Phil Gibbs, who anchored Channel O's coverage of the VFA back in the golden era TV/radio footy coverage, has passed away just short of his 88th birthday.
Legendary jazz drummer Alphonse Mouzon died on 26 December after a battle with cancer, aged 68.
Mouzon was known as one of the world’s greatest drummers and he worked with many notable soul and jazz artists.
Mouzon also played with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, Patrick Moraz, Betty Davis and Chubby Checker and acted in several films including Tom Hanks' "That Thing You Do".
Status Quo guitarist Rick Parfitt passed away on Christmas Eve after developing a severe infection following shoulder surgery. He was 68 and had led a punishing lifestyle.
Leaping Larry does a pretty fair assessment of AFL commentators in today's Age.
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From the cheap seats of AFL commentary
Another season in the books. Time to take a look at the year's efforts in the noble field of footy commentary.
All opinions are solely the province of your humble columnist, and as likely as not, represent those of nobody else whatsoever.
This time, match announcers, next week the special comments guys.
BRUCE McAVANEY – There's an old expression, "The less said the better", and there's nothing in that aphorism that couldn't improve The Bruce's match calls. Not every idea that pops into anyone's head is gold. You all saw Donald Trump in the first Presidential Debate. And maybe just ease back the throttle on those player nicknames around 300 per cent. Somewhere under all the gusherama lies the ghost of a perfectly capable football commentator.
DWAYNE RUSSELL – If Alfred Hitchcock had made a movie about Dwayne, it might have been entitled The Man Who Talked Too Much. Also, regarding the endless leather-lunged shilling for the AFL, the game in question, the attendance and everything else short of the quality of the hot dogs on sale, (a) nobody needs it and (b) that's Sandy Roberts' gig.
BRIAN TAYLOR – The overwhelming impression I get from this caller is that the game gets in the way of putting over himself and his buddies in the booth. It seems barely possible that these priorities are not shared by those subjected to the entertainment stylings of the Brian Taylor Saturday Night Zoo Crew while trying to negotiate a football telecast.
ANTHONY HUDSON – Calls a good, straight footy match. Has the voice for it. Handy at jockeying his calling team. The odd wry humorous touch sneaks in around the edges. A pro.
HAMISH McLACHLAN – When "Hammer" heads off into his all-but-inevitable golf and tennis metaphors during match calls, I'm right with him. I wish he was calling those sports instead too.
ADAM PAPALIA – Guy you maybe didn't recognise who picked up some calling on Fox Footy this year. Clean-voiced, no guff, straight match caller with an obvious knack for it. Sort of Anthony Hudson II – The Adventure Continues.
BASIL ZEMPILAS – This may be bucking the general trend on Big Baz, but the patently unfeigned enthusiasm counts for something, and despite the fashion, he never puts himself over the game. Surgical analysis, well, probably not.
LUKE DARCY – If Stifler hadn't been shifted to co-calling with BT, that would have left him free for even more self-promoting leaden banter sapping the will to live on Saturday nights. Also, purely as a caller, there are worse.
EDDIE McGUIRE – A bit "Hits of the 90s" but still capable anchoring a crew, as long as he and Dermott don't disappear up the alley of "Vintage nightclub battles won and lost".
SANDY ROBERTS – Kind of Basil Zempilas plus about 80 years. Tireless efforts to incorporate the cutting edge footy science jargon of the day deserve comedy category consideration at the Logies.
DENNIS COMETTI – Nobody should constrict their oxygen intake waiting for another one of these to come around.
We have received permission from the AFL to pre-sign Lauren Arnell as a priority selection because she has an existing relationship with Carlton (she is our first Visy Female Football Ambassador).
I have been researching our family history for a while and it's always good to find documentary evidence that confirms oral history.
I remember being introduced to "cousin" Wally, the Fitzroy footballer. Wally, or "Nugget" Clark was my second cousin and he played for Fitzroy from 1955-1962 (he was a lot older than me). In 1963 he was appointed captain-coach of Fitzroy seconds and he famously coached the firsts to a win over Geelong when Kevin Murray was absent for a state game. Wally won the Gardiner medal in 1963.
I was a lot closer to another second cousin, Jimmy Gutterson, as our families spent Christmas holidays together. Jimmy played for Footscray in 1961-1962 and won the Gardiner Medal in 1962. Jimmy became the playing coach of Turvey Park, taking the job after Carlton convinced John Nicholls not to take it.
Jimmy and Wally weren't related but I find it interesting that I have cousins who won the Gardiner Medal in consecutive seasons.
Another second cousin, Daryl Gutterson, played one game for Carlton in 1971.
It's not quite as impressive as Crash's great great great uncle Angelo Azzopardi, but it's still a link to footy history
According to today's Age, we lodged our five-player marquee wish-list with the AFL last week and we have prioritised former international goalkeeper Brianna Davey. New coach Damien Keeping identified Davey as a priority after standout performances with the St Kilda Sharks in the VWFL.
Collingwood was interested in Davey but it seems that we have secured her services with the offer of a three days a week community role.
I will be heading off tomorrow morning for a trip across the Simpson Desert via the Madigan Line.
We will be staying at Mungerannie on Saturday so I may catch part of the game - I'm assuming the hotel has Foxtel. Radio coverage is average at best and the game is not on the ABC so I'll probably miss out on radio coverage. That will probably be it until I get back home, just in time for the Geelong game.
I'll be relying on CSC to keep me informed - if I can get internet coverage - so don't hold back.
In discussing the steps to be taken to ensure Charlie Curnow doesn't stuff up, Brendon Bolton had this to say:
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"The thing is, we have got some good leaders here ... Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Simmo (Kade Simpson); he's going to be able to learn from those boys as well. It is going to be ongoing education.