There isn’t one and there has never been one. So, there’s a reason why we should ask the question.
I’m a writer – I don’t man the barricades but I sometimes feel taken with an urge to put something into the ether that is our public conversation when I feel that it might add to the discussion. I haven’t seen this topic discussed before, hence the motivation to write the article and hopefully provoke further discussion below.
Let’s start with the role of the ball-by-ball commentator and what we have come to expect of him. Channel Seven has two of them, playing off each other in tandem for a minute or two at a time. Their job is to tell us what they see of what’s going on when not much is going on. There’s a very subtle art to it as we understand it. You can’t just call names – well, not indefinitely, no, the ball has to be carried forward or backward by your smaller words in and around the names that you’re rattling off.
Bruce McAvaney and delicious. That sort of air space. They all have or had their own style – Dennis Cometti, McAvaney, BT – a most worthy heir to Max Walker’s “yobbos and dickheads” appeal crown that Billy Birmingham once bestowed on him – the list goes on.
For various reasons, this has been considered a weighty role. Occupants tend to outlast high court justices and Collingwood presidents in terms of tenure if not evicted by their own tongue in both AFL and league. The role has a skin colour barrier thicker than the one that surrounded the White House of the United States. And I see nothing to make me believe that this state of affairs is ever going to change.
With the obvious answer to why an indigenous commentator has never been used in this role (because one has never been offered the job) quickly arrived at, my mind then turned to, well, how could this state of affairs be changed – in practical terms? I mean, this is a role that needs a professional. It’s not really a job for ex-players.
So let me ask you this. Where’s the indigenous version of Anthony Hudson these days? Huddo never played footy and got the job on the strength of being very very good at what he does. Find the best up-and-coming indigenous commentator they can find when McAvaney retires and give him the job. Let’s have some blatant affirmative action on this.
If you really want to get an indigenous voice front and centre in the game, you’ve got to have one calling the game, that’s my view. I know there’s a young-at-heart indigenous man out there who loves footy, who can sing the footy song as well as anyone with his words and make those of us watching at home think that we’re there.
Cometti wasn’t born a legend of the commentary box. He was made one through decades of service. I would like to see an indigenous man given this same opportunity – given the space to grow into the role, make it his own and write his own story over the next few decades. There’s one out there. Channel Seven should go and find him.
ferbs
Guest
Sick of this racism crap it ain’t as bad as what everyone makes it out to be. In WA indigenous kids are more likely to get locked up than play footy. You're full of it.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Erin Molan is a hoot on the radio in general banter with the Big Man and others, but I don't see her as a commentator.
West Coast Eagles
Roar Rookie
Notice on this public forum hardly anyone gives a full name and authenticity. Seriously more crap. That makes me dubious lol same as nearly all posters. Try again Thomas
West Coast Eagles
Roar Rookie
Haha okay Thomas
User
Roar Rookie
I have way too little time to lurk the net with multiple accounts but believe whatever you like mate it's no skin off my nose. Gathering im correct that this is only one of many accounts you have.
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
You're nothing more than a troll.
West Coast Eagles
Roar Rookie
Do you think it is a tad hypocritical to identify all these issues and still live on this land that was taken over?……Crickets……… Seems Thom ignores the parts he has nothing to be righteous about…..
West Coast Eagles
Roar Rookie
Looks like a case of multiple accounts hahaha seriously coming from you everyone knows you have multiple accounts. Life must be good for you 6x6
West Coast Eagles
Roar Rookie
Could not care less about Adam he sooked cause a child insulted him. He was supposed to be a professional sportsmen they cop abuse which isn't right but big deal man up.
West Coast Eagles
Roar Rookie
So because I’m indigenous I have to state that before I make a comment or share my opinion? What a load of crap from you once again
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Your straw man arguments positively reek of privilege and apologist swagger. Boris Becker isn’t much of a role model even for Germans as he didn’t pay tax during his highest earning years and that’s almost the worst thing a German can do. I find most Germans take more shame in their past than most Australians do for the way indigenous people have been treated for the past 233 years. I go for the Suns, Graeme. #NeverSayDie
Graeme
Roar Rookie
Thom have you ever heard the George Harrison song "Brainwashed"? Do you think it is a tad hypocritical to identify all these issues and still live on this land that was taken over? Do you hold Boris Becker responsible for events in Europe 80 years ago? Do you ever ponder the sliding doors circumstances had WWII gone the other way in the Pacific? Have you ever worked out why Mandela was such a great man as opposed to Mugabe? Are you a Carlton supporter? You have all the answers no doubt. All the best !
Thom Roker
Roar Guru
Stan Grant is much more than just some media hack. He's published several books and wrote the film, The Australian Dream, which covered the Adam Goodes racial vilification saga. He's the closest thing we have to a high profile commentator, except he covers politics and indigenous issues instead of sport unless they intersect. You've got the welfare perspective all wrong. Indigenous people don't get one cent more than non-indigenous. Their payments just have different names. The employment programs have different names. Any mining/resources money is a pittance compared to what the miners should be paying the owners of the land, but there's white privilege for you. If you envy indigenous people for the government funding they get, do you also envy homeless people because they get to spend so much time hanging out in the park? I'm glad you have elders to speak with and hope you do so more often. I do too. They agree with me, or more accurately, I get my views from their perspective. What you are doing when you minimise or deny the massive problems of systemic racism and inequality is called Gaslighting. It does you no credit. Indigenous Australians had their country invaded, lands stolen, peoples raped and killed in massacres too numerous to count and their culture wiped out. All so you can enjoy your "Fair go" and give your privileged opinions that show you have 0 effs to give about the issues facing indigenous people.
Graeme
Roar Rookie
Thom, respectfully I would rather listen to 2 elders I know in the Pilbara and 1 in the Murchison than Stan Grant’s media perspective. I know Liam Ryan’s grandfather who was heavily involved in teaching children boxing and self respect at Police Boys in Geraldton. 2 of my in-laws are indigenous and my brother in law’s best mate was aboriginal so I am not entirely green but no expert on indigenous affairs. You have your beliefs and I have mine. I believe if we were in the USA we could genuinely talk white privilege. Indigenous people in WA benefit from priority state housing, are paid to go to school, receive clothing allowances, benefit from employment programmes by local government and mining/resources companies. My sister in law, a single mother has been on struggle street for years and has not seen a lot of this white privilege you mention. Elders themselves often say do not divide but we do not listen and our “academics” continue with sesquipedalian rhetoric showing great intelligence but probably need to go into the communities and listen to eldersto rather than believe all the tutorials stemming from overseas agendas.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Just expressing deep frustration Gerry. Maybe you can borrow Eddie's thesaurus.
Tom M
Guest
Gilbert feel asleep during a game on a sunday arvo last season. Bryan and co tried to cross to him and it was met by silence for a good 30seconds. Remember it clear as day quite funny as he had no clue what was going on, real character.
Randy
Guest
Both are terrible. Jamie Soward on the other hand is a very good commentator and also excellent presenter on TV, I think he is indigenous? Channel 9 should be using him for NRL, not relegating him to NSW cup. But this is channel 9 who will keep rolling out Rabs until he is 100.
Gerry
Roar Rookie
You don’t always need to use big words to be taken seriously or to sound intelligent for the sake of it.
User
Roar Rookie
A gAy bloke would be good to see aswell, maybe Joel Creasey. But as no player has come out I'd guess because of fan base attitudes I can't see it happening.
User
Roar Rookie
Looks like a case of multiple accounts thom, your comments are well informed in comparison to the general kerfuffle I've read here.