SA Footy

This week's FOOT-e TIMES SA is now out and it's editorial discusses coverage of this years Magarey Medal.

WHERE TO NOW FOR MAGAREY COVERAGE?

Firstly congratulations to Matthew Thomas on winning the 2013 Magarey Medal.

Well regarded by all at the Redlegs and the wider SA football community it was a great effort given he played just 15 games.

However many fans have expressed to me frustration at the extent of live coverage provided.

The Magarey count was first covered live on radio in 1938 before it became a major TV event, staying on the tube until 2007.

In 2008, the event went world wide for the first time with the votes heard on radio & their webcasts.

Since 2009 it has been internet only with an Adelaide Now live web stream taken over by the league’s web site last year.
This year finances meant there was no live web stream, replaced by live twitter updates, each round updated in 140 characters or less.

The Magarey Medal is the one annual event that generates interest across the fans bases of all 9 SANFL clubs.

It is proudly and rightly promoted as the oldest individual award in Australian Football in a competition that considers itself the best state league in the nation.

Yet it’s live coverage is now poorer than other state league counterparts the WAFL’s Sandover (Radio broadcast for 11th straight season) and VFL’s Liston (web stream).

Bottom Line … SANFL fans should have live access to be able to follow the count on a round by round, vote by vote basis.


Am I right or just a dinosaur who needs to embrace social media and the “twitter age” ?

Is it a reasonable expectation to maintain live coverage given the league’s financial situation and other cut backs made?

Would investing scare resources into live video or audio coverage be a waste due to low interest levels or is this the one event most SANFL fans still want to follow live and the support justifies coverage?

You can have your say with our quick 3 question survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HBKXHM9

Your thoughts should count so IF it matters to you, have a say.


Phil Herden
FOOT-e TIMES SA

Phil your last question doesn't allow to give a rank rather a single answer

Thanks ... changed to just one response only. All current answers retained.

"This year finances meant there was no live web stream"

How much does this actually cost, Phil?

Good question.

Not sure ... but aim to find out as part of a plan of getting some sort of live coverage back for 2014.

First step is to demonstrate there is support for live coverage .. Alas survey only has 50 responses so not a great start.

Possibly not a reflection of MM relevance, more a feeling that it doesn't matter any more...

When is the Margarey Medal?

Wedgie wrote:When is the Margarey Medal?

U obviously don't listen to nova all day at work, a port power player won it, not sure what SANFL club he played for though

And an Adelaide player won it last year.

Two years in a row a bloke delisted by his AFL club wins the Medal.

Right now Matt Thomas is a Norwood player.
Maybe next year he is Richmond or Crows but at this minute he is only a Norwood player dedicated to winning a premiership.

Also Matt Thomas is now a part of Norwood's history and culture forever ! What he achieved was achieved playing for Norwood, nothing else is relevant. Proud that this man has represent our club with such dedication and commitment.

SDK, no-one here's doubting his Norwood credentials. It would, however, seem some parts of the mainstream media have no understanding of that.

SANFL cant livestream but the WAFL did for their Sandover Medal

As per the editorial, the first question I need answered is whether enough people want the Magarey coverage to be live to make it worth the resources allocated.

If no one (ie the faithfull SANFL supporters) cares anymore then
maybe the league made the right call,
a live web cast would be waste of money
& I am just a dinosaur who needs to accept these changes.

PhilH wrote:As per the editorial, the first question I need answered is whether enough people want the Magarey coverage to be live to make it worth the resources allocated.

If no one (ie the faithfull SANFL supporters) cares anymore then
maybe the league made the right call,
a live web cast would be waste of money
& I am just a dinosaur who needs to accept these changes.

But this is where the people who bleat we are scared of change have got it wrong

Most on here who are yes voters would be pretty happy if there was change and the SANFL produced a live stream of the count

It's a team game. It's nice to follow if it's available but don't really care. Bit like state football. The real stuff happens on Saturday afternoon - would prefer better coverage of that.

Having said that, good work to all the Magarey Medallists etc. Just cos it isn't a 4 hour feature on a commercial station doesn't mean it is any less worthy.

I used to love Max fumbling through the count.

Sad to say but the Magarey Medal no longer has the prestige it once had

Reddeer wrote:Sad to say but the Magarey Medal no longer has the prestige it once had

It may not have the prestige it once had for the younger SANFL followers,(in your words) but it has plenty for us 'older' followers who were brought up on footy through the 50's-60's-70's. The MM count is the night where the players can get together to show their appreciation for the leagues best and fairest player adjudged by the umpires for that season.

PP, wasn't a significant portion of that time frame when the league would simply make an announcement and not even have an official count?

Graham ... to be honest I don't know ... from the start of my football knowledge (1977) it was already on TV.

However I did read a history piece at some point talking about the count being on radio from 1938 until TV took it on.