SANFL Commentators - All who called

One that might be good for the memory banks, and help form a database for future years.

List all who have commentated SANFL either on TV or radio over the years. Reckon some names will be very interesting (eg Keith Conlon).

Would also be worth adding in all radio and TV stations who have broadcast SANFL also.

Ray (silver fox) Fewings
Bruce (flash) McAvaney
Peter Marker

most radio stations did it many years ago, 5DN, 5KA, 5AD, 5AN just to mention some

5KA used to broadcast from the same frequency that 5RPH now do

" He has kicked a sausage roll."

By
Dennis DB Browne

Some randomly thrown together names

Ian Day
Peter Marker
Bruce McAvanery
Robert Oatey
Rick Keegan
Keith Conlan
Gerry Harrison
Max Hall
Wally May
Mark Naley
Kym Dillon
David Darcy
KG
Brian Cunningham
David McKAy
Neil Cross
Chris Kendall
Phil Aspinall
Don Cooper
DB
Michael Maney
Tim Giniver
Mark Soderstrom
Neville Roberts

Ian Aitken
Sandy Roberts
Graeme Campbell
Ron Kitchen

Tom Warhurst. (Snr).

In the mid 1960s the following were the radio broadcasters:
5AD Gordon Schwartz and Allan Crabb
5KA Tom Warhurst and Max Hall
5DN Ken Aplin - I don't remember his partner. Later in the 1960s Ross LeCornu joined Aplin.
5CL Arnold Ewens and Bob Bower. When Arnold Ewens suffered a stroke after an Anzac Day match, Noel Bailey came over from Melbourne to take his place. Around this time the ABC switched the roles of their two stations and 5AN became their station that covered sport.
Off topic, Bayman and Scrappy might be interested to know that Arnold Ewens was considered the pre eminent trotting caller in Australia. The ABC thought so highly of him that he always called the Interdominion for them irrespective of the city in which it was held.

Was it Brian Lees that called in the 1960's - 1970's, I'm not sure of his first name but I'm sure it was Lees

Yes Brian Lees called on both 5KA and 5AD in the late 1960s and 1970s
At both stations at various times he was partnered by Rod McLeod who also had previously called the VFL.

I think Lees was a former umpire?
Did Eldon Crouch call games?

Did Eric Freeman call Footy?

An answer to 2 questions

Eric Fritz Freeman started off his commentating career with C9
He called SANFL reserves football in 1969
He stood out of League football for Port Adelaide  , a reason being he didnt want to risk being injured , and missing cricket tours of India and subsequently South Africa

The man Fritz called SANFL Reserves with was Eldon Crouch
Eldon Crouch also hosted the C9 football Show
Fritz was one of the panelists on that show

Flag No.10 wrote:I think Lees was a former umpire?
Did Eldon Crouch call games?

Brian Lees was indeed a field umpire and before that a Port Adelaide footballer.

Other callers who were ex umpires were Max Hall, Ross Le Cornu, Ken Aplin and of course KG.

Additionally Lawrie Sweeney didn't call football but was a panellist for years on World of Sport. Lawrie didn't officially play for Port but according to Doug Thomas umpired with a black singlet under his white shirt.

I am straying a bit here and it may have only been coincidence but legend has it that in the 1960 Second Semi Final North had been dominating but with Sweeney paying a number of dubious frees to Port they got to within a kick half way through the last quarter. At that stage Sweeney went down with stomach cramps, was stretchered from the ground and North steadied and won by about 10 points. Norwood then beat Port in the preliminary final with Brenton Whitford umpiring instead of Sweeney thus ending Port's premiership reign. Once again Doug Thomas is adamant that if Sweeney had stayed sound he would have got Port home in the second semi and subsequent Grand Final.

JIMMY DEANE
Never saw him play, but heard him commentating
Smooth resonating voice
OutStanding descriptions
You were almost seeing the game listening to his comments on radio
I consider Jimmy to be the best SANFL commentator Ive listened to

I remember each game being covered by a radio station, but I'm not sure if that coverage always involved calling the games, perhaps only reporting on them. Mick Clingly (former Torrens player) is one I can recall doing that, but unsure if he actually commentated.

Ted Langridge (who I think played for Sturt) did some TV calling IIRC.
And Bo Morton (also ex Sturt) was at least a TV panellist, if not a caller.

I reckon the Jumbo did some special comments with KG at some stage too.

Chambo Off To Work We Go wrote:I reckon the Jumbo did some special comments with KG at some stage too.

There were at least 2 SANFL players with the name Jumbo Prince
The one you are referring to would be Rick Davies
The other who was called Jumbo Prince was Peter Darley
Been said it was Neil Kerley who gave Darley that nick name

Gary Window is another one I don't think anyone's mentioned.

Ted Langridge did call for both Channels 9 and 7.

Bo Morton never called but was on the Channel 9 Footy Show.

Blair Schwartz called for both 7 and 9.

Did anyone else think that Gordon and Blair Schwartz were the most unlikely of brothers. Gordon who is still going at 94 was so urbane and sensible.

Yeah, I can remember Blair playing with his Dixieland 3-piece at the Pizza Hut on Anzac Hwy. Must have been very impressive telling your muso mates you were doing a gig at the Pizza Hut.

A number who have called at 5RPH, albeit briefly:

Rob Green
Daniel Frangos (one match)
Michael Phillipou
Anthony Tucker
Grant Coffee (much more than brief, has called across a few outlets)
Rob Popplestone
John Nankivell (has called for many years)

Paul Blandis

Andrew Marks.

robranisgod wrote:

Flag No.10 wrote:I think Lees was a former umpire?
Did Eldon Crouch call games?

Brian Lees was indeed a field umpire and before that a Port Adelaide footballer.

Other callers who were ex umpires were Max Hall, Ross Le Cornu, Ken Aplin and of course KG.

Additionally Lawrie Sweeney didn't call football but was a panellist for years on World of Sport. Lawrie didn't officially play for Port but according to Doug Thomas umpired with a black singlet under his white shirt.

I am straying a bit here and it may have only been coincidence but legend has it that in the 1960 Second Semi Final North had been dominating but with Sweeney paying a number of dubious frees to Port they got to within a kick half way through the last quarter. At that stage Sweeney went down with stomach cramps, was stretchered from the ground and North steadied and won by about 10 points. Norwood then beat Port in the preliminary final with Brenton Whitford umpiring instead of Sweeney thus ending Port's premiership reign. Once again Doug Thomas is adamant that if Sweeney had stayed sound he would have got Port home in the second semi and subsequent Grand Final.

i've heard the stories about Sweeney, however i'm not old enough to know myself but everyone i know of that generation say the same thing

I don't know if this is drawing a long bow but John Callaghan and Jim Hough call the games for the SANFL on the Internet.
Also as well as the well known media commentators like PhilH, Big Phil and CK, I believe another regular poster who may have the best all round knowledge of the SANFL of any poster was a special comments man for a North vs South game about 6 yeas ago.