The recent news of Gerard Healy leaving 'On the Couch' and being referred to by his colleague Tom Morris as an 'iconic broadcaster' got me to thinking, who are the iconic broadcasters from radio and tv for the game. I have put VFL/AFL in the thread title but any WAFL or SANFL mentions would be fine. Personally my knowledge is really only pertinent to the VFL/AFL. Think it would be cool to see peoples lists, given different perspectives and personal favs etc. How long you can remember back too will make a difference. List can be of any length and preferably in order. Healy was good but nowhere near 'iconic' in my opinion.
My list:
1. Bruce McAvaney ( a lot of people dislike, understandable but for me, the greatest SPORTS caller of all time. I am old enough to remember him in his younger days, starting out at channel 10, after he moved to Melbourne, he was just so much more well informed ( self informed ), did so much of his own research, knew things nobody else did and would pluck predictions out of what seemed like thin air and would be proven right nearly everytime.)
2. Dennis Cometti ( have him at no.2 due to his longevity, entertaining nature, called the game with great tone and pace.)
3. Rex Hunt ( I have to be honest, I never really liked the guy but if I listened to hIm call a game on AW in which I had little investment as to who won or lost, I got a laugh. I have him this high simply because he was so well known and popular during his calling hey day.
4. Lou Richards (still remember him calling games from my young days, entertaining caller and obviously a huge media personality in Victoria, for such a long time.)
5. Ted Whitten Sr. ( maybe a bit high on the list as a 'broadcaster but combined with his playing days, state of origin etc).
6. Sam Newman ( another love or hate type personality but given his world of sport, footy show, radio commentary and still going, I have him high on my list. Again hugely popular even infamous in his media prime!)
7. Eddie McGuire ( I feel like this is way to high for Eddie, in regards to the 'broadcasting', I don't think he's a great caller but when you consider what a big name he has been in footy, I had to put him up high.)
8. Bob Skilton
9. Jack Dyer
10. Bob Davis
11.Mike Williamson
12.Peter Landy
13..Sandy Roberts ( just a fav of mine, this may be mocked by some.)
14. Don Scott (just a fave of mine...lol!)
15.Tim Lane.
16.Drew Morphett ( just has to be here, not a fav of mine much like Tim Lane.)
Callers like Harry Bietzel, Jack Edwards etc, I just personally don't know enough about but I'm sure others will list and others from earlier days. Honourable mention for Clinton Grybas, feel he would have been iconic if fate had allowed.
Obviously callers like Anthony Hudson and BT may have fans. I don't think they are iconic, Hudson will be. Taylor for me is just not a good enough caller.
I have probably missed heaps, just done this off the top of my head, filling in time without research!
My list:
1. Bruce McAvaney ( a lot of people dislike, understandable but for me, the greatest SPORTS caller of all time. I am old enough to remember him in his younger days, starting out at channel 10, after he moved to Melbourne, he was just so much more well informed ( self informed ), did so much of his own research, knew things nobody else did and would pluck predictions out of what seemed like thin air and would be proven right nearly everytime.)
2. Dennis Cometti ( have him at no.2 due to his longevity, entertaining nature, called the game with great tone and pace.)
3. Rex Hunt ( I have to be honest, I never really liked the guy but if I listened to hIm call a game on AW in which I had little investment as to who won or lost, I got a laugh. I have him this high simply because he was so well known and popular during his calling hey day.
4. Lou Richards (still remember him calling games from my young days, entertaining caller and obviously a huge media personality in Victoria, for such a long time.)
5. Ted Whitten Sr. ( maybe a bit high on the list as a 'broadcaster but combined with his playing days, state of origin etc).
6. Sam Newman ( another love or hate type personality but given his world of sport, footy show, radio commentary and still going, I have him high on my list. Again hugely popular even infamous in his media prime!)
7. Eddie McGuire ( I feel like this is way to high for Eddie, in regards to the 'broadcasting', I don't think he's a great caller but when you consider what a big name he has been in footy, I had to put him up high.)
8. Bob Skilton
9. Jack Dyer
10. Bob Davis
11.Mike Williamson
12.Peter Landy
13..Sandy Roberts ( just a fav of mine, this may be mocked by some.)
14. Don Scott (just a fave of mine...lol!)
15.Tim Lane.
16.Drew Morphett ( just has to be here, not a fav of mine much like Tim Lane.)
Callers like Harry Bietzel, Jack Edwards etc, I just personally don't know enough about but I'm sure others will list and others from earlier days. Honourable mention for Clinton Grybas, feel he would have been iconic if fate had allowed.
Obviously callers like Anthony Hudson and BT may have fans. I don't think they are iconic, Hudson will be. Taylor for me is just not a good enough caller.
I have probably missed heaps, just done this off the top of my head, filling in time without research!
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