Are AFL commentators (1990 onwards) better than the VFL era ones?

[qman]

Used to think Peter Landy was good but go back and have a listen to his commentary of Hawthorn games. The last quarter of the 1984 Grand Final when Hawthorn are getting steamrolled is particularly embarrassing for a 'professional'.

The best thing about late 80s/early 90s special comments was Don Scott and Peter McKenna having a crack and woeful umpiring or decision making from players.

Don Scott grew on me to the point where I really liked him for 'special comments'. Him and McKenna were brilliant together. Cometti and Scott were brilliant in the 89 Granny.

 

[qman]

You need to watch a game from the late 70s or 80s to remember how good Lou Richards and Peter Landy were. They did it for so long people took them for granted, with many disliking Landy, but they were outstanding.
The fact they did the match of the round each week helped, though they were great doing a crappy Tuesday night Escort Cup game too.

When I was kid, I always remember my dads words "Peter Landy, what a dickhead"...lol! Being a kid who idolised his dad, I'd find myself picking up on Landys fopars, I don't know how often a player would take a shot at goal from straight in front and would split the middle but according to Landy it was 'OOH, a shocking kick oh but it's swung back and it's a goal"....lol. Then, being a one eyed Dons fan, there was the 86 Elim final v Fitzroy, we were less than a goal up with mins remaining and Landy keeps saying we're safe, "shut the * up, I'm thinking", Lou and Bob continually reminding him that just one kick could give Fitzroy the win, sure enough we know what happened. So my opinion of Landy was not good to say the least. However, we get to the 90's, McAvaney, Cometti, Roberts and co have all overtaken Landy in the pecking order. It's then that I become a fan of Landys calling, did the years of experience make him better, muscle memory? I now watch old games and hear Landy and enjoy it. When a player flies, touches the ball a couple of times but doesn't control it and Landy says 'oh, surely thats a mark? Not paid!" It's like music to my years...lol!

 

[AndyLucimitis]

Greg Wells (Melbourne/Carlton) took a few great one-handed marks during his career.

Whenever a player took a one-handed grab, Peter Landy would describe the mark using the line 'a one-handed grab - a la Greg Wells'.

 

[footyfan1978]

Just watching some older VFL games and I’ve noticed for a while now but I can’t tell the difference between the commentators in the VFL era because of the weird accent everybody had back then. I also believe their commentary was very basic.

I know people like BT piss everybody off with the amount of background info they give on the players and of course we have the memes like “the orange team” from Kelli Underwood. But it doesn’t bother me and I sort of like it.

So what’s the verdict? Especially interested to hear from the older gents on here.

If you are living in a world where Kelli Underwood is a good commentator in your mind, then that is very weird take,

 

[footyfan1978]

Some of the ABC TV commentary was like this too.
When Fox Footy show replays of games from the 70's / 80's with the ABC commentators words like 'shocking', 'pathetic' and 'disgraceful' get a regular run.

Sounds like Doug Heywood..

 

[footyfan1978]

From looking at old games, i think the commentators from the VFL era are best. Lou Richards, Peter Landy and Bob Skilton would be my favourite commentary trio. Ian Robertson, Sandy Roberts and Dennis Cometti would be the best of the era from 1990 onwards imo.

The 90s were damn fine. Terry Wheeler I enjoyed too.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

The older commentators are so much better than the current crop it's not funny. I think part of that is the tv stations wanting personalities rather than commentators but it doesn't change the fact of the matter.

 

[Demonic Ascent]

The thing is if you listen to people of a certain generation everything was better 30 or 40 years ago.

I mean, they're not wrong.

 

[mr bagcroft]

The thing is if you listen to people of a certain generation everything was better 30 or 40 years ago.

Maybe, just maybe,cause it was !

 

[ferball]

Used to think Peter Landy was good but go back and have a listen to his commentary of Hawthorn games. The last quarter of the 1984 Grand Final when Hawthorn are getting steamrolled is particularly embarrassing for a 'professional'.

The best thing about late 80s/early 90s special comments was Don Scott and Peter McKenna having a crack and woeful umpiring or decision making from players.

Don Scott changed the game. He used to say "If there's any young watching that play do what so and so did," often he'd explain why.

Over the next 10 years those things he pointed out became a standard thing as heaps of kids took what he said to heart.

Modern commentators don't do that. They aren't just calling the game because they're doing something else. Often they aren't even calling the game cos they're doing something else.

 

[Tackle Bag]

I do miss the commentators having the freedom to criticise a bad umpiring decision, particularly poor effort from a player or say something negative about the way the game is run if they see it that way. It’s all a bit sterile today with most in the media far too scared to actually call out a shocking call by an umpire or poor decision from head office.
Not a fan of Robert Walls in particular but he could be fairly brutal with his assessment of a player on occasion. Malcom Blight would say exactly what he thought too.

 

[dean33]

From looking at old games, i think the commentators from the VFL era are best. Lou Richards, Peter Landy and Bob Skilton would be my favourite commentary trio. Ian Robertson, Sandy Roberts and Dennis Cometti would be the best of the era from 1990 onwards imo.

Ian Robertson was a terrible caller.
For me the best commentators in their prime, Bruce, Dennis, huddo, grybas and whateley.

 

[PrinceCharles]

Anyone know if old mate Falcon is okay?

 

[Shane Heard]

Jesus H Christ that is so cringeworthy

 

[Shane Heard]

Ian Robertson was a terrible caller.
For me the best commentators in their prime, Bruce, Dennis, huddo, grybas and whateley.

I concur

Robertson’s call of the 1993 GF is an absolute disgrace.

His obvious bias towards Carlton and his disgust at Essendon dominating was pathetic.

Hate him.

 

[p4p1]

Cometti IMO was probably the best. His little one liners were just incredible. ’Cousins running away from car, not for the first time this week.’ It declined the moment he retired.

Love listening to the older commentries with guys like Lou Richards, they had actual personality rather than a s**t persona.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Whats the big deal with Underwood saying orange team?

Never got the hate for her saying that tbh.

Best commentary was late 90s on channel 7.

She's a woman muscling in on me sport is the problem. I watch the bloody footy to get away from the women.

When I'm watching footy, it should be penises everywhere - on the players, the umpires, the coaches, the commentators. I don't want to think about none of them ladies and their naggin'!

So if any of those broads we're pushing into the game make any sort of mistake, you can bet I'll be all over that!

 

[Irish BlueBagger]

Ian Robertson was a terrible caller.
For me the best commentators in their prime, Bruce, Dennis, huddo, grybas and whateley.

I think Ian Roberston was a good commentator. Are you sure him being a Carlton man hasn't got anything to do with it?

 

[Do the Dew]

I do miss the commentators having the freedom to criticise a bad umpiring decision, particularly poor effort from a player or say something negative about the way the game is run if they see it that way. It’s all a bit sterile today with most in the media for too scared to actually call out a shocking call by an umpire or poor decision from head office.
Not a fan of Robert Walls in particular but he could be fairly brutal with his assessment of a player on occasion. Malcom Blight would say exactly what he thought too.

Same goes for the vast majority of the footy media. They all get their AFL accreditation and if you go against the corporate line and actually call any bullshit out (i.e. that the stand rule is complete garbage), you get blacklisted as a journalist. It's the boys club that runs things.

 

[maskmcgee]

Tim Lane, Anthony Hudson, the whole 10 commentary team, one of many reasons they should have been given the rights permernantly after 2011.

 

[dean33]

I think Ian Roberston was a good commentator. Are you sure him being a Carlton man hasn't got anything to do with it?

Not at all. I think huddo and whateley are great callers and they are Geelong men. He was just a terrible caller.

 

[windyhill]

Sounds like Doug Heywood..

He loved using a players middle name... “Timothy Michael Watson”.....

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Not even close.
Commentators don't even know the rules these days. The ones that actually do know the rules are relegated to the vfl and aflw

 

[StillAtLarge]

Surprised the late, great Drew Morphett hasn't rated more of a mention. His technical deficiencies were more than mitigated by his genuine enthusiasm. "Great goal son!"

 

[DEVO]

Even though he was a Collywobbler I think Lou Richards was the best commentator, he had a very easy style and didn't get overly excited. The "passionate" Peter McKenna and "circumspect" Bernie Quinlan were great when they were teamed together, they would continually butt heads but never go overboard and forget about what was happening on the field.

Others I liked include Malcolm Blight, Ross Glendenning, Dennis Cometti and Bruce McAlvaney in the early days.

The other end of the scale, Luke Darcy is without a doubt the worst commentator in the history of all sports. He is terrible, works himself into a frenzy and then shuts down halfway through a sentence, sounding like an idiot in the process.