FTA-TV The Front Bar

[buzzhuzz]

Jumped the shark so hard Greenpeace should get involved.

 

[Pistol Night]

Time for some Gavin Muntbury

 

[Not a mere cat]

Is it just me or has Sam's personality on the show changed?
He doesn't seem as sharp, comedy wise in the handful of shows that have run in 2026

Yeah he seems disinterested but then I can relate as I’m bored sh*!less most of the time watching these days.

I know they won’t because it’s paid by a sporting company but they should can Mick’s multi. He’s been dialling that segment in for years and I can’t think of the last time I even smiled at one of Mick’s bets. At least drip tray can be funny at times and I also enjoy that it seems to p!ss Mick off because Sam gets attention

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

A mate of mine sent me a DVD with two episodes where they had Phil Carman as a guest. Admittedly, one was when he was 66, another when he was 74, so they were 8 years apart and people wouldn't have noticed.

It was the same segment, same jokes, same stories, only 8 years apart. They had a photo taken by an Adelaide newspaper where Carman's left testicle was showing, and this was right up Molloy's alley. He went on and on about it, kept working it into almost every answer until it became tedious. Santo was in Sam's spot for the first one, and they both made precisely the same comments, (Spot the ball competition, etc).

There is so much more to the Phil Carman story that many people have never heard about, but every time he is interviewed, no matter where (even Mike Sheehan's show), all you hear are the same stories. The "journalist" who wrote Carman's book couldn't be bothered with silly little things such as fact. What a steaming pile of dog turds that book was.

One day, a Serious journalist (If there is such a thing these days) will actually interview Carman about ALL aspects of his life and it would be a fascinating interview, I can assure you.

 

[Pistol Night]

A mate of mine sent me a DVD with two episodes where they had Phil Carman as a guest. Admittedly, one was when he was 66, another when he was 74, so they were 8 years apart and people wouldn't have noticed.

It was the same segment, same jokes, same stories, only 8 years apart. They had a photo taken by an Adelaide newspaper where Carman's left testicle was showing, and this was right up Molloy's alley. He went on and on about it, kept working it into almost every answer until it became tedious. Santo was in Sam's spot for the first one, and they both made precisely the same comments, (Spot the ball competition, etc).

There is so much more to the Phil Carman story that many people have never heard about, but every time he is interviewed, no matter where (even Mike Sheehan's show), all you hear are the same stories. The "journalist" who wrote Carman's book couldn't be bothered with silly little thinks such as fact. What a steaming pile of dog turds that book was.

One day, a Serious journalist (If there is such a thing these days) will actually interview Carman about ALL aspects of his life and it would be a fascinating interview, I can assure you.

Does Carman still hold the record around the tan for a footballer to this day?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Does Carman still hold the record around the tan for a footballer to this day?

I've heard he may, but not sure. He was a remarkable athlete, and people have said if he wasn't a footballer could have represented Australia in the Olympic games as a middle-distance runner. One story told to me was when he was at Norwood, we would do some work around the club, and before practices sessions he would "warm up" with a run from Norwood to Mount Lofty and return, which is quite a distance.

The thing which caused a divide between himself, and Hafey was Carman would train by himself during the day, and by the time the other players would turn up for training, Carman would be finished for the day. You can see where it would be a problem, but Carman was years ahead of his time in physical fitness.

 

[Pistol Night]

I've heard he may, but not sure. He was a remarkable athlete, and people have said if he wasn't a footballer could have represented Australia in the Olympic games as a middle-distance runner. One story told to me was when he was at Norwood, we would do some work around the club, and before practices sessions he would "warm up" with a run from Norwood to Mount Lofty and return, which is quite a distance.

The thing which caused a divide between himself, and Hafey was Carman would train by himself during the day, and by the time the other players would turn up for training, Carman would be finished for the day. You can see where it would be a problem, but Carman was years ahead of his time in physical fitness.

Amazing. We’d have another flag id say if Phil didn’t have such a short fuse. You’re right though, I’d love to dig deeper into his career rather than the low brow greatest hits

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Amazing. We’d have another flag id say if Phil didn’t have such a short fuse. You’re right though, I’d love to dig deeper into his career rather than the low brow greatest hits

When he was coaching Sturt in the SANFL, he was caretaker of the St. Peters College, a prestigeous school in Adelaide. Part of his role near the end of the day was to make sure the buildings were secure. I used to walk home from the city each days and detour through the college on my way home. On occasion I would bump into Phil and got the chance to speak with him. I believe because of his personality, he was very much misunderstood. I found a side of Carman that I never expected to exist. Fascinating character.

 

[Pistol Night]

When he was coaching Sturt in the SANFL, he was caretaker of the St. Peters College, a prestigeous school in Adelaide. Part of his role near the end of the day was to make sure the buildings were secure. I used to walk home from the city each days and detour through the college on my way home. On occasion I would bump into Phil and got the chance to speak with him. I believe because of his personality, he was very much misunderstood. I found a side of Carman that I never expected to exist. Fascinating character.

Love that. Feel free to share as many stories as you want because ive always found him to be an enigma that i was too young to remember

 

[Rabish Binney]

Amazing. We’d have another flag id say if Phil didn’t have such a short fuse. You’re right though, I’d love to dig deeper into his career rather than the low brow greatest hits

No doubt about that Pistol.

One aspect of his career which gets overlooked is that he was appointed coach of Sturt in the SANFL (my club) in 1995. Prior to this, Sturt won 6 wooden spoons in a row, winning only 20 games across that time. Things were so dire that the club, after 105 years in the SANFL almost folded (it sought a merger with North Adelaide which was rejected by both clubs).

Carmen has admitted that he took the Sturt job on becuase no one else wanted it as we were such a basket case at the time.

In his first year in charge, Sturt again won the spoon and did not win a game under Carmen. And in 1996, the club won 4 games but yet again collected a spoon.

1997 saw us finally return to the finals with an Elimination final loss (to North Adelaide ironically) followed by a GF appearance in 1998 (narrow loss to Port) and further finals appearances in 1999 and 2000. Carmen's last season as coach was 2001. We won the flag in 2002 under a new coach....

He turned around the club's fortunes and the players spoke publicly how good a coach he was.

Bloody shame that he didn't win a flag.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

No doubt about that Pistol.

One aspect of his career which gets overlooked is that he was appointed coach of Sturt in the SANFL (my club) in 1995. Prior to this, Sturt won 6 wooden spoons in a row, winning only 20 games across that time. Things were so dire that the club, after 105 years in the SANFL almost folded (it sought a merger with North Adelaide which was rejected by both clubs).

Carmen has admitted that he took the Sturt job on becuase no one else wanted it as we were such a basket case at the time.

In his first year in charge, Sturt again won the spoon and did not win a game under Carmen. And in 1996, the club won 4 games but yet again collected a spoon.

1997 saw us finally return to the finals with an Elimination final loss (to North Adelaide ironically) followed by a GF appearance in 1998 (narrow loss to Port) and further finals appearances in 1999 and 2000. Carmen's last season as coach was 2001. We won the flag in 2002 under a new coach....

He turned around the club's fortunes and the players spoke publicly how good a coach he was.

Bloody shame that he didn't win a flag.

Not meaning to be picky, it's just that after all these years, people still refer to him as "Carmen". Carmen is an opera in 4 parts by French composer Georges Bizet. Phil's surname is spelt "CarmAn". Is only a small thing but over the years it gets to me, much like people spelling Jeff Thomson's surname with a "p", etc.

 

[Pistol Night]

Not meaning to be picky, it's just that after all these years, people still refer to him as "Carmen". Carmen is an opera in 4 parts by French composer Georges Bizet. Phil's surname is spelt "CarmAn". Is only a small thing but over the years it gets to me, much like people spelling Jeff Thomson's surname with a "p", etc.

Pat Cummings.

 

[TheGoldPersons]

Time for some Gavin Muntbury

This is your fault

 

[Partridge]

Is it just me or has Sam's personality on the show changed?
He doesn't seem as sharp, comedy wise in the handful of shows that have run in 2026

Joke writers run out of ideas pretty quickly. In Australian television that's accelerated as most weren't funny to begin with.

Sam is the only member of the show with any kind of wit. But the show's been on for years now, probably just stale and tired.

 

[Pistol Night]

View attachment 2554814
This is your fault

I Bat signalled the campaigner.

 

[Pistol Night]

Joke writers run out of ideas pretty quickly. In Australian television that's accelerated as most weren't funny to begin with.

Sam is the only member of the show with any kind of wit. But the show's been on for years now, probably just stale and tired.

I just think with his own show, being on HYBPA and hosting the Logies and shit he’s a bit over this routine. His talk show I didn’t actually mind when he had guests like Russell Crowe and Ian Botham on. Ripping interviews

 

[TheJanuaryMan]

View attachment 2554814
This is your faul

The single unfunniest person on Australian television and that bar is already low.

 

[blueboy25]

The single unfunniest person on Australian television and that bar is already low.

Is Julia Morris on the Front Bar tonight?

 

[Madas]

Andy Maher missed a golden opportunity to have his rant about opening round when Andrew Dillon was on the show the week before

 

[BuddysBiggestFan]

Watched it for the first time last night and don’t find it funny at all. Molloy just gets his mates on to promote their shows like Mooney. It’s all about the guests too, Roach was boring as bat shit but because he’s a Tiger, Molly was drooling all over him.

 

[Commando]

I thought last night was better
Always a better show when older players from yesteryear are on.

 

[Partridge]

I thought last night was better
Always a better show when older players from yesteryear are on.

Yep it is. Roach was good, but the questions could have been a million times better. Without any thought at all, they could have asked:

• Did he regret having to help out in the ruck for a few years and being denied potentially 150-200 extra goals in his career?
• How much importance did he put on kicking accurately as a key forward?
• How much effort was ever put into making it work with him and Taylor?
• Was there a moment after 1982 when they realised the club was going off the rails in the spending war?

That would of course require effort and research.

 

[Deathray]

Would have to be a dead heat between Roach and Kelvin Templeton being the most boring spearhead to appear.

 

[Registered User]

Yep it is. Roach was good, but the questions could have been a million times better. Without any thought at all, they could have asked:

• Did he regret having to help out in the ruck for a few years and being denied potentially 150-200 extra goals in his career?
• How much importance did he put on kicking accurately as a key forward?
• How much effort was ever put into making it work with him and Taylor?
• Was there a moment after 1982 when they realised the club was going off the rails in the spending war?

That would of course require effort and research.

I guess that stuff's a bit serious for the show. They also could've asked him about his heart problem and the time Hitman Merrett sunk his knees into his back while he was on the ground, which was one reason he retired before he was 31

 

[SportsCentre]

Yep it is. Roach was good, but the questions could have been a million times better. Without any thought at all, they could have asked:

• Did he regret having to help out in the ruck for a few years and being denied potentially 150-200 extra goals in his career?
• How much importance did he put on kicking accurately as a key forward?
• How much effort was ever put into making it work with him and Taylor?
• Was there a moment after 1982 when they realised the club was going off the rails in the spending war?

That would of course require effort and research.

I was hoping they would dig in to his final couple of years when KB was coaching, and put him at full back!