- May 6, 2009
- 10,262
- 24,224
- AFL Club
- St Kilda
I've had an idea.
To me I think a lot of the issues around the quality of tv network commentary stem from the shallow analysis of players, teams and tactics that the commentators spew from their mouths each week.
In short- all the commentators sound like dummies, and try and hide their ignorance behind a barrage of useless factoids/stats, inane self referencing banter, faux excitement/drama and emphasis on players 'personalities', not their footballing.
I'm prepared to give the commentary group a break though- what is being asked of them is too much.
There are 800+ current players on AFL lists, 200+ games a year and 18 teams all with their own nuanced gameplans, styles, challenges and histories.
No wonder the commentators provide shallow analysis and revert to talking about themselves more than the game- being across ALL that in any level of depth is simply not possible.
They are flat out just simply learning all the players names and numbers each year- they don't have time to study game styles, strengths/weaknesses etc.
That's why we get nothing but garbage, shallow cliches about players and teams.
My solution to this is pretty simple:
Instead of the networks dividing the commentators up into groups like 'the friday night team', and the 'saturday arvo team' etc... they should instead assign each commentator a couple of teams that they call all year long.
This would allow them the time to learn more during preseason about particular teams beyond player names and numbers and what the star players favourite colour is, because they wont be required to memorise 18 clubs worth of players, only a couple.
Plus, because they will be watching the same couple of teams all year- they will inevitably be in a position to provide far more in depth, insightful analysis and commentary on those teams that they call.
The commentators are expected to be jacks of all trades- and the fact they are masters of none is where all the problems start.
Fix that and suddenly a lot (not all) of the garbage that comes from their mouths will be replaced by more interesting and insightful information.
To me I think a lot of the issues around the quality of tv network commentary stem from the shallow analysis of players, teams and tactics that the commentators spew from their mouths each week.
In short- all the commentators sound like dummies, and try and hide their ignorance behind a barrage of useless factoids/stats, inane self referencing banter, faux excitement/drama and emphasis on players 'personalities', not their footballing.
I'm prepared to give the commentary group a break though- what is being asked of them is too much.
There are 800+ current players on AFL lists, 200+ games a year and 18 teams all with their own nuanced gameplans, styles, challenges and histories.
No wonder the commentators provide shallow analysis and revert to talking about themselves more than the game- being across ALL that in any level of depth is simply not possible.
They are flat out just simply learning all the players names and numbers each year- they don't have time to study game styles, strengths/weaknesses etc.
That's why we get nothing but garbage, shallow cliches about players and teams.
My solution to this is pretty simple:
Instead of the networks dividing the commentators up into groups like 'the friday night team', and the 'saturday arvo team' etc... they should instead assign each commentator a couple of teams that they call all year long.
This would allow them the time to learn more during preseason about particular teams beyond player names and numbers and what the star players favourite colour is, because they wont be required to memorise 18 clubs worth of players, only a couple.
Plus, because they will be watching the same couple of teams all year- they will inevitably be in a position to provide far more in depth, insightful analysis and commentary on those teams that they call.
The commentators are expected to be jacks of all trades- and the fact they are masters of none is where all the problems start.
Fix that and suddenly a lot (not all) of the garbage that comes from their mouths will be replaced by more interesting and insightful information.