Seven recruits 5 new commentators to AFL team

[Brad]

http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/10/sev ... -team.html

Seven recruits 5 new commentators to AFL team
By David Knox on October 27, 2011 Filed Under News Seven has announced five new commentators to join its AFL team in 2012.

They are Michael Malthouse, Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Cameron Ling, and Brett Kirk.

They join current commentators Dennis Cometti, Bruce McAvaney, Leigh Matthews, Tim Watson, Tom Harley and Matthew Richardson.

AFL Game Day host Hamish McLachlan and Seven’s Perth sports presenter Basil Zempilas will also have expanded roles as match commentators.

Under the 2012-2016 AFL broadcast agreement, Seven will show four games every weekend during the home-and-away season, as well as every final and the Brownlow Medal. Foxtel will have rights to all 9 weekly games played live in HD, plus the Brownlow Medal.

The AFL Grand Final will be shown exclusively live on Seven.

Lewis Martin, Managing Director of Seven Melbourne, said: “This is the start of a new era for AFL on Seven and we’re tremendously excited that they’ve accepted our invitation to come onboard. We reckon we’ve got the best AFL commentary team in the business, some giants of the game, and these new additions only make us stronger. They’re astute, they’re passionate, they’re connected to the game, and they’ll give viewers an insight in the footy they won’t find anywhere else.”

Seven’s Head of Sport, Saul Shtein, added: “When I look at the names on this list, I feel privileged to be a member of the Seven Sport team. It includes some of the greatest players, coaches, captains and callers of all time. Their success, on the field or in the commentary booth, speaks for itself, but it is also their personalities which will provide plenty of entertainment. It is with great anticipation and excitement here at Seven that we look forward to season 2012. We just love the footy.”

Seven is yet to confirm which games will be broadcast in HD.

Bios:
Michael Malthouse: A triple premiership coach and an icon of AFL football.

Cameron Ling: A triple premiership player who held the cup aloft as Geelong captain in 2011.

Brian Taylor: A boisterous Coleman medalist and one of the kings of football commentary.

Luke Darcy: A champion Bulldogs ruckman and AFLPA MVP winner.

Brett Kirk: The revered Swans captain and premiership player with a unique perspective on life.

[Brad]

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl ... 6177706587

MICK Malthouse has signed with Channel 7 as a new era dawns in football broadcasting.

Seven unveiled a star-studded stable of expert commentators for next season headed by recruits Brian Taylor, Luke Darcy, Cameron Ling, Brett Kirk and Malthouse.

Taylor has defected from Foxtel, while Darcy crosses from Channel 10, which lost the broadcast rights in this year's $1.25 billion race.

Will Mick Malthouse be a champion pundit? Vote now and have your say below.

And in coming weeks Channel 9's Eddie McGuire is tipped to become the face of Foxtel's AFL coverage.

Seven will broadcast wall-to-wall footy next season on Friday night, Saturday afternoon, Saturday night and Sunday afternoon.

The station's new signings will join Leigh Matthews, Bruce McAvaney, Dennis Cometti, Tim Watson, Matthew Richardson and Tom Harley.

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Perth-based Basil Zemplis and AFL Game Day host Hamish McLachlan will also call matches next year in expanded roles.

Former Swans captain Kirk is the shock appointment, but was considered popular with players and the female demographic.

He got the nod ahead of former Bomber Matthew Lloyd, who has instead joined Nine.

Seven is also planning a new Saturday night panel show similar to Ten's Before the Game.

"This is the start of a new era for AFL on Seven," Melbourne station chief Lewis Martin said.

"We reckon we've got the best AFL commentary team in the business, some giants of the game, and these new additions only make us stronger.

"They're astute, passionate, connected to the game, and they'll give viewers an insight into the footy they won't find anywhere else."

Former Magpie coach Malthouse has signed on for one season, leaving open the option of returning to AFL coaching in 2013.

"I can't wait to get started, to be honest," Malthouse said.

"I understand why teams win and lose, I'm clinical in analysing the game, but now I'll get to do it without worrying about the result.

"And in many respects I'll have a clearer view because I'll be impartial."

Fox will broadcast the remaining five weekly home-and-away fixtures as well as simulcasts of Seven's four matches. It will also reactivate its 24-hour footy channel next year.

[Brad]

Eddie on Fox Footy?? or will it be the collingwood channel....

[Baron Greenback]

Luke Darcy
Terrible call Channel 7.

The rest are good. BT's a bit iffy, but really looking forward to hearing from Lingy and Kirk.

[Interceptor]

Too many commentators these days.
Two "special" comments men is one too many.
It seems like tv producers are desparate to avoid "dead air" and need someone yacking away nearly continuously.

[live_for_footy]

Lets just hope they are better than Matty Richardson.

[MatteeG]

Lets just hope they are better than Matty Richardson.

I reakon Richo is good value. Darcy and McLachlan- Ack!

Thanks Christ Lloyd is gone.

[Booney]

Brian Taylor - REB to thread, REB to thread...

[saintal]

Lets just hope they are better than Matty Richardson.

One of the more tolerable guys on TV. His honesty can be refreshing.

Not a fan at all of BT or McLachlan. Darcy tries a little too hard also.

[Sky Pilot]

please just dump Eddie Everywhere and bloody Bruce Maca - bleah.

[Johno6]

if i was channel 7 i wouldve hired 7 new ppl........................................ see what i did there!

[the joker]

Apparently Brian taylor couldn't say no to the money he got offered and foxtel couldn't get close

[OnSong]

Apparently Brian taylor couldn't say no to the money he got offered and foxtel couldn't get close

Woweee!

[Rik E Boy]

Brian Taylor - REB to thread, REB to thread...

Hooray for Foxtel! Not much good for Friday Night Footy though as 518 uses the Seven feed.

regards,

REB

[the joker]

Wonder of BT wishes he kept his mouth shut saying that Dennis was just leaving 3aw for money, when he is doing the same thing In A different media

[Pag]

Thank god Lloyd won't call any next year. A brick wall has more personality.

[Rik E Boy]

Wonder of BT wishes he kept his mouth shut saying that Dennis was just leaving 3aw for money, when he is doing the same thing In A different media

Don't know about BT but I wish he kept his friggin mouth shut.

regards,

REB

[FlyingHigh]

Channel 7 area assembling a pretty good panel of current and recently retired footballers who I find interesting.
Like Harley, Richo (didn't think I would) and Hodge. Looking forward to Ling and Kirk.
BT and Watson are dispensable IMO.

Regarding the Free-to-air, Channel 7 are doing four games a week. Is there still the requirement for them to broadcast all the SA teams games, so we could still get five or six games depending on if the SA teams are part of their designated weekly schedule?

[Rik E Boy]

Thank god Lloyd won't call any next year. A brick wall has more personality.

He's pretty deadpan that's true but he is steadily improving IMO with the quality of his comments. I'd have him ahead of Darcy and BT anyday.

regards,

REB

[Mr66]

Thank god Lloyd won't call any next year. A brick wall has more personality.

He's pretty deadpan that's true but he is steadily improving IMO with the quality of his comments. I'd have him ahead of Darcy and BT anyday.

regards,

REB

Ditto
And I thought Matthew Richardson would terrible but IMO he wasn't too bad.
Taylor is too contrived and Darcy is too critical, but he can change whereas
Taylor can't/won't.