Should commentators be held accountable for their bias? Where's the professionalism?

[PerthBoy86]

Watching the game last night, I don't recall a commentator show as much blatant bias towards a side as Garry Lyon did towards Collingwood and against Adelaide. At one point he even yelled 'yes' when a Pies player marked it. It was ALWAYS from a Collingwood point of view, what they needed to do etc, and of course he was all over the Crows when they got the rub, ignoring when the Pies got the rub early on. Granted some where there, but there was no consistency. I thought he was a Melbourne man? Or is it a directive to just boost the Vic side?

I swear Eddie Maguire actually seemed pretty impartial as a commentator in comparison, at least from what I remember. Even when he got excited when Tarrant or Cloke marked the ball lol. Pavlich is another serial offender when the Eagles are playing. His anti Eagles bias also seems a lot clearer than his pro Dockers for some reason.

The question is, should the commentators be held at least a bit more accountable? I'm not even expecting complete un bias, but this is ridiculous. It's not the Olympics when Australia is competing, where 99% is viewing from a green and gold lens. Last night the majority of non Pies fans were either neutral or going for the Crows. But I'm not just saying it cos I was too, I wouldn't want a totally biased Crows call either. I had no issues with the play by play calls in general, but Lyon makes games unmatchable. King also showed some bias but wasnt nearly as bad in comparison. Maybe the issue is largely him as well.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Watching the game last night, I don't recall a commentator show as much blatant bias towards a side as Garry Lyon did towards Collingwood and against Adelaide. At one point he even yelled 'yes' when a Pies player marked it. It was ALWAYS from a Collingwood point of view, what they needed to do etc, and of course he was all over the Crows when they got the rub, ignoring when the Pies got the rub early on. Granted some where there, but there was no consistency. I thought he was a Melbourne man? Or is it a directive to just boost the Vic side?

I swear Eddie Maguire actually seemed pretty impartial as a commentator in comparison, at least from what I remember. Even when he got excited when Tarrant or Cloke marked the ball lol. Pavlich is another serial offender when the Eagles are playing. His anti Eagles bias also seems a lot clearer than his pro Dockers for some reason.

The question is, should the commentators be held at least a bit more accountable? I'm not even expecting complete un bias, but this is ridiculous. It's not the Olympics when Australia is competing, where 99% is viewing from a green and gold lens. Last night the majority of non Pies fans were either neutral or going for the Crows. But I'm not just saying it cos I was too, I wouldn't want a totally biased Crows call either. I had no issues with the play by play calls in general, but Lyon makes games unmatchable. King also showed some bias but wasnt nearly as bad in comparison. Maybe the issue is largely him as well.

I dont know why ex players commentate. Put them on the boundary but play by play callers shouldnt be ex players.

They just suck at it

 

[Colonial]

VFL media. They talk up the National comp but can’t get out of the way of their suburban old school bias. In built.

 

[PerthBoy86]

I dont know why ex players commentate. Put them on the boundary but play by play callers shouldnt be ex players.

They just suck at it

Only one I can remember in recent years is Luke Darcy. Others are special comments.

 

[Dan26]

Garry Lyon hates Collingwood (as we all do). The whole narrative of the thread is incorrect to begin with. Whilst everyone has an innate bias, if anything that is AGAINST Collingwood not for them.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Watching the game last night, I don't recall a commentator show as much blatant bias towards a side as Garry Lyon did towards Collingwood and against Adelaide. At one point he even yelled 'yes' when a Pies player marked it. It was ALWAYS from a Collingwood point of view, what they needed to do etc, and of course he was all over the Crows when they got the rub, ignoring when the Pies got the rub early on. Granted some where there, but there was no consistency. I thought he was a Melbourne man? Or is it a directive to just boost the Vic side?

I swear Eddie Maguire actually seemed pretty impartial as a commentator in comparison, at least from what I remember. Even when he got excited when Tarrant or Cloke marked the ball lol. Pavlich is another serial offender when the Eagles are playing. His anti Eagles bias also seems a lot clearer than his pro Dockers for some reason.

The question is, should the commentators be held at least a bit more accountable? I'm not even expecting complete un bias, but this is ridiculous. It's not the Olympics when Australia is competing, where 99% is viewing from a green and gold lens. Last night the majority of non Pies fans were either neutral or going for the Crows. But I'm not just saying it cos I was too, I wouldn't want a totally biased Crows call either. I had no issues with the play by play calls in general, but Lyon makes games unmatchable. King also showed some bias but wasnt nearly as bad in comparison. Maybe the issue is largely him as well.

He blew smoke up Brisbane's arses all night on Friday as well. He makes the experience of watching AFL unbearable. Absolutely awful commentator.

 

[PerthBoy86]

VFL media. They talk up the National comp but can’t get out of the way of their suburban old school bias. In built.

Yeah only really noticed it when I moved here, though I didn't consume much general AFL media before that.

I guess many have a vested interest in Vic clubs doing well. Eddie said the game is better when Essendon and Carlton are doing well. If it's truly a national comp it shouldn't matter.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Garry Lyon hates Collingwood (as we all do). The whole narrative of the thread is incorrect to begin with. Whilst everyone has an innate bias, if anything that is AGAINST Collingwood not for them.

Did you watch last night? If you did try rewatching. Every single thing is Collingwood did this well, this badly, need to do this, how they can get into the game. Not once - or a handful versus hundreds - Adelaide.

 

[Colonial]

Yeah only really noticed it when I moved here, though I didn't consume much general AFL media before that.

I guess many have a vested interest in Vic clubs doing well. Eddie said the game is better when Essendon and Carlton are doing well. If it's truly a national comp it shouldn't matter.

Will take a few generations to weed it out.

Nothing like getting BT sounding bored when your club scores, but shits his shorts when the Vic clubs get it done.

 

[GoEaglesGoSGIO]

Bias can be good at times. Even in the bad times us Eagles fans always have this from Gary Lyon when Demons were down by 10 goals at half time of the Prelim

 

[Colonial]

Garry Lyon hates Collingwood (as we all do). The whole narrative of the thread is incorrect to begin with. Whilst everyone has an innate bias, if anything that is AGAINST Collingwood not for them.

Nah, maybe when it’s Vic v Vic. But games against non Vics? They are championed.

 

[Hamingja]

Only one I can remember in recent years is Luke Darcy. Others are special comments.

Montagna does play by play and I would argue he is one of the better ones.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Garry Lyon hates Collingwood (as we all do). The whole narrative of the thread is incorrect to begin with. Whilst everyone has an innate bias, if anything that is AGAINST Collingwood not for them.

If he's calling Collingwood Melbourne I imagine he'll be very impartial.

Will take a few generations to weed it out.

Nothing like getting BT sounding bored when your club scores, but shits his shorts when the Vic clubs get it done.

BT actually seems okay, though far from perfect, compared to some. Theres one commentator, it might be Adam Papalia, who is clearly anti Eagles.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Montagna does play by play and I would argue he is one of the better ones.

Would take Joey over most.

 

[YeoShuey]

Did you watch last night? If you did try rewatching. Every single thing is Collingwood did this well, this badly, need to do this, how they can get into the game. Not once - or a handful versus hundreds - Adelaide.

Except you omit the fact they spoke about Adelaide a lot. Particularly in the first quarter.

Flawed argument

 

[YeoShuey]

As for the thread title, nope.

Not until the umpiring is fixed across the game anyway because they can be shit every week and nothing happens.

 

[Dan26]

Did you watch last night? If you did try rewatching. Every single thing is Collingwood did this well, this badly, need to do this, how they can get into the game. Not once - or a handful versus hundreds - Adelaide.

Yes I watched the whole game and what you say is total crap fuelled by confirmation bias. You are looking for bias and anything that confirms it in your mind you are jumping on.

I remember the 2012 Preliminary Final Hawthorn vs Adelaide. I was at the game with my headphone on listening to the call on MMM. Garry Lyon used to barrack for the Hawks as a kid. When the Crows kicked a goal to put them in front in the last quarter he said, "This is amazing, I've got goosebumps!" If your confirmation bias was that he was going for the Crows you would jump on that little bit of commentary to confirm your assumed bias.

If you had no idea who Mark Ricciuto was, or who he played for, you could jump on something he said, and a slight inflection in his voice at some random time to say he was biased to Collingwood.

For Christ sake Garry Lyon used to barrack for the Hawks and played for Melbourne. We would he, or anyone want Collingwood to win? No one wants them to win.

You are just looking for random moments and slight alterations in voice tempo and an inflection to confirm a bias that isn't there, but you've wrongly already decided it is there. We all hate Collingwood mate, trust me.

 

[daniel_4tw]

I think they should do the commentating like WWE where you have two commentators going for different teams and they can give it to each other when one team scores. Screw unbiased commentating.

 

[Dan26]

Anthony Hudson (when Nick Davis put the Swans in front in the 2005 semi-final versus Geelong.

"I SEE IT BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!"

Sickeningly biased towards the Swans. Could he be more excited for a goal to the Swans? That commentator obviously wants their AFL love child to win. It's so obvious.*

*Huddo barracks for Geelong.

If you look for bias anywhere you can convince yourself of any untruth.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Except you omit the fact they spoke about Adelaide a lot. Particularly in the first quarter.

Flawed argument

Speaking about Lyon in particular.

 

[SuperSub17]

Lol, OP is possibly the biggest Collingwood hater on this forum (and there are lots), then cracks the shits when the commentary doesn’t 100% match his own bias

Lyon absolutely despises Collingwood, and is on the record for doing so.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Yes I watched the whole game and what you say is total crap fuelled by confirmation bias. You are looking for bias and anything that confirms it in your mind you are jumping on.

I remember the 2012 Preliminary Final Hawthorn vs Adelaide. I was at the game with my headphone on listening to the call on MMM. Garry Lyon used to barrack for the Hawks as a kid. When the Crows kicked a goal to put them in front in the last quarter he said, "This is amazing, I've got goosebumps!" If your confirmation bias was that he was going for the Crows you would jump on that little bit of commentary to confirm your assumed bias.

If you had no idea who Mark Ricciuto was, or who he played for, you could jump on something he said, and a slight inflection in his voice at some random time to say he was biased to Collingwood.

For Christ sake Garry Lyon used to barrack for the Hawks and played for Melbourne. We would he, or anyone want Collingwood to win? No one wants them to win.

You are just looking for random moments and slight alterations in voice tempo and an inflection to confirm a bias that isn't there, but you've wrongly already decided it is there. We all hate Collingwood mate, trust me.

Random moments? It was all bloody night. If it wasn't so continuous I'd have no reason to comment on it. I'm not accusing Huddo of the same. If we were able to both watch it together I think it'd become pretty obvious.

 

[stallon]

If he's calling Collingwood Melbourne I imagine he'll be very impartial.

BT actually seems okay, though far from perfect, compared to some. Theres one commentator, it might be Adam Papalia, who is clearly anti Eagles.

Was this a typo?
I thought Papalia was quite fair

 

[PerthBoy86]

Lol, OP is possibly the biggest Collingwood hater on this forum (and there are lots), then cracks the shits when the commentary doesn’t 100% match his own bias

Lyon absolutely despises Collingwood, and is on the record for doing so.

I don't know what he personally feels about Collingwood, but it doesn't change the fact his perspective was entirely Collingwood last night. Whether he was told or encouraged to or what, it's still bias that is totally unprofessional.

 

[PerthBoy86]

Was this a typo?
I thought Papalia was quite fair

Okay maybe not him, but another WA based commentator.