Channel 10 Commentary

[olgreydingo 51]

She was Specccialll !

[Einstein 1]

I was at the game so was spared the TV commentary, but I did catch most of the second half late last night on Foxtel.

Eh, she was ok, most commentators take time to find their comfort zone and develop a style. She does need to work on a few things.

Number one, from what I did hear, she was awfully biased in favour of Geelong. Really annoyed me even just watching the replay. She seemed to get excited about everything the Cats did, while for us it was a case of ho hum, nice effort Dees. Very ordinary.

She also noted that we apparently had 'three supporters' at yesterday's game.

Yeah I heard that on the replay. I can tell you that ! was there and counted three Melbourne supporters standing with me. So that makes four. So she was totally exaggerating there. Actually, to be serious, we were obviously and predictably well out numbered, but I thought all things considered, there was a reasonable Melbourne representation in the outer. Not as bad as I was expecting.

[Adam The God 30,276]

Yeah I heard that on the replay. I can tell you that ! was there and counted three Melbourne supporters standing with me. So that makes four. So she was totally exaggerating there. Actually, to be serious, we were obviously and predictably well out numbered, but I thought all things considered, there was a reasonable Melbourne representation in the outer. Not as bad as I was expecting.

Yeah, my mum and sister went, so that makes six at least. They had members tickets from one of our family members (who is Geelong), because that bloody ground barely gives up any tickets for opposition supporters. The seating arrangements are a disgrace. Get another 5,000 seats in there or fix up opposition supporters tickets.

[Ron Burgundy 8,584]

Amateur hour. Had the feel of a country league game with 30 people watching and car horns sounding after each goal.

Her voice annoyed the hell out of me - I actually found it very hard to watch the game.

[mauriesy 7,302]

Probably the worst sounding voice I've ever heard.

Agreed. A terrible voice for "commentading on the foody".

Would like to see some more women commentating though.

[Guest Rojik of the Arctic]

Bias in a commentator I can cope with. I just think less of them. What I have no time for is the 2 second behind the play commentary and the not knowing players names, but there was a play where one of our players was steaming down the wing (appols to whoever it was) and he nailed Green on the chest in the pocket, honouring a beautiful lead, and that stupid Underwood's call was "He has no options". That sort of stuff should have her sacked on the spot.

[ViaLoop 11]

Heard that too Rojik and just started laughing. Was she not watching the play at all? I didn't mind her at the start, pre-game but once the game started it just got bad.

[Bruce Almighty 0]

terrible, would rather chew razorblades than listen to her biased comments again, richo and huddo wernt even responding to her towards the end,basically they let young kellie sink.

i agree, there is no place in footy for a women commentator

[jacey 333]

Despite her Geelong bias I thought she was very good.

Thought she did alright. She didn't bother me like other commentators. 2 steps ahead of Dwayne.

[H_T 3,049]

I found nothing wrong with the sound of her voice in her commentary. What I did find was that her commentary was not in sinc with the play, and her failure to identify players of both sides - in particular names - was absolutely pathetic. Failing to call 2-3 possessions during movement of the ball quite a number of times is frowned upon from even amateur viewers let alone regular fans of AFL. Huddo would of been cringing when he was asked about the amount of cats players in his dreamteam. Quite amusing.

[Courtney_Fish 183]

I guess there's no wrong or right. It's a personal thing. But for me - I was happy to listen to a woman call. It was not what I was used to but I'm happy to get used to it. However, she kept telling snippets about Geelong and I wondered if she actually knew anything about the Dees. Eg, she said about one guy that he was one of only two guys that had played every game for Geelong. I'll be surprised if she knew that sort of stuff about MFC. And she repeated stuff about some players (always Geelong) to the point I was ready to turn off the sound. I thought she might have worked for a Geelong radio station. So over all - appalling, like half the men calling.

[Rogue 585]

The seating arrangements are a disgrace. Get another 5,000 seats in there or fix up opposition supporters tickets.

They're redeveloping one of the stands. Anyway, I'd love it if we had a stadium we could fill with Demons supporters.

[45HG 1,545]

She was a disgrace! Might as well have put the Geelong Cheersquad leader in the box! I though her best work was when she mistook Matthew Bate as Clint Bartram !!!! I have no problem with female callers, but I don't want the cheersquad in the commentary box. If she's as good as they say, why don't they get her to call a game with any other team than Geelong?

I was issuing enough of my own "commentary" to be able to hear too much of hers - but I must say this observation made me laugh. I chatted with the Beyonce today about her commentating and I really couldn't get passed this point (and she agreed). Gender is irrelevant - if you mix up a tall redheaded centre half forward with a small skinny brown haired midfielder-half back and make no effort to correct it, there are problems.

At least she is in the game and seems to enjoy it, that is enough to bread interest if she can keep her bloody voice down. I felt like she spent the whole time yelling into the microphone and was struggling to get out of "radio mode."

Having said that, it would be a difficult change and she deserves time to practice a few things. I do worry, though, that this type of decision could hinder the application of other, more skillful, female aspirants to the profession.

She's got the cliche's down, but the art of commentary is to employ them at appropriate moments - not play by play. This is hopefully an experience thing and will progress with her knowledge of voice projection and a massively boosted played knowledge.

(didn't notice the bias for initially stated reason - but will listen to the replay)

[45HG 1,545]

I found nothing wrong with the sound of her voice in her commentary. What I did find was that her commentary was not in sinc with the play, and her failure to identify players of both sides - in particular names - was absolutely pathetic. Failing to call 2-3 possessions during movement of the ball quite a number of times is frowned upon from even amateur viewers let alone regular fans of AFL. Huddo would of been cringing when he was asked about the amount of cats players in his dreamteam. Quite amusing.

Speaking of rubbish commentators.

If i may offer a slightly different interpretation: I feel she is 3-4 plays behind because she is commentating in the "radio mode," which obviously is not frowned upon because no one can tell any different. I think she is being shown up because she is trying to go play by play and, obviously, cannot keep up. I feel this can be rectified

[Doggo 32]

if you mix up a tall redheaded centre half forward with a small skinny brown haired midfielder-half back and make no effort to correct it, there are problems.

How about her call of "Mortram" on the wing... Talk about problems. LOL

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

She joins an elite group of hopeless, crap commentators.

It's amazing how few quality commentators there are. Commetti and the late, great Grybas were the best I've heard. I don't love Huddo, but I think he's in third. A lot of people rate him.

I'm not against the theory of women commentating. A female version of Commetti would be a great thing for the game. (entertaining visual, anyone)

I don't think Kelli is the one though. Just doesn't have it. Rather like watching Weetra go about it. You just knew...

Edited July 19, 2009 by Dappa Dan

[pitmaster 3,561]

Just transferring my heart felt views from another topic to one more relevant - the more I think about this, and read others' views the more I realise I was too easy on her.

Her voice is grating - too nasal and more ocker than I have heard in a commentator for a long while.

The worst elements I found in her work were firstly that she does not really understand the game and while she knows what is going on she was not able to anticipate what was going to happen so failed to get excited as Bate's long shot ran on and on with the wind to be esorted through by Jurrah. There were a couple of other instances like this including the Morton one referred to earlier.

Like so many others she cannot pronounce PettERD and seems to be having trouble with Jurrah who is getting Jarra. How hard can it be?

But my biggest issue with her was that she does not know when not to speak. I got sick of the fact that she rabbited on when there was no need. In short, she would not shut up at all.

I also bristled at her reference to the "three Melbourne supporters that are here" getting upset at an umpiring decision. I mean really, talk about falling into the misrepresentations right from the start. She could be a break with the past - first woman commentator etc, but no, she wants to play just like the boys. Weak as. If slinging off at us in a difficult time is the best she can manage then rack off sister and go sit with Duhwayne.

[Adam The God 30,276]

It's amazing how few quality commentators there are. Commetti and the late, great Grybas were the best I've heard. I don't love Huddo, but I think he's in third. A lot of people rate him.

I agree with Commetti and Grybas. Not Huddo though. I used to like him, but ever since Geelong have rocketed up the ladder he is too biased for my liking. I also really enjoy comments by Tim Lane and Robert Walls, while Richo is becoming a favourite of mine on Ten. Michael Christines is horrible (and terribly black and white biased) and Matthew Lloyd is equally pitiful. Lloyd seems to know very little outside his own club, while Richo is well informed on all the clubs it seems. Bruce is also good for a laugh occasionally and to be honest very un biased which is great.

[Grand New Flag 3,227]

She came out with some good calls and tried hard to show some excitement for the Dees despite the one sided score line.

However:

* She talks with an unpleasant bogan twang that should never be allowed on Television or Radio. A male would never be allowed to commentate with a similar accent. This is my biggest problem with her.

* Commentated as if on radio rather than TV.

* Mixed up Melbourne players names

* Was Geelong one eyed

Personally I thought I could do a better job.

I hope never to have to listen to her again…………… well at least until she polished up her high pitched, bogan accent.

[titan_uranus 25,020]

Full credit to Ten for allowing her to have a go. And full credit to Kelli for cracking a male-dominated industry.

But as I said in another thread, it borders on the incredulous that Ten could give her 3 consecutive Geelong matches when her bias towards Geelong is so blatantly evident. Made for shocking commentary, given that she was paired with Hudson.

[Steamin Demon 392]

So, women shouldn't comment on football, but it's OK for the blokes to call women's tennis, volleyball, swimming etc.

Double standards at play I'm afraid!

Judge her on her performance and not her gender!

But - on her performance she was krap and she advanced her cause non a micron. Also her bias was appalling.

As long as the call is clear, unbiased and the caller knows the players and the subject, and can bring to the commentary something of the moment, I don't care if the commentator has testicles or [censored] (or both) .

The reason she got the gig is because of gender, So thats what I will judge her on. What a disgraceful performance, This was reverse sexism to the worst degree.

Let the real professionals call the game.

[Hannabal 4]

Full credit to Ten for allowing her to have a go.

No credit to TEN whatsoever.

Fancy insulting their audience with that crap in a $700 million industry.

Mind boggling.

[Sir Why You Little 37,051]

* She talks with an unpleasant bogan twang that should never be allowed on Television or Radio. A male would never be allowed to commentate with a similar accent. This is my biggest problem with her.

Personally I thought I could do a better job.

I hope never to have to listen to her again…………… well at least until she polished up her high pitched, bogan accent.

Andy Maher has a shocking Bogan Voice, & he is allowed to warble on...

[jackie_moon 0]

The reason she got the gig is because of gender, So thats what I will judge her on. What a disgraceful performance, This was reverse sexism to the worst degree.

Let the real professionals call the game.

agreed. she was awful. i'm all for getting women involved in the game but i could not stand to listen to that tripe. i turned her down and tried to listen to the radio but the 5 second delay killed it. ruined the match for me. enjoyed richo's comments though. he'll slot in nicely when he decides to hang up the boots.

Also that bloody women goal umpire cost us that first goal too. touched my arse!!! anyone see the eagles game where hansen punched the ball back into play as a set shot sailed through the behinds and the goal umpire let play continue as the eagles tried to manufacture a goal in the pocket. about 15 seconds later the goal umpire ran out onto the field and informed the umpire that it was a point. the 15 secs weren't reinstated. umpires and timekeepers have been having a shocking season...

[Nasher 33,616]

The reason she got the gig is because of gender, So thats what I will judge her on. What a disgraceful performance, This was reverse sexism to the worst degree.

Let the real professionals call the game.

It's not 'reverse sexism', it's just sexism, and I agree, she's rubbish. However, I would choose Kelli over Dwayne Russell every day of the week.