Leaping Larry does a pretty fair assessment of AFL commentators in today's Age.

Quote:From the cheap seats of AFL commentary

Another season in the books. Time to take a look at the year's efforts in the noble field of footy commentary.

All opinions are solely the province of your humble columnist, and as likely as not, represent those of nobody else whatsoever.

This time, match announcers, next week the special comments guys.

BRUCE McAVANEY – There's an old expression, "The less said the better", and there's nothing in that aphorism that couldn't improve The Bruce's match calls. Not every idea that pops into anyone's head is gold. You all saw Donald Trump in the first Presidential Debate. And maybe just ease back the throttle on those player nicknames around 300 per cent. Somewhere under all the gusherama​ lies the ghost of a perfectly capable football commentator.

DWAYNE RUSSELL – If Alfred Hitchcock had made a movie about Dwayne, it might have been entitled The Man Who Talked Too Much. Also, regarding the endless leather-lunged shilling for the AFL, the game in question, the attendance and everything else short of the quality of the hot dogs on sale, (a) nobody needs it and (b) that's Sandy Roberts' gig.

BRIAN TAYLOR – The overwhelming impression I get from this caller is that the game gets in the way of putting over himself and his buddies in the booth. It seems barely possible that these priorities are not shared by those subjected to the entertainment stylings of the Brian Taylor Saturday Night Zoo Crew while trying to negotiate a football telecast.

ANTHONY HUDSON – Calls a good, straight footy match. Has the voice for it. Handy at jockeying his calling team. The odd wry humorous touch sneaks in around the edges. A pro.

HAMISH McLACHLAN – When "Hammer" heads off into his all-but-inevitable golf and tennis metaphors during match calls, I'm right with him. I wish he was calling those sports instead too.

ADAM PAPALIA – Guy you maybe didn't recognise who picked up some calling on Fox Footy this year. Clean-voiced, no guff, straight match caller with an obvious knack for it. Sort of Anthony Hudson II – The Adventure Continues.

BASIL ZEMPILAS – This may be bucking the general trend on Big Baz, but the patently unfeigned enthusiasm counts for something, and despite the fashion, he never puts himself over the game. Surgical analysis, well, probably not.

LUKE DARCY – If Stifler hadn't been shifted to co-calling with BT, that would have left him free for even more self-promoting leaden banter sapping the will to live on Saturday nights. Also, purely as a caller, there are worse.

EDDIE McGUIRE – A bit "Hits of the 90s" but still capable anchoring a crew, as long as he and Dermott don't disappear up the alley of "Vintage nightclub battles won and lost".

SANDY ROBERTS – Kind of Basil Zempilas plus about 80 years. Tireless efforts to incorporate the cutting edge footy science jargon of the day deserve comedy category consideration at the Logies.

DENNIS COMETTI – Nobody should constrict their oxygen intake waiting for another one of these to come around.

Some strong competition....but this bloke would be right up there >
Be critical by all means but not on the day she passes.

http://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/...ailsignout

Loyalty.....
To an old timer like myself I’ve always considered it pretty important. If the club is loyal to the player we hope that it’s reciprocated and the player “sticks fat”, often taking a salary less than they could obtain elsewhere.
We don’t trade our Gibbses, Murphys, Kreuzers. They’re the heart and soul of the club and we need them there to provide guidance and experience for the youngsters coming through.

Loyalty comes in a number of levels
There’s the supporter…they’re the top level
Blue until they die.

There’s another level…that’s almost on a par. A group of players who’ve enjoyed success together will always be Carlton (even a Wayne Harmes ) but in a way their loyalty is more to each other as a group than the club.

Some players may still have a special Carlton spot even when they move…Betts has expressed it, Fev probably considers himself much more Carlton than Brisbane.

Then there are the players who’ve never enjoyed that success. I wonder how often the 2004-5 Carlton playing list gets together. 

Loyalty is being highlighted at the moment in the Gibbs thread but….

I’ve changed my mind about loyalty.
We look at the Bulldogs and a player like Murphy and see that as a great example of “club/player” loyalty….but would Murphy be held in as high esteem without the success.

Success is what’s important…what’s best for the club.
Everyone’s tradeable.
It’s the price that’s important.
It’s a new world…and even though that’s a bit sad.
That’s the reality.
Convince me otherwise

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-grand-f...rs9ce.html

Truly the end of an era. I for one at least will miss him. Some great memories.

Thanks Dennis and enjoy the next phase in your life.

Congratulations to Bec and Chris.

Twin boys, Tom and Darcy!

Just as the successful careers of the Silvagni trio wind down, the Judd's will lift us back up again, I hope I live long enough to see it!

The spuds announcing the event stated Chris played 134 for West Coast,

Then begrudgingly and late in the piece added Carlton also had access to the boys.

Here tis;

Carlton’s marquee player Bri Davey selected the ball carrying the No. 3, meaning the Blues will also have picks 14, 19, 30, 35, 46, 51, 62, 67, 78, 83, 94, 99, 110, 115, 126, 131, 142 and 147.

My son is in the midst of a seven-month overseas trip, he has taken all his leave owed plus long-service from the RAAF to do it.

Thus far, he has been on safari's in Africa, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, attended weddings in the UK & US, been to Croatia, Spain, Portugal and everywhere inbetween. He has a 20-day trip through Sth. Amercia yet to come too.

He's currently in New York city where he saw AC/DC, been to two ice-hockey matches and just phoned me from the baseball.

There was a "jumbotron" screen at the game on which a guy in the crowd was being broadcast proposing to his girlfriend. He looked up at her and said "oh no, I've dropped the ring". Everyone in the stadium went completely nuts laughing at him whilst the 3-4 rows around him were on all fours trying to help him find it. The look of embarrassment was priceless apparently !!!

FoxSports reports his death at age 68.  What a character he was!

He even had a Carlton link.  He did a TV ad for Aerogard and a little boy in cricket whites and a mess of red hair said something like 'av a good day, Mr Walker'.  Years later, that boy ended up playing for us - Jim Plunkett.

Frankston have had their VFL licence withdrawn or are about to...might be a few players the NB's can pickup to strengthen the list.....Frankston while not being a  strong club have always produced some decent players and its a bit sad to see them out of the comp ..

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-27/fr...on/7879996

Just wondering if any posters are yet on the NBN and if so what are their experiences? Cheers guys.