5RPH Commentary

[Adelaide Hawk]

Just as an aside, when I was in Adelaide last year, I went to both an SANFL game (Coincidentally North v Glenelg) & an AFL game (the Crows v the Lions) & I now know where my heart lies. WITH THE WONDERFUL SANFL Despite, the fact that North lost, the atmosphere was fantastic.

Another convert!!! Don't forget to tell a friend .. or four. Yes, isn't the real suburban atmosphere much healthier than the plastic AFL one? That was good of 5RPH to respond so quickly and professionally.

[onkas-valleysvirgin]

If you lap up the praise, you must also cop the criticism on the chin. I think all criticism so far has been constructive. No one has had a cheap shot at the RPH crew (everyone has acknowledged their commitment & dedication), just giving them feedback on what they like & don't like. Hopefully the guys will use this to their advantage, in knowing what the customers want- how would they know if no one gave feedback?

Yeah I think that's a fair point, we have copped our fair share over the years with the site and radio I think anyone is going to have trouble accepting it in particular when it is often unfair and out of our control. You are right Punk, when you say if you take the praise you have to take the criticism all be it often unfair but thats part of the job. Being out of radio now I can probably be a bit more open and I do agree that two terms need to go.

1) Sexy football (Used again this morning)
2) Wild man from Borneo (most used phrase in Adelaide at the moment)
All in all I think the commentators do an excellent job, people have their own styles and I guess along with that goes having favourites and you are going to like some more than others.

Now if we could only get rid of:
(a) 'Strike me pink'
(b) 'To be quite frank'
(c) '..and The Great Man,Russel Ebert'
etc etc. Actually,stuff it, I'll just go back to not listening to him.

I have also been exasperated at various times by:
Stephen Rowe (terrible)
Rick Keegan (awful)
Bob Bower (older readers will remember with a grimace Bob's 2hr calls generally highlighting Mick Nunan's adventures in the goalsquare.The most blatantly biased commentator ever produced)
Eldon Crouch (another blatantly biased commentator)
KG ('nuff said)
Doug ? Whatever his name is- on LifeFM. (I know he's not on drugs so what is his excuse?)
Mark Naley (hard as Nails LMAO)
The entire current ABC TV lineup.

Whilst we are on the subject of annoying footy callers I'd like to put up a few that I've really enjoy listening to also over the years:
Peter Marker
Ian Aitken (I know he got canned earlier but I used to enjoy his calls)
Ian Day
Wally May (go back and listen to what he has to say on his commentaries and he talks a lot of sense...he was part of a cliche,not making them)
David Darcy
Rod McLeod
Max Hall
Rob Popplestone (without Matthew Campbell)
Jon Symonds
David Wildy (surprisingly)

I'd be interested in other people's opinions.

[JK]

Now if we could only get rid of:
(a) 'Strike me pink'
(b) 'To be quite frank'
(c) '..and The Great Man,Russel Ebert'
etc etc. Actually,stuff it, I'll just go back to not listening to him.

I have also been exasperated at various times by:
Stephen Rowe (terrible)
Rick Keegan (awful)
Bob Bower (older readers will remember with a grimace Bob's 2hr calls generally highlighting Mick Nunan's adventures in the goalsquare.The most blatantly biased commentator ever produced)
Eldon Crouch (another blatantly biased commentator)
KG ('nuff said)
Doug ? Whatever his name is- on LifeFM. (I know he's not on drugs so what is his excuse?)
Mark Naley (hard as Nails LMAO)
The entire current ABC TV lineup.

Whilst we are on the subject of annoying footy callers I'd like to put up a few that I've really enjoy listening to also over the years:
Peter Marker
Ian Aitken (I know he got canned earlier but I used to enjoy his calls)
Ian Day
Wally May (go back and listen to what he has to say on his commentaries and he talks a lot of sense...he was part of a cliche,not making them)
David Darcy
Rod McLeod
Max Hall
Rob Popplestone (without Matthew Campbell)
Jon Symonds
David Wildy (surprisingly)

I'd be interested in other people's opinions.

Marker, Aitken, Day, May, Darcy, Wildy, all agreed ... Don't think I'm too familiar with the others .. Marker and Day form a massive part of my SANFL upbringing and clearly added to the competition IMHO

[Adelaide Hawk]

Peter Marker was almost the quintessential football caller. He had a wealth of experience as a player, he had a healthy regard for the history of the game, he was an intelligent man who understood the need to impart knowledge to the viewer in a clear concise manner, he had an allround knowledge of the teams and players, he never spoke catchphrases or cliches, he had a healthy sense of humour, and he didn't see the need to scream his tits off every time someone looked like scoring a goal. He was a pleasure to listen to.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Rod McLeod

I don't remember this guy at all. Could you refresh my memory?

And I have a chuckle when I think of Wally May. Can you imagine him commentating today's AFL? He'd go nuts!!!! No way would he tolerate watching guys running around unchecked.

[onkas-valleysvirgin]

Rod McLeod

I don't remember this guy at all. Could you refresh my memory?

And I have a chuckle when I think of Wally May. Can you imagine him commentating today's AFL? He'd go nuts!!!! No way would he tolerate watching guys running around unchecked.

Rod McLeod called on 5DN,5KA & 5AD from the late sixties til the early eighties. A very good caller in the style of Doug Hayward/Peter Marker...never got over excited and you actually knew where the ball was. Rod's legacy to football calling was that he pioneered the 'around the grounds' score updates that are commonplace now but unheard of 30 years ago.

I am reliably informed that Wally May (yes,he's still alive) does not watch AFL football for the reasons you suggest above Hawk (I can't disagree with his decision either). An Essendon premiership player, May carved out a very successful if somewhat controversial at times career with Sturt and was a hard man in an era of highly physical footy. His father, Charles 'Chooka' May was the first full-time SANFL Coach (at Glenelg, where Wally's younger brother also played).A little known fact is Wally May represented Australia in Shooting on several occasions.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Ahhhh yesssss ... Rod McLeod, for memory he wore black rim glasses didn't he?

Yes, Wally May is still alive, and in very good health apparently. I was speaking with John Halbert a few weeks ago about a number of things and he opened his amusing vault of Wally May stories. John and Wally are very close. Halbert said if anyone looked like giving him grief in the field he would just say, "I'll tell Wally", and the player would back away.

I loved that era of the protective big man in footy. They were tough, hard, but fair. They never gave you one unless you did something to deserve it. If you ever want an enjoyable half hour, just ask John Halbert about Wally May.

[onkas-valleysvirgin]

Spot on Hawk, he did wear black rimmed glasses.

I was fortunate to have a reasonably lengthy chat with John Halbert myself about 6 weeks ago. Every time I come across him I am amazed that someone of his height (I'm 6' and he is not as tall as I am) could play CHF for so long and so well.Marvellous player.

[Adelaide Hawk]

Spot on Hawk, he did wear black rimmed glasses.

I was fortunate to have a reasonably lengthy chat with John Halbert myself about 6 weeks ago. Every time I come across him I am amazed that someone of his height (I'm 6' and he is not as tall as I am) could play CHF for so long and so well.Marvellous player.

He played most of his footy in the Centre (that's where he won his medal) and occasional on the HF flank when having a bad day. He didn't shift to CHF until late in 1964 but was very successful because of his skills and mobility. Prior to this, CHFs tended to have to take strong marks in packs, and although Halbert's aerial skills were good, he was great value because Oatey invented the style of play where they put the ball out in a space and player ran into it. Pity he broke that leg in 1967, it cheated him of a few more premierships.

[GWW]

Speaking of "older" commentators, does anyone remember Dick Jones? I remember him in the early mid 80's, not actually sure if he actually commentated on games on radio or tv (although i presume he did), but i do remember him giving "opinion" pieces. He had that funny type of voice, he would say controversial (outrageous) things. I think he used to write a piece in the Footy Times back in the 80's as well.

[onkas-valleysvirgin]

Speaking of "older" commentators, does anyone remember Dick Jones? I remember him in the early mid 80's, not actually sure if he actually commentated on games on radio or tv (although i presume he did), but i do remember him giving "opinion" pieces. He had that funny type of voice, he would say controversial (outrageous) things. I think he used to write a piece in the Footy Times back in the 80's as well.

Oh god yes. The man who finished Bob Hank's playing career.
Wooden delivery,wooden opinions.

[Wedgie]

Just watched the North v Glenelg game with the RPH commentary and must admit it was good BUT was spoiled by the continual reference to the Wild Man of Borneo and Tarzan, use the nicknames once but no more times, its embarassing!
Also sausage roll and something crash clangers is annoying too but good to hear PB didn't say "Absolutely" once, I think he must read this forum!

Generally the commentary and calling of players was excellent with only 1 or 2 errors (of North players) for the entire game which is exceptional.

[godoubleblues]

DB has already used the "Wild Man From Borneo" already tonite

classic comment from Paul Blandis about Mark Naley doing the business with his fiance

[RM]

DB has already used the "Wild Man From Borneo" already tonite

classic comment from Paul Blandis about Mark Naley doing the business with his fiance

Heard that. Quite funny.

[godoubleblues]

also according to DB, Josh Francou was "Piccolo Fluted" after his game on the weekend

[redandblack]

I missed the first part of the show and I know the Bloods are struggling, but for a West supporter it was a total waste of time listening tonight. An exercise in how to analyse a game without mentioning any player from one team. Lost interest after that.

Perhaps they gave us a good bagging in the part I missed to make up for it.

[sturtpeter]

Have to agree, redandblack.

When db read out the Sturt team he mentioned Eckermann twice omitting to mention Wicks, however, I'm informed from a reliable source that the fax machine at RPH can be illegible at times lol.

Average show tonight.

I think that there are elements of the Thursday night program which need addressing.

Good to hear the guys had a good feed at Noarlunga prior to the game but is it relevant to Saturday's games?

[Wedgie]

Must admit last night's show was a Barry Crocket, first 20 mins was talk on nothing.
I turned off after Doug Robertson read out the North team.

[The Whisper]

Was it just me annoyed with parts of the calls again on the weekend?

[Coorong]

As a listener on game days, I would like a dollar for every time the phrase "to the player in" is used. ie. Haynes hanballs to the player in (pause) Bonnaddio, who passes to the player in (pause) Jerico. The player in (pause) Feast runs through, takes the ball, turnover. the player Feast nowhandballs to the player in (pause) Thurstans.

Geez its hard to listed to, but I have little choice.