I think that with modern day football moving at such a rapid pace special comments guys on radio and TV should be moved on after they have been out of the game for more than 2 years.

There are plenty of roles for the greats of the game in the media and on the rubber chicken circuit but special comments from ex player coaches like Leigh Mathews who was starting to loose his grip on the modern game when he was moved on from Brisbane are better in the hands of someone like Malthouse who is just out of the game and ex players like Ling who should be used in a more prominant role, not just as a boundry rider.

Mathew Lloyd was a revelation as a special comments expert when he was first out of the game but he gets less relevant the more time moves on. When someone like Rocket Eade has been used for special comments it really brings a lot to the table. I remember back when Sheedy was coaching Essendon in a finals campaign he half jokingly complained to the ABC guys at the time to get Rocket off the air he is giving my secrets away.

The greater the time out of the game (unless you are Acker) the more prone to the exagerated, over the top comment you are. Cases in point Mathews, Hudson is a better recruit than Clark, Walls, Hawthorn players gave the game away against Sydney along with many, many others, Dermott, love him, he is a ripper bloke Brereton, where do you start. I could mention some others who really didn't have much of a clue when they were in the game let alone comment on it now but that's another topic.

These ex player coaches are great for the colour of the game and they have learned how to perform in the media, to me Watson brings good experience to the boundry rider position and has a feel for the game but if you want top class analysis it is someone more in touch with the game as it is played now that will bring it. Friday night football is the showcase game of the week and 7 should be using either Malthouse, Ling or both. Same thing on radio, Fox, all of them.

Entertaining as some of the ex's are, many are past their use by date as far as special comments are concerned.

It has got to a ridiculous stage where there are so many ex players and coaches trying to still make a living from the game, they are battling for some kind of relevance, and in doing so have to throw exaggerated and sensational comments around.

Half the problem is the amount of coverage these little throw away comments get. Matthews says Hudson will be a better recruit than Clark and the next day we have a write up about it in the hun etc.

Was watching the premier league a week or two back and the commentator was questioning a club, might have been villa, and he was saying in a throw away line they mustn't get on with each other, the manager etc, and I thought if that was someone like Paul Roos saying that during a game, we would have articles about it in all the local rags, robbo would of been salivating over it on 360, neelds weekly presser would be a baptism aired live on fox sports news. It has got out of hand.

  On 06/05/2012 at 13:37, rjay said:

The greater the time out of the game (unless you are Acker) the more prone to the exagerated, over the top comment you are.

Couldn't agree more. Yesterday Josh Bootsma played his first game for the blues. he racked up a few measly possessions after coming on as a sub, until he slotted a reasonably good kick down the throat of a carlton forward. All of a sudden, the commentator (can't remember who) proclaims he is an "elite AFL kick." How can he be an elite AFL kick in his first game!? A knowledgable commentator might have said "his disposal efficiency coming through the TAC cup was excellent," or some other tangible comment. But no, apparently we have the next Brendan Goddard on our hands!

This sort of hyperbole occurs way too regularly and makes me want to watch footy with the mute button on.