Over the past decade, there have been complaints made everyday to talk shows and AFL footy shows about how poor Channel Seven’s coverage of the footy is.
Well, the public finally had their voices heard when Fox announced that they would bring back Fox Footy.
Fans rejoiced because not only was there no ad-breaks, there was also 24/7 footy for all those fanatics around the nation that included plenty of shows to review the games and replays.
So who deserves to broadcast the AFL in the future?
Channel Seven’s coverage of the game could only be described in one word, disgusting. It’s commentators for one, starring Bruce McAvaney, Tom Haley, Brian Taylor, Leigh Matthews, Denis Cometti are a horrible selection.
Bruce loves to come out with weird names to describe his favourite players during the game and towards the end he’ll start to ask the same question – ‘Where do you think Essendon’s season is heading from here Leigh? You just get the feeling they’re going to drop off’.
Taylor was a lot better when he was originally working for Fox Sports because he was pure class and excellent when he hosted League Teams every Thursday night. That’s the way it should of stayed. Now he says ridiculous statements during the game and brings up the NFL and how much of an influence the sport is having on our game.
Wayne Carey is probably the best out of the bunch. He actually talks sensibly and knows and talks well about the game.
Channel Seven’s camera coverage around the ground is alright at times, but the helicopter views and stupid angles are unnecessary and show nothing during the game. It just destroys the fun of sitting at home watching it.
I can safely say I feel more comfortable watching Fox Footy. I mean how could you beat it? They have every game live, during the game they have other games’ scores on-screen, they also feature some experts who have knowledge on the game and don’t talk about other crap and they have footy on 24/7.
You gotta love that.
Dermott Brereton is probably one of the best commentators on there. He talks sense, knows the game and talks in depth about it during the week on the many shows he’s on.
You’ve also gotta love Mark Robinson’s attitude. He brings some real humour to the board but also talks about the game so well. He knows what he’s talking about, unlike others. He and Gerard Healy on AFL 360 are hilarious and that is probably the best show on footy.
Mark McClure is just an angry old sod when you think about it. All he focuses on is Carlton and when he’s not he barely wants to talk about the other teams.
So who deserves the coverage then?
I don’t think Channel Seven deserve it at all. Being a supporter of the game and for years of having to put up with it disgusts me, Fox Footy is much better on nearly every angle.
For free-to-air TV, I think Channel Nine should have it, they already have three footy shows on during the week reviewing and analysing the game. Channel Ten really doesn’t have much to push for. But we will have to wait and see I suppose.
Jeanneen McLennan
Guest
Foxtel, no better, stated it will broadcast 24/7 afl coverage, but not when ones own box has no signal. Won't be able to watch any afl live coverage on my foxtel account, as they can't provided a service of a technician to fix my no signal, till later this month. Is this the people's game or the broadcasters.
Michael
Guest
Fox footy should have all rights
Michael
Guest
Fox footy
Fronda
Guest
Dennis & Bruce are two of the better commentators, they call the game, mostly. Dermot is very irritating always waffling on to Tony on who should have done what etc instead of calling the game as it is played, if the radio was in sinc with the TV, I would listen to that instead of that pair. Dermy should keep his waffling to his weekly footy Show appearances. Now my other gripe with the TV coverage is the encroachment of media into the inner sanctum of the participating teams on the day. I think, one, it is not needed, & two, is quite disrespectful, interrupting, either player, coaches trains of thought during games. I don't see how this coverage enhances the coverage, it's just bloody cheeky & must be so bloody irritating for the teams having to tow the line because of the media. I prefer to watch the game, I don't want to know at quarter time, half time, what they are thinking & are going to try & do, bloody pathetic. Tonight, media in the coaches box, unbelievable, the teams should arc up & stop this & should make a stand.
Len Trezise
Guest
Whilst the writer states that Fox Footy is more superior the cost of the sports subscription alone is outrageous for pensioners and low income earners. Fox Footy does a hell of a lot of advertising and propaganda and it is reported that they only have 40% of the viewing market. In this day and age of Government cuts to their budget and low income earners and pensioners are struggling to survive they need to hold onyo every dollar they can. It would be a lot fairer if they made one Telebroadcaster like fox sports with better reproductions of their telecasts and share their telecasts with 9, 7, and 10 for a nominal fee saving the free-to-air stations expense of setting up equipment and paying for commentaters at each game that is telecast on free-to-air TV Failing the sharing, all the three commercials should have equal share of telecasting games, competition rules in the TV game.
Adam
Guest
I think bruce MacAvaney is the Rolf Harris of commentators. Cant stand him.
Secret
Guest
My Judging of the Sport coverage of 10, 7, 9 and SBS. Nine Pros -Footy Show (incl sun) and Footy Classified have great presenters and The Footy Show has great entertainment. Really good opinions by Footy Classified presenters as well. Nine Cons -Horrible coverage of Rugby. -Horrible Coverage of the Olympics so how could we trust Nine to have AFL. I don't think 9 would want to bid given how much they already have. Seven Pros -Great Coverage of Melbourne Cup, 2008 Olympics and Australian Open. -Talking Footy has really good presenters and Hamish is doing a terrific job on AFL Game Day. Seven Cons -Horrible Pre Match Entertainment (They should bring Before the Game back on Friday Night and Saturday Nights and have Sam, Mick and Lehmo on it) -Horrible Camera angle and No HD Coverage Ten Pros -Great Presenters. -Before the Game was awesome to watch!! -One had great HD coverage Ten Cons -They didn't keep the rights. I don't think they will get them back if 7 bids again and if Laws change allowing Fox to pinch it. SBS Pros -Great coverage of A-League matches and great Soccer Talk shows SBS Cons -They don't have any. I didn't judge them based on Ads because Ads are how Free to Air channels survive.
Jason K
Guest
Still trying to get my head around Ling. Odd to see a Chinese guy with bright red hair.
Jason K
Guest
I watch from the U.S. on AFL's Global Pass. I think the commentators are pretty good, actually. Part of me likes that it isn't presented as a circus of graphical information, like in the NFL. Also, the Global Pass is really nice because they just show you the game and no commercials, no half time talking, very few (boring) interviews. Whichever commentator sounds the most like a crotchety of man is my favorite, but I don't know his name. The one who is always annoyed. He's hilarious at times, both to laugh at and laugh with. At the end of the day, no matter where you watch, the footy nerds calling the games are going to get annoying in the end.
Shouts Chen
Guest
And Channel Seven has a few game being delayed last year. I hope Seven will bail AFL at the end of 2015 and get transferred to Channel Nine.
HAL 9000
Guest
Sorry Dave.
Clive Readhead
Roar Rookie
Thank god someone is saying the obvious. SHOW US THE B..... GOALS AND BEHINDS. As Strummer says they do mean something, especially to the genuine lover of the game itself. For instance they help us to understand something about how the game is progressing. After all it's not basketball, it's Aussie Rules !!! The main thing with the commentators is that they name the player with the ball or making the play and give commentary on what is happening right then and there on the ground.
BigAl
Guest
Probably both - and my wife.
Tristan
Guest
Nothing wrong with Channel 9's cricket?? Are you nuts? I suppose, there is nothing wrong with it, except the commentators, gimmicky graphics (weatherwall anyone?) and constant cross-promotion of whatever swill TV will soon be coming to the network. Michael Slater would be best served as Channel 9's Vladivostok correspondent - or better yet, Norilsk.
Thermo
Guest
You talking about Carey's wife or your wife?
Maggie
Guest
So pleased you made that comment about the score. Always frustrates me too.
Paul
Guest
Commentators should just commentate on the game. They should not commentate over the game with irrelevant chit chat. The amount of bogan talk is unprofessional. The amount of personal banter is unprofessional. Great commentators such as Martin Tyler commentate on the play not on themselves. I do not have Foxtel however here is my opinion on channel 7 commentators. Bruce - Like an excitable puppy. Chill it down. Otherwise still one of the best. Cometti - Most boring tone on TV. Personally I cannot stand it. Brian - All about me and my voice. Pho back to 3MMM. Richo - Awful Lurch voice. Should not be on tv. Lingi - Should just do special comments at breaks. Carey - Very Insightful. Excellent special comments man. Although wife cannot stand him. Darcy - Very underrated and should commentate more games. Watson - Underrated. Should commentate more games. Matthews - Excellent special comments man. Harley - Excellent special comment man. Hamish - Solid commentator should get more games.
Johnno
Guest
Gerald Healy, and Rex Hunt.
Keenan Ross
Roar Rookie
You lost me at "Dermott Brereton is probably one of the best commentators on there". Commentary is a very subjective thing, you either like it or you don't. Saying one channel's commentary is "disgusting" isn't a great way to start because some people, me for instance, prefer Dennis and Bruce over Dunstall, Russell and Brereton. It's a personal opinion.
Shouts Chen
Guest
And Channel nine needs to broadcast the AFL Matches. Channel Nine needs to increase viewership for Perth and for Regional WA. I remembered back in 2006 when Nine had some decent ratings for AFL in Perth. Hope that David Gyngell will be very happy about the AFL Rights. And please bring Shane Crawford, Matthew Lloyd, Spida Everitt, Chris Grant and Peter Bell to commentate matches.