Media Street: GWS and Swans’ off-field feud fires up as 3AW faces listeners’ rage, Tom Morris’ new cricket role

Channel 9’s Tom Morris is poised for a return to the airwaves and will share the microphone with Gerard Whateley. Find out more in this week’s Media Street.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 04: Nick Blakey of the Swans is challenged by Jesse Hogan of the Giants during the round eight AFL match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at SCG, on May 04, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

The bad blood between Sydney and GWS continues to boil over with the media departments getting in on the act.

It’s no secret that the two clubs don’t like each other and this was again evident this week as the AFL launched Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

The league’s plan was to bring all the clubs together to celebrate the Indigenous round and in Melbourne on Monday players from all 10 Victorian clubs came together for a photo shoot.

In Adelaide there was a representative from the Crows and Power together for a media conference. Not in Sydney.

When the organising process began around Sir Doug Nicholls Round the Giants reached out to the Swans to figure out a time which suited both parties.

Instead they were told to go and jump in the Harbour.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 04: Nick Blakey of the Swans is challenged by Jesse Hogan of the Giants during the round eight AFL match between Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants at SCG, on May 04, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

It turns out the GWS Giants social media team, who are universally regarded as the best, and most cheeky, in the business, may have pushed the envelope a bit too hard in the lead-up to the recent Battle Of The Bridge.

A video highlighting Swans coach John Longmire not pronouncing the name of Giants midfielder Stephen Coniglio properly didn’t go down well at the SCG while there were also some veiled references to the Sam Wicks affair in other posts.

It’s Coniglio* pic.twitter.com/LkZdlRHiVf

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) April 30, 2024

The wash-up is separate media conferences on Thursday. A Swans player at 10am while Toby Bedford and Harry Rowston, plus two of the Giants netballers, will be available at 1.15pm at GWS headquarters.

BUCKLEY MAKING WAVES

Dylan Buckley has quickly become the go-to media platform for the next generation.

The former Carlton and GWS player has created an excellent podcast series where he gets some of the biggest names in sport and entertainment as guests for 60 minutes of lighthearted banter.

EX-footballer turned podcaster Dylan Buckley

Recent guests have included AFL boss Andrew Dillon, comedian Merrick Watts, Australian cricketer Alex Carey, Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe and former AFLW superstar Erin Phillips.

It has been a winning formula and certainly appeals to the new cool kids generation which is why we hear one prominent media figure was keen to have an image makeover of sorts and appear on Dyl & Friends.

So rather than wait for a call, they took things into their own hands and made themselves available as a potential guest.

MORRIS JOINS VOICE TO CRICKET COVERAGE

Channel 9 newshound Tom Morris is well known for his cricketing prowess.

The former district cricketer was still plying his trade in the suburbs this season and was part of a record-breaking opening stand for South Caulfield.

Morris and his partner Brad Erasmus both made 203 not out, carrying their bats to make 0-428 against St Brigid’s St Louis.

Bradley Erasmus and newsman Tom Morris come off the ground at Bonbeach after their opening partnership of 0-428 for South Caulfield today in the Championship division of Cricket Southern Bayside. Both hit 203 not out. pic.twitter.com/0aZRz3QtIm

— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) January 27, 2024

This summer Morris is set to show off his cricket expertise as part of SEN’s coverage of India’s five-test series against Australia.

He will be used in a variety of roles including hosting and commentating alongside SEN’s No. 1 man Gerard Whateley.

Nine have ticked off the move with Morris able to take leave to accommodate the summer schedule.

3AW FACES LISTENERS’ WRATH

3AW stalwart Denis Walter faced listeners’ wrath on Thursday due to the station’s decision to abscond Thursday night footy. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Carlton’s thrilling win over Melbourne last Thursday night was one of the games of the season.

It was a rip-roaring affair and a dream game for broadcasters – particularly SEN and its Carlton-only call.

Not for 3AW whose decision to not broadcast Thursday night games came back to haunt them with irate listeners not happy when they turned on the radio and found Denis Walter doing his best work.

It’s not just the listeners who are bleeding, we hear the station’s on-air talent are continually frustrated by what they see as strange Sydney-based management decisions which is hurting their reputation as one of the AFL’s leading broadcasters.

Originally published as Media Street: GWS and Swans’ off-field feud fires up as 3AW faces listeners’ rage, Tom Morris’ new cricket role