What did everyone think! I just got back yesterday and watched the vid . . . and there's a bit each way. The new intro was good . . . and the little trip down to the beach road etc. I really liked Phils interview . . . i really hope they stay football based, especially VFL . . . none of the basketball, netball interviews the ABC used to dish up. Looking forward to hearing what Peter Schwabb has to say next week.
Now . . . Franky!
Did anyone notice a hole in the coverage? Did the chemistry seem unbalanced? Will Donegan continue to hold Justins hand!?! I do not mean anything against Justin Peckett . . . it'd be tough to come in and do what he's gonna do . . . and i'm sure he'll relax and become a bit more insightful (I hope), but the absence of Phil was near un-bearable to me! Donegan's a pro, and he held it togehther, but poor old Ross had no one to bounce off . . . we didn't get the passionate comments and oohs and ahhs coming through, imagine how excited he would have been during the 2nd half . . . i personally felt it significantly detracted from the coverage.
I'm not against gettin younger blokes such as Peckett into the box . . . but not at the expense of Phil. It's like replacing Paul Roos with Anthony Banik . . . it's chucking Peckett into a tough position . . . . . . . . .
Anyway, what are your thoughts?
Check out some of the latter posts in this thread:
http://vflfooty.dyndns.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=200…
I'm glad you started a new thread on this topic Stanga cos a lot of stuff about the coverage has gotten mixed up in the 'Phil Cleary Gone' thread which is perhaps better placed here.
If I was judging the coverage out of 10, I'd give it a 3. It was almost unwatchable. Had it been a poor game I'd have given it a miss. Sadly, I suspect will a number of other viewers who feel the same way as us.
The ABC have treated the viewers incredibly poorly here, with some new producer who seems to have no history or understanding of the VFL marching in with a dislike for Cleary and showing him the door.
People who have been turning the ABC on every Saturday for 20 years and watching the coverage and listening to the call are surely better judges of whether Cleary was any good or not. And my belief is that based on the ABC's ratings, the coverage was deemed quite good by viewers.
There's no better example than the flak Channel 7 are copping right now for their AFL coverage - chemistry in the box and quality of commentary makes a broadcast of footy. Just like Seven are right now, the ABC too is lacking chemistry in their VFL commentary box.
From what I can gather a majority of VFL people are unified in their disappointment with the decision. I guess we'll just have to let the ABC know with our remote controls. And of course by bombarding them with emails.
Time to revist this topic.
The ABC had a new addition yesterday - former Fox Footy caller Matthew Campbell. Unlike when he was on Fox, the ABC used him in a special comments role. So two callers (Donegan and Booth), two special comments (Peckett and Campbell). Doubt Campbell has seen much VFL footy but in the part I saw I thought he went well.
Do we take that as the ABC admitting the set up over the first three rounds wasn't working?
Now we wonder -
* Would the ABC have been better off keeping Cleary and adding a current or recently retired VFL person to the second expert comments role?
* Will Campbell eventually become a caller (as he has done on Channel 7, Fox and SEN? If so, replacing Booth in that role?
* Has Darren Boyd been given the flick or has the ABC opened up the purse to have five presenters?
Darren Boyd is in the West Indies watching the World Cup
Bring back Phil Cleary to the commentary.
It is annoying that they are not giving the scores of the curtain raisers matches this season.
BRING BACK THE REPLAY OF TASSIE MATCHES ON ABC2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least they are watchable, I'm spewing we missed the last one with Peter Gee back calling!
I'm with you Cobra, they should bring back Phil on the Victorian matches. And I find Darren Boyd annoying so now he's back I'm going to start giving the ABC VFL coverage a miss.
I reckon everyone should just do the same, vote with your remote controls. It's three hours of painful television. I'd prefer to watch Big Brother Up Late. This new producer has rooted the entertainment value of the coverage - bottom line is half the audience watch to be entertained. Now thats been stripped, I'm not interested. Most people I speak to share the same opinion.
As for Matthew Campbell, well at least he can string words together and has something to say, but I don't think he was overly popular when he called at Channel 7, nor when he called at Fox Footy. So why do the ABC think viewers will warm to him calling VFL?
I think that Campbell hasn't been too bad in the special comments role, Footyman.
I agree he's a better option than a commentator used a couple of weeks ago who couldnt string a sentence together. And he's got something to say and seems genuinely interested in the competition.
However, he's a South Australian who played for Brisbane and I'm not sure he'd have watched much, if any, VFL in his life. Phil understood the history of the competition, and pushed the importance of VFL clubs and players.
Good poiny regarding Phil.
What did everyone think of his interview with Phil Maylin?
Liked the interview, hit a nerve when he bought up umpire Russo . . . think Campbell's been pretty good too . . . but Phil v Campbell . . . no brainer. Does Matt Campbell have any other calling commitments this year, or is this for good?
Seriously, the previous round wrap is ridiculous, as much as i enjoyed watching Alleway take those marks for North Adelaide, it's a real loss to the coverage not having the full round up of games. Definitely a bad decision.