Radio Coverage of Finals

[Port78]

Am listening on LifeFM on the net...only option I got.

[Ecky]

This afternoon I spent flicking between 5AN, 5RPH and 5AA with the aim of getting an unbiased comparison of the three stations SANFL coverage. Apologies to LifeFM, but there is only so many stations you can analyse!

Disclaimer: As you can only listen to one station at once, I stand corrected on some of these details - I will obviously miss some things, and I didn't hear any of the first half of the first game. Also, I hope my criticisms are constructive and not too negative, I just want there to be the best coverage of the SANFL possible.

The Lineups

5AN

Commentators: Roger Wills, Peter Walsh
Special Comments: Stephen Williams (1st game), Rod Jameson (2nd game)
Stats: Eric Freeman
Boundary Rider: Michael Philipou (1st game), Jill Moss (2nd game)

5RPH

Commentators: Dennis Browne, Paul Blandis
Special Comments: Phil Herden
Boundary Rider: Chris Kendall

5AA - 1st game

Commentators: Chris Dittmar, Stephen Rowe
Special Comments: Russell Ebert, Brett Backwell

5AA - 2nd game

Commentators: David Wildy, Anthony Tucker
Special Comments: Chris McDermott

Assessment

Category 1: Accuracy of call/Main Commentators

1st: 5AA - Chris Dittmar in particular did a professional job, rarely getting any players wrong. Rowey, Wildy and co. also were acceptable - I only heard one or two occasions when they didn't know who was who. Wildy not knowing details such as how North's Eberts were related to Russell Ebert was not good enough though.

2nd: 5RPH - Blandis was excellent, DB was an embarrassment like usual. I don't understand how he can get so many players wrong, even in the second half of the games. The other stations have the excuse of not regularly covering the SANFL, DB has none. Confusing AhChee with Looby, Ilett with Dolling in the second half? Another classic stuffup when Ryswyk kicked to um..er... Ryswyk...um er.... By that stage he had missed the next few possessions too. If you read this DB, this is not a personal attack. I really admire your commitment and enthusiasm for the SANFL, but if you can't get the players right you shouldn't be commentating.

3rd: 5AN - Both Walsh and Wills showed they had done very little homework and their lack of knowledge was really exposed. Continually calling Dale Ellis "Dale Lewis", pronouncing Iljcesen as "Ill-sesson", not knowing who number 33 for South was in the 2nd half etc... Improved though in the second game.

Category 2: Special Comments

1st: 5AA - Russell Ebert, Rowey and Backwell in particular were excellent. Backwell noticed a lot of the things that were going on behind the play, where players weren't manning up etc. Ebert has a very good "big picture" view of the trends in the game, something which you don't need an intimate knowledge of the SANFL to comment on effectively.

2nd: 5AN - S Williams and Jamo both gave professional performances but their lack of knowledge of individual players was shown up at times

3rd: 5RPH - With Smithy sick, their team had a grand total of zero games experience of playing SANFL. Phil is much more suited to the play by play commentary role. Very little insight of team tactics, suggestions of coaching moves etc.

Category 3: Stats
1st: 5AN - I can't comment on how accurate they were, but Eric Freeman's updates were informative.

2nd: 5AA - Did not hear any stats in the first game, but Chris McDermott was getting some basic stats from somewhere in the 2nd game.

3rd: 5RPH - No mention of any player stats. Phil Herden's historical stats were interesting like usual though.

Category 4: Boundary Riders
1st: 5AN - Excellent use of both Phillipou and Jill Moss - great to have instant injury updates when players went off injured, plus interviews with players at the end of the games.

2nd: 5RPH - Chris Kendall knows his stuff, but was really under-utilized.

3rd: 5AA - non-existant.

Category 5: Advertisements
1st: 5AN - hardly any - hooray!

2nd: 5AA - just the usual ads you expect for a commercial station in the breaks

3rd: 5RPH - Please only mention your sponsors when there is a break in play. It is very annoying hearing about yet another "Smithfield Crash Clanger" when the ball is still in play and you should be commentating on what is happening next!

Category 6: Half Time Coverage (2nd game only, I missed half time of the first game)
1st: 5RPH - Great interview with SANFL marketing manager Paul Anderson, which helped restore my faith that the SANFL does have their "finger on the pulse". Phil asked some good questions and Anderson showed that he was quite aware of the issues (like changing the starting times, whether double-headers work etc...)

equal 2nd: 5AN and 5AA - both stations talked more about non-SANFL things like the cricket (5AN) and whether Riccuito would play next week (5AA)


Overall

So my overall verdict is actually the opposite of what I was expecting before the games!

1st: 5AA - I hope I'm not too biased by saying that Backwell and Ebert's special comments got them over the line
2nd: 5AN - slick presentation but lack of SANFL knowledge showed up
3rd: 5RPH - one-dimensional call with no former players - missed Smithy. DB's performance was enough to make anyone switch stations.

Anyway, remember that these are only my opinions (and I'm no football expert). I'd be interested to know what others thought.

[Dogwatcher]

Well done on a good wrap up Ecky.
Fair.

I can tell you how frustrated I get when listening to Peter Walsh during any commentary. Self indulgent and often his regular interjections with double entendres, and often less sophisticated humour, makes me feel like I'm listening to a football commentary version of Are You Being Served. How he gets away with it, I don't know. Other commentators would have been canned for it. If you haven't noticed it, take a close listen in the future.

[bulldogproud]

Interesting to see that 5AA actually called Ladhams for a possession today *grins*

[Dutchy]

agree Ecky - I listened to AA and RPH in hte first game and AA were miles ahead esp with Backwell who was excellent...suprised me RPH hadnt thought of bringing in a current SANFL player to add to the coverage...no matter how much people bag AA they did a very professional job and bringing in Backwell was a master stroke...at the same time Im a big fan of RPH's commitment to SANFL footy

[CENTURION]

Yeah Dogger, I'm with you!

[bulldogproud]

Not sure who it was, but why was a commentator allowed to go out and speak to the umpires at three quarter time of the South v Port game???? Seemed very very strange to me.

[CK]

Not sure who it was, but why was a commentator allowed to go out and speak to the umpires at three quarter time of the South v Port game???? Seemed very very strange to me.

G'day bulldogproud,

I'm not sure on this one, but I was out at each break and didn't see this myself. I did go out at 1/4 time and ask the field umpire what Parry had been reported for, to clarify it for the listeners (it had been a little unclear to many of us), but I'm certainly not aware of any commentators approaching the umpires at any other stage.

[-]

Thanks for the feedback

For record @ RPH the four of us (Darryl Smith, Dennis Browne, Paul Blandis & myself) will be commentating EVERY LEAGUE final.

Chris Kendall will also be with us giving regular updates from the boundary / huddles.

In the Reserves Prelim & Grand Final it will be John Nankivell, Chris Kendall and Chris Andrews.


As for - I probably need to ask what do you need to do to be considered a "footy expert" ?
- Play 200 SANFL games (Smithy)
- Analyse the game over 5 decades (DB)
- Call over 30 games in the minor round (Paul)
- or "write the book" on the league (me).

For mine .... an expert is someone who knows enough about the subject at hand (ie SANFL) to provide an opinion that is both accurate and not superficial. An expert does not necessarily need to be someone with "profile".

Between us RPH has this season broadcast ;
- Eagles 10 games, North 7 games, Central 10 games, South 9 games and Port 10 games.

Given some finals broadcasters haven't event called 6 SANFL games in total this season this should certainly give us the knowledge to provide "expert" coverage.

Ok Phil,

I admire the time and effort you guys put into SANFL.

Smithy is an expert no doubt. He is by far and away the most credible and gifted broadcaster on 5rph.

DB may have called for a long time but that doesnt make him in the same league of caller as the guys on the ABC and 5AA who are good enough to call AFL. From all reports he was stuffing up players names yesterday. Very passionate though which is still important.

Blandis- How does covering 30 games this year make him an expert?

Herden- With due respect statistical nouse can be aquired with time and effort which you have put in. While historical stats are of immense interest to me and others I don't believe it is an essential ingredient of a quality commentator. Calling, understanding of the game and tactics are most important.

I sum up 5rph like this:

STRENGTHS- Watch the sanfl every week and know the players well.

WEAKNESSES- Calling ability a bit scratchy compared to the AFL guys omn the other channels.
- Football nouse and understanding of the game and tactics with the exception of Smithy is a less. Of course R.Ebert, Backwell, Jameson, S.Williams and Mcdermott are going to have you covered in that regard.

5AA

STRENGTHS- Quality callers of the game with AFL experience. The extra smoothness is noticeable. Lets face it they call AFL for a reason.

- Expert commentators have playing and coaching experience at the top level and a good understanding of the trends of the game.

WEAKNESSES- The callers dont know every player from each team as they only watch a handfull of games per year.

As I said before I believe people who watch their team every week have a better knowledge of whats going on (in their team, not every team) than the 5rph commentators as they dont see it every week. Sometimes from the snippets of 5rph I hear I just notice little gaps in knowledge where you guys are half guessing or not quite as knowledgable as one who watches every week. In the AFL that is different. I would back the very best AFL commentators to know more about teams than their diehard supporters. 1. because they watch the tapes every week and 2. they are for the most part former players with better credentials to comment on football.

[once_were_warriors]

I listened to 5AA call whilst in the car of the Port v South and the one thing i noticed that towards the end of the game Russell Ebert was saying how disappointing the result was etc . Russell whilst i know you are a port man except in those years of wisdom when you left the dark side and came to Oval Avenue , you aren't commentating a Power Game , hence from a non biased point of view you should have been praising the efforts of South ( which he did , but was secondary to his personal disappointment of the result).

[Wedgie]

Must admit I had the Port v South game on the tranny (in the carpark) on 5RPH and after the 5th Smithfield Crash Clanger and 7th PDK highlight within 35 seconds I turned it over to the ABC.
When I went back out to the car I actually put it on 5AA as Wildy and McDermott were the only one's actually talking about the game out of all the channels.

[BPBRB]

To quote Ecky on his summary:

5AA - Chris Dittmar in particular did a professional job, rarely getting any players wrong. Rowey, Wildy and co. also were acceptable - I only heard one or two occasions when they didn't know who was who. Wildy not knowing details such as how North's Eberts were related to Russell Ebert was not good enough though.

Not good enough is an understatement. The bloke is an ex North player and teammate of Jars. He once quipped on air back in 2004 that he doesn't take his kids to the SANFL because they have no interest in a second rate comp? I think he also said they have never been to a SANFL or North game?

That is disgraceful for a player who played in the comp. and should be proud showing his kids his old club and taking them to watch the current group go around. What is he going to tell his kids and grandkids when they ask were do AFL players come from - they aren't bloody made by mixing water and suger and shaking til up pops a ready made AFL player.

Wildy you are a disgrace to the NAFC you ignorant tool and how you got a media gig when you were "just" an average player is beyond me! How soon they forget. Give me RPH anytime but only with Smithy, Phil Herden and John Nankervill. without

[SANFLStirrer]

RPH do a great job and are to be commended for their commitment to local footy, the guys did a good job in the broadcast but would be good to hear more from ck on the boundary.

[bulldogproud]

Thanks for the reply, CK. I just did not know that umpires were allowed to be approached during a match. I know the players can't do it, I assumed noone else could either.
Cheers!

[Ecky]

I would like to say well done to RPH for what I thought was a much better call yesterday. Much better with Smithy there, and CK was used much more on the boundary - he earnt his keep with all those North injuries to report on in the first game!

[SANFLStirrer]

so, which coverage will we all be listening to for the big one? rph are calling both games, i wonder if any other outlets will?

[sturtpeter]

I don't want to comment about the Finals' Coverage but looking forward to next year:

Phil won't be on RPH due to his new position at the SAFC.

I call for ca to give special comments at games he has time to cover.

Have missed the footysa guys all year but ca in particular deserves a gig.

Perfect team for RPH:

Paul Darryl to call and ca to give special comments.

JN to cover in games that are spread over a particular Round.

This combination would put Wills Walsh etc to shame. All Walsh cares about is Hawthorn and his Tassie VFL contacts.

Roger Wills is an excellent Cricket commentator: Walsh, HINH did he gain a position at the ABC in Adelaide?

[PhilH]

Sturtpeter

Now who is predicting months ahead of time?

Fact is I plan to still be a part of the RPH Football Coverage in 2007 in a reduced capacity

My Panther duties preclude me from calling when there is a South home game scheduled.
I may also have commitments during other South games.

However given RPH called 43 minor rd matches take out all 20 for South and that still leaves
a reasonable amount for me to be involved with.

I also plan to be involved in one of the week day segments.

All this was discussed with SAFC & RPH prior to being appointed.

[sturtpeter]

Sorry, Phil

I assumed wrongly that your job at SA wouldn't enable you to continue on Match day commentaries.

All the better for the SANFL public that you'll be able to cover some games too.

Whoever does the games RPH is the best and I hope it continues that way for many years to come.

[sturtpeter]

I also forgot to mention the great work done by CK and Sandy around the grounds.

For those unable to attend the games the coverage is second to none.