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A couple of nights ago, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin’s 13 goal haul against North Melbourne in 2012 was replayed on Fox Footy.
It was breathtaking to relive Franklin at his scintillating best. Goals from outside 50, from the pocket, from directly in front, he was doing it all.
Despite that, the biggest highlight to come out of the game was the commentary of Anthony Hudson. He sounded genuinely excited as Franklin headed into ‘unchartered territory’ with the goals mounting.
When Franklin kicked his 12th, his voice breaking, Hudson screamed, “Sometimes you just have to sit back and enjoy the show!”
When Franklin kicked his 13th goal, Huddo’s excitement was at breaking point, “Thirteen, Thiirteeenn! Can you believe it?”
His call of the final goal has become more talked about than Franklin’s amazing day. It added to the moment by creating an enjoyable rhythm to the beauty of what was unfolding before us.
That is was great commentary does, it adds to the moment and does not distract from it.
Anthony Hudson, while not always getting it right, has made many memorable moments even greater with the commentary he has added.
When Nick Davis kicked the winning goal for Sydney in the 2005 semi-final against Geelong (the club Hudson supports), he produced arguably his most famous call, “Davis, Nick Davis. I see it but I don’t believe it.”
Earlier this year he described Brisbane’s win over Geelong as “the miracle on grass”, beautifully summing up the moment.
Commentators don’t always get the moment right though.
Earlier this year Eddie McGuire was calling a game between North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs when Robert Murphy went for a run by stepping around Jamie Macmillan.
Eddie thought it was Andrew Swallow then corrected himself, realising his mistake, but by that point Robert Murphy was kicking for goal and the moment had seemingly passed; Murphy’s great goal diminished slightly because of the quality of the call.
Of course he got it absolutely right when calling Richard Douglas’ third quarter goal for Adelaide against Hawthorn earlier this year, when McGuire got very excited as the margin was cut to five points.
Commentary is an acquired taste. Commentators one person loves, the other will hate.
Dennis Cometti appears to have avoided this, almost universally admired as the best commentator in the game.
I am firmly in the Dennis boat, not so much for his one-liners – during a game I’m too concentrated to notice most of them (I will pick up one or two) – but because of the uninterrupted way he calls the game, commenting on both the big and intricate moments of a contest, his voice lifting with the excitement of a crowd.
Bruce McAvaney has the ability to polarise like few others and while he can ask a few too many questions (can’t he?), there is something about his voice that keeps me listening. Very few commentators can do excited better than Bruce.
His call of Lewis Jetta’s goal in last year’s preliminary final a case in point:
“Usain Bolt couldn’t get him now, and Jetta puts on another one. That is just so exciting!”
In my view, AFL commentary is of a high standard. Where it suffers is the blatant bias certain commentators exude. Commentators are at times so blatantly biased they can be unlistenable.
As much as I love Paul Roos (I’m a Sydney Supporter and owe him everything for delivering us the 2005 premiership), they should keep him far away from Sydney games.
Robert Walls should be kept away from any team he ever coached or played for. One can only thank the footy gods for Foxtel’s decision to keep Eddie McGuire away from Collingwood.
Sam Newman infamously criticised Port Adelaide during the 2004 grand final.
The best commentary is capable of lifting an audience with it. Adding to the excitement of the moment, the roar of the crowd, the jubilation of the players.
They won’t always get it right, but when they do it makes a great moment even greater.
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