Footy history in the making
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:24 pmCHANNEL 10's Kelli Underwood will create history as the first woman to call Australian Rules football on TV.
Underwood, 31, will join broadcasting great Tim Lane to call the Adelaide v Geelong NAB Cup match on February 21.
She and fellow reporter Rob Waters will call a match each during the pre-season competition.
Ten's head of football David Barham said Underwood had earned the opportunity on merit.
"It is well deserved," Mr Barham said.
"We've got a 24-hour sports channel starting so we need more callers and more talent.
"I think people will judge her on her ability, not her gender.
"It doesn't matter that she's a woman. It has nothing to do with the decision.
"Both of them have earnt the opportunity, pure and simple."
Underwood first called a match on radio several years ago when she joined Rex Hunt at 3AW for a quarter in a move largely considered a publicity stunt.
But Mr Barham said ratings and publicity were not factors in his decision.
"It's how good you are, not what you are," Mr Barham said.
"It's an experimental move.
"In the NAB Cup, clubs experiment, the AFL experiments and we wanted to experiment too."
Underwood said she had called two ABC radio matches to the Sydney market last season and Ten had asked for a copy of the tape.
She said she was thrilled.
"I have always wanted to broadcast any sport. It has been a dream," Underwood said.
"It's so exciting and I am looking forward to it.
"I'm probably more nervous calling alongside Tim Lane than the actual calling itself.
"I've been looking up to him for years."
She concedes audiences will have their opinions on women calling matches.
"Women are involved in every area of the sport, so why shouldn't they call?" she said.
Underwood, 31, will join broadcasting great Tim Lane to call the Adelaide v Geelong NAB Cup match on February 21.
She and fellow reporter Rob Waters will call a match each during the pre-season competition.
Ten's head of football David Barham said Underwood had earned the opportunity on merit.
"It is well deserved," Mr Barham said.
"We've got a 24-hour sports channel starting so we need more callers and more talent.
"I think people will judge her on her ability, not her gender.
"It doesn't matter that she's a woman. It has nothing to do with the decision.
"Both of them have earnt the opportunity, pure and simple."
Underwood first called a match on radio several years ago when she joined Rex Hunt at 3AW for a quarter in a move largely considered a publicity stunt.
But Mr Barham said ratings and publicity were not factors in his decision.
"It's how good you are, not what you are," Mr Barham said.
"It's an experimental move.
"In the NAB Cup, clubs experiment, the AFL experiments and we wanted to experiment too."
Underwood said she had called two ABC radio matches to the Sydney market last season and Ten had asked for a copy of the tape.
She said she was thrilled.
"I have always wanted to broadcast any sport. It has been a dream," Underwood said.
"It's so exciting and I am looking forward to it.
"I'm probably more nervous calling alongside Tim Lane than the actual calling itself.
"I've been looking up to him for years."
She concedes audiences will have their opinions on women calling matches.
"Women are involved in every area of the sport, so why shouldn't they call?" she said.
