ABC Coverage of the SANFL 2007

[Wedgie]

Ive been critical in past years about some of the camera work in the SANFL coverage but in the last couple of years the ABC have done an awesome job in covering the SANFL.
Their coverage and the way they cover breaks with historical stuff as well as the great intro they use is fantastic.
The ABC are doing the best coverage Ive ever seen of the SANFL ever and they continue to improve every year.
The commentators are great, the stats men are great, the cameramen are great and their historical coverage as well as their coveage of the WAFL and VFL is fantastic.
Huge KUDOs to whoever is in charge of the the SANFL department at the ABC and full marks to every individual person involved in the coverage, much better than the crap Channel 7 puts together on a Friday night with 1% of the budget.

[bayman]

i agree with that summation & i'll add i like phil clearys passion & peter donegans calling of the vfl games

[smithy]

i agree with that summation & i'll add i like phil clearys passion & peter donegans calling of the vfl games

Absolutely Bayman.
That's why I reckon its a pity Garry Window isn't on the ABC calling games anymore.
He'd get half the names wrong but at least he shows some passion and enthusiasm in his call of the game.

[Dutchy]

good call Wedge, with a youngster in the house and Glenelg playing on Sundays Ive been an armchair expert quite a bit this season and its been great coverage

[redden whites]

Please no Garry Window...... Not enough Garry Window is definately too much.A 5 minute splash on medal night was embarrassing enough last year.

I think "passion" is over-rated in football calling.One station here in town does promos claiming it has the most passionate call and it is a total embarrassment to the state. How you could even contemplate listening to defies me totally.

[TheOldReeg]

Agree no Garry Window!

But yes I chiefly credit the ABC coverage as the main reason I decided to start taking my son to games. As a kid I went often and then when I could get there by myself even more. Then other things in life got in the way. But once I discovered the SANFL was on Auntie I found myself watching less and less of the afl product and more and more of the SANFL. It was a natural progression to go to games again. And when I discovered how cheap it was and that we get to kick the footy on the oval at all breaks - well need I say more!

Cudos to all involved

Cheers

[StrayDog]

Not relating to the coverage per se, I'm compelled to mention that commentator Michael Maney took some of his time to talk to my four year old son at half time of Centrals v Norwood last weekend. One of many highlights that day.

Much appreciated

[eaglehaslanded]

Seriously couldn't comment about the ABC coverage this season apart from saying I know The Eagles haven't been on telly much.

[Bluedemon]

i agree, have always enjoyed the abc's coverage of the local football, enjoy it better than the Arsehole Football League, besides my team sturt, i enjoy watching the other sides play as sanfl football is my passion.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Agreed.

I can't really think of one AFL commentator I enjoy listening to. I thought Bruce might change my views on that but he's not calling the way I remember him...

Hats off ABC for providing a great service. I'd rather sit down on a Saturday arvo and watch Eagles vs Norwood than Richmond vs Freo.

Let's hope they carry on broadcasting these matches for many years to come...

[Dogwatcher]

Sadly, I gotta agree, no more Gary Window.
Exuberant commentary like that belongs back in the annals of time.

[silicone skyline]

Yup, the passion in commentary is over rated.
I can’t stand the way Anthony Hudson, Eddie McGuire, or for that matter Rex Hunt (another thread all about him) try and colour their commentary with relentless shouting.
Mind you, I still enjoy Bruce’s work.
And yes, the ABC’s SANFL coverage has got it spot on this year.
I wonder if their audience has grown at all.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

In my field of work I have access to the daily ratings for all TV programs. I've kept a pretty good eye on the ratings for SANFL and I'd say that they have been pretty stable. Depends upon the game really but as an example, on the weekend the game averaged 1.5 TARP's (which is the unit of measurement). A top rating program like Border Security might reach 14 - 16. and the Crows game on Saturday night averaged about 10.

[SDK]

Yes a commentator is meant to inform the audience not an excercise in self gratification. When you hear the 5AA commentators just screaming into the mic and not saying anything it is pathetic.......sometimes I have no idea what happened who kicked a goal or what .....just childish screaming about Stiffy and whatever !
I have a friend overseas ......JAS on here......who listens to 5AA and was amazed by the amateur effort......embarrassing really.
Can any of you old timers remember Tom Warhurst and Max Hall on 5KA ?????? True professionals.

[JAS]

Yes a commentator is meant to inform the audience not an excercise in self gratification. When you hear the 5AA commentators just screaming into the mic and not saying anything it is pathetic.......sometimes I have no idea what happened who kicked a goal or what .....just childish screaming about Stiffy and whatever !
I have a friend overseas ......JAS on here......who listens to 5AA and was amazed by the amateur effort......embarrassing really.
Can any of you old timers remember Tom Warhurst and Max Hall on 5KA ?????? True professionals.

Ah, yes, now I think I should just clarify this before I get hate mail from fans of 5AA haha. It's probably not just them...I do get your stations mixed up. I know I've listened to 5AA, 3AW and TripleM and I couldn't tell you who is who...I think they all have callers that I can't understand (that could be down to female genes). However the worst for me is the guy that launches into his commentary at 100 miles an hour in a monotone voice and sounds like he's calling a horse race and the one (could be the same one) that has nicknames for everyone and seems to do a song and dance routine whenever there's a goal. Not easy for someone who is still trying to convert to footy and learn about the game Give me a PDK highlight and a Smithfield Crash clanger any day

Back on topic...I can't comment on ABC...I was promised a game on video (you know who you are ) so when I eventually see that I'll let ya know

Regards
JAS

[Benchwarmer]

I love the coverage of WAFL, SANFL and to a lesser extent VFL (Phil Cleary as a player - ooh, he infuriated the supporters of the Lions' opponents!).

No nonsense, add to the picture and slick. None of your rantings, ravings and burblings (apart from the odd Cleary editorial ... BTW it's been VFL for 11 years now, Phil ... not VFA) and enjoyable to the eye and ear.

Their AFL radio coverage is in much the same vein - a credit to the game and their organisation.

More than worth the 8 cents a day (or whatever it is now) we pay for Auntie.

[tigersupporter]

I love watching the footy on the ABC but the only thing that spoils it is they dont give enough updates on the sanfl games that are being played at the same time, sometimes they dont mention them at all. But i'll still keep watching.....Long live the sanfl...........

[Farbs]

I love watching the footy on the ABC but the only thing that spoils it is they dont give enough updates on the sanfl games that are being played at the same time, sometimes they dont mention them at all. But i'll still keep watching.....Long live the sanfl...........

Was scrolling through the whole page with mentioning the above in mind - Im glad someone did. the SANFL coverage on ABS is quite good - alot better than it was a few years ago, but it frustrates the hell out of me when they don't give regular updates of the other SANFL games. If there was one criticism of the ABC coverage, it would be that.

[bulldogproud]

Farbs, one difficulty in giving scores from other grounds is that the ABC coverage is delayed (until halftime anyway). This may lead to confusion with people having heard scores from other grounds via the radio or some other means. I agree that they could provide more scores in the second half though. Doesn't really affect me though - I don't get to see it until Tuesday night *grins*

Cheers!

[barbie]

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