Open Mike

[Minka Beaver]

Im not expecting much, don't think it will be one of the better ones. I find him pretty boring to listen to actually.

I reckon he's the perfect candidate for an 'Open Mike'.

He was an ordinary, hard-working footballer in a very good side who went on to become a senior coach, with a stint controlling and assessing umpires in between.

He's spent time as a radio analyst, headed the VFL and been an advocate for a couple of health-related charities.

If Mike can't get any revealing insights out of someone who has seen the game from so many angles, then he isn't doing his job.

 

[Mighty Eagles]

Who's on tonight?

 

[Lethal]

Who's on tonight?

Not on tonight, footy's on.

 

[HawkieTalkie]

There is a replay of the Gazza Jnr interview on Wednesday and the Peter Schwab one is in the normal timeslot next Monday night.

He is just about my favourite Hawthorn person is Schwabby - a lot of people might not know/remember but in 1997 His 7 year-old daughter Emily passed away due to a brain tumour. He and his wife Jenny have done a lot of work to try and raise money for children in similar circumstances.

You can say what you like about his coaching record - and in my time as a Member he copped as much from the supporter base as anyone I have seen - but he is A1 as a person and I reckon it will be a great episode.

 

[TheLoungeLizard]

Really? Lets see...

A bloke who plays at the highest level in Australia, leaves to go to a whole new sport in the US, does welle nough to play in a loosing Superbowl and has returned to AFL to coach.
I'd like to know the facts between.

Hardly worth fretting over.

 

[Hawkas1988]

Im not expecting much, don't think it will be one of the better ones. I find him pretty boring to listen to actually.

One of the best blokes I've met in footy, this episode will no doubt be a very emotional one.

 

[Nostradumbass]

There is a replay of the Gazza Jnr interview on Wednesday and the Peter Schwab one is in the normal timeslot next Monday night.

He is just about my favourite Hawthorn person is Schwabby - a lot of people might not know/remember but in 1997 His 7 year-old daughter Emily passed away due to a brain tumour. He and his wife Jenny have done a lot of work to try and raise money for children in similar circumstances.

I didn't know he had a daughter pass away, poor bloke. I've always seen him as a meat and potatoes type, in a good way. I'll watch this one.

 

[BACCS]

Thought that was a brilliant interview with Schwab, Mike handled it really well. Very much a straight shooter Schwab, and I remember 2004 when the media were talking about him rating their premiership chances during the preseason, so good to hear him put that into a bit more context. I actually remember watching that round 1 game against Melbourne, how deflated the Hawks looked after that loss, and the media blowtorch that followed. Anyway, he's been a significant contributor to footy and it was good to hear him speak.

 

[Hawkas1988]

That was so hard to watch, very emotional! Peter Schwab is a great football person.

 

[Hawkk]

Thought that was a brilliant interview with Schwab, Mike handled it really well. Very much a straight shooter Schwab, and I remember 2004 when the media were talking about him rating their premiership chances during the preseason, so good to hear him put that into a bit more context. I actually remember watching that round 1 game against Melbourne, how deflated the Hawks looked after that loss, and the media blowtorch that followed. Anyway, he's been a significant contributor to footy and it was good to hear him speak.

We actually won that round 1 game...

It was our only highlight for the season!

 

[The King!]

That was so hard to watch, very emotional! Peter Schwab is a great football person.

Was hard to watch, him sharing so much of himself was emotional. Mike did it well

 

[PP34]

Where can I watch every show?

 

[GoalSneak38]

Mike had tears in his eyes too

 

[Beerfish]

I thought Mike asked some pretty terrible questions actually.

Did it change your perspective on football?
Do you feel cheated?

He's far from the best interviewer going around.

 

[SydCrow]

Went way too far in my opinion. No-one should have to go through that.

 

[The King!]

he didnt ambush him on the street, schwabb chose to sit down and talk about his life it was probably a good experience for him

 

[SydCrow]

he didnt ambush him on the street, schwabb chose to sit down and talk about his life it was probably a good experience for him

Not sure what planet you live on.

Mike acknowledged that he had asked Schwab if he could go there. But he went there and stayed there far too long. You could see how traumatic it was for him even all these years later.

 

[The King!]

Not sure what planet you live on.

Mike acknowledged that he had asked Schwab if he could go there. But he went there and stayed there far too long. You could see how traumatic it was for him even all these years later.

well lost my baby nephew this year and these past 5 months have been awful for my sister and my family and talking about it with people is bloody helpful, so not sure what planet you are on to be honest, why would schwabb keep answering or allow it to air if he felt mike invaded his private life.

talking about his girls life, remembering her and making her life count are usually positive experiences i have found, people who lose a child want to talk, want to know why me, want to share.

 

[Beerfish]

It's fine that he wanted to talk about it and I applaud him for that. I doubt I could on national TV. The problems I had were with the way Mike did it. He basically let Peter go through the whole story and it was looking like he was collecting himself and getting ready to move on when Mike actually dragged him back into it again by saying okay so your daughter's in hospital and you're at training etc. Follows it up by asking if it changed his perspective on football. Peter laughs (somewhat incredulously for mine) and says well it actually changed my perspective on life.. duh! To top it off he asks him if he feels cheated.. well no actually she's the one who was cheated.. and a loose comment along the lines of I bet you really appreciate your two boys, like he didn't before?

The fact that he felt the need to use up some of the preciously short interview time making sure everyone was aware that Schwab had given the okay for him to bring it up also annoyed me.

 

[The King!]

that was odd, ok i can see that a little where you are coming from with those points, i guess though to cut mike some slack it was an awkward period of the interview its hard to know what to say and ask.

 

[Nostradumbass]

Just watched it. Bloody hard to not tear up at the end. I don't see a problem with the way it was handled my only problem was the " Do you feel cheated?" Question.

 

[Starburns_]

and a loose comment along the lines of I bet you really appreciate your two boys, like he didn't before?

That question made me cringe a little bit.

Still, if Schwab had any serious problems with the questions afterwards, I doubt they'd have gone to air in the final cut.

 

[Marstermind]

Excellent episode with Schwab despite the aforementioned bad questions. Schwab was brave baring his sole on TV and, in Mike's defence, Schwab could have drawn the line at any time. Mike was emotional too and appeared speechless at times due to his own emotion. Probably explains those ill-conceived questions. Schwab appeared nervous early on and was politely abrupt with a few responses but maybe that was becuase he knew what topics were coming. Overall, he came across like a really good guy.

 

[Hank93]

well lost my baby nephew this year and these past 5 months have been awful for my sister and my family and talking about it with people is bloody helpful, so not sure what planet you are on to be honest, why would schwabb keep answering or allow it to air if he felt mike invaded his private life.

talking about his girls life, remembering her and making her life count are usually positive experiences i have found, people who lose a child want to talk, want to know why me, want to share.

Don Scott deflected the single question about one of his parents dying when he was young.

Mike didn't go any further besides that one question. If Peter didn't want to answer it, he wouldn't have.

 

[Beerfish]

I'm sure Schwab was okay with it and I'm sure Mike wasn't trying to be disrespectful or anything. I think maybe Mike is starting to think he's a Denton or a Parkinson or something because he's received a lot of praise for this series - and rightly so. For the most part it's fascinating and I have no doubt it will serve as part of the history of our game when these characters start to leave us. Make no mistake, he's doing important work here.

I just don't think he's quite as good as he thinks he is and he needs to put a bit more work into his interviewing technique if he aspires to that level (Denton et al). He's not just talking to people about football here.