit was embassing,!!
kevin1
Guest
I agree, and can you guys - especially you Luke Darcy - stop calling Mark Jamar "the big Russian" - Yes his team-mates call him this because players like silly nickhames but he was born in Port Pirie and started his senior football in Adelaide, just like you. Have you been watching too many James Bond films? This ethnic stereotyping is old fashioned and ignorant - get used to multi-culturalism, they're all FULLY FLEDGED Australians.
Lynda Goosey
Guest
Really disgusted with Brian Taylor's call on Saturday nights game Melbourne v Western Bulldogs ..really felt he didn't want the dogs to get up , his call was really exciting when Melbourne had the ball but when it was the other way no excitement in his call at all. Really thought the dogs played well
gerard cupples
Guest
Watched gcsuns v hawks channel 7 commentary was shocking found out lingy caught up ablett during the week instead of calling the game we heard how lingy was a flog l know who the flog is (brian taylor) memo to channel 7 will not watch saturday football again until bt is gone. Message to bt stay with 3aw its bad enough we have to listen to u there. Message to afl channel 7 should not have the football again
Maryann
Guest
Any chance Richo and co can remain objective and just call the game? All players are out there under the same conditions. It's now the AFL not the VFL.....get over it!
Graeme
Guest
This is my first ever complaint via the Internet. Surely the Cheif of the AFL or the management at Channel 7 must realize what damage that the team lead by Brian Taylor are doing to our great game . This is not football commentary but just chatter that has virtually nothing to do with the game. I HAVE NOW TURNED OFF! Please do something .
brian
Guest
I wish that channel 10 never lost the rights or even had Stephen quartermain and Tim lane move to 7. To me, quartermain was and still is one of the best callers in afl footy. His voice is just so authentic and strong, he doesn't over exaggerate or go over the top like Brian Taylor and he so often says the right things for the right moments with the right level of excitement. E.g Leo Barry's mark during the 05 grand final andbuddy Franklin's 100th season goal in 2008. I'd also maybe like to see Dwayne Russell move to channel 7, he's not the best but certainly better than Brian Taylor.
Fiairgame
Guest
BT have a good look at yourself Any intellectual banter would be wasted on you.... Direct critisism would have no effct you have to look deep to understand your impact on people. Engage your brain before your mouth Regards Disappointed