Heavy Victorian Bias In AFL Final’s Commentary

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As an interstate viewer watching and listening to the heavy Victorian bias in AFL final’s commentary this year it felt like the VFL. The Melbournian centric focus expressed by the many ex-player commentators was in top gear throughout the finals. These blokes were jumping on the Carlton bandwagon and were fully paid up members of the Magpie army. It is only to be expected when their bread and butter comes from this huge market in terms of paying gigs and such like, I suppose. It does make one wonder, however, whether this truly is a national competition or just the VFL with a few add-ons.

a sports stadium with a field and a field with a crowd of people with Melbourne Cricket Ground in the background

Too Many Victorian AFL Commentators

There are too many of these talking heads on game day anyway and they are like the Greek chorus the way they repeat each other ad nauseum. They make a whole lot of noise about very little, in my estimation. The key to footy commentary is to talk as loudly as possible if David King and Jonathon Brown are any indication. Sometimes there are so many incidental conversations going on during a televised match that it detracts from the natural excitement inherent in the game itself.

Channel 7 commentators are even worse on this score with a plethora of voices rabbiting on about god knows what.

selective focus photography of brown football on grass at daytime

The Carlton Final’s Story Not The Only Story In Town

Yes, the Carlton resurrection has been a good story this year with their long awaited return to the finals. Media pundits, however, have a responsibility to the ‘so-called’ national character of the AFL competition in the way they promote the game.

These untrained blokes bang on about the same things till they’re blue in the face (no pun intended).
Robert Sudha Hamilton

Brisbane have their own important story happening here and despite winning the Preliminary Final were undersold on the day. Under-told by the scores of ex-footballers commentating on the match, as they pandered to the Carlton faithful.

a city skyline with the word kansas written in large letters

Collingwood At The MCG

The Collingwood vs Giants PF at the MCG was a torrid contest and the Pies just wanted it more it seems. A 1 point victory, after their 1 point loss in the same game last year – it is a game of inches and millimetres in the end. The Giants were fantastic through the finals and were unlucky to lose. The lopsided crowd was another factor, which makes the national nature of AFL a bit shaky. The booing from the huge crowd every time GWS had a shot at goal was pretty lousy, in my opinion. Sure, the crowd want to get involved and do their bit but fairness is a thing in sport as well, and perhaps, the Collingwood faithful could have a think about this.

It is a game after all. It might feel like life and death but it isn’t. Sportsmanship and being a good sport were pretty thin on the ground in the crowd on Friday night at the Gee.

man in green and black adidas tank top and black pants standing on green grass field

The heavy Victorian bias in the AFL final’s commentary this year made it feel like the VFL back in the day. We interstate supporters draw the short straw generally anyway. Much of the content of footy shows are about the Melbournian teams and the commentators know bugger all about our players.