Q&A with sports commentator Stephanie Brantz

She’s made her mark as one of Australia’s top female sports commentators. And Stephanie Brantz can still laugh about that embarrassing tongue-twister.

Stephanie Brantz for W-League soccer

STEPHANIE Brantz grew up in Brisbane and started her media career in 2000 working on On the Ball – a football program for the SBS.

Since then, she has risen to become an expert commentator and sports reporter, interviewing hundreds of athletes and sporting personalities.

A self-confessed “sport nut”, Brantz – who is of Dutch heritage – represented Queensland at a state level in netball, basketball, swimming and athletics before a modelling career that took her to Sydney.

She has covered many diverse sporting events including the London Paralympic Games, the AFC Asian Cup, FIFA World Cup, the Australian Open and the Commonwealth Games.

She now lives in Sydney where she sits on the Board of Trustees at the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, but loves returning home to Brisbane with her family. Brantz will be the ABC’s commentator for the W-League soccer games during the 2019-20 season.

Is it heartening to you to see how broadly women’s sport has been adopted by the Australian public – especially the recent rise in attendance and support for AFLW?

It’s been a slow burn but there has never been a better time to be a female athlete. Women’s sport is finally being embraced and it’s definitely wonderful to see the public appreciate the commitment, skill and passion that these women have for their chosen field – many played their sport long before there was any chance of remuneration and that they are now being rewarded and celebrated is a brilliant outcome and long overdue. There’s still a way to go but the trajectory is overwhelmingly positive.

Do you wish there were more female voices in the commentating world?

I hope that we are approaching a time where the opportunities are the same for females in the commentary world as there are for the men. It’s a hugely competitive industry and while it’s a well-trodden path for males, there are women out there who would probably love to give it a go but either lack the confidence to put themselves out there, or haven’t been given a chance yet. For that to change, the environment needs to be more nurturing and it’s up to all of us already in the field to encourage and mentor those trying to break in.

Have you ever been lost for words while commentating, or slipped up and said something you shouldn’t?

I still remember my first ever call in the W-League, it was a Brisbane Roar match at Suncorp Stadium and Tameka Butt (she’s Tameka Yallop now) was charging toward the penalty area. In my haste to get the words out I said “and now Tameka’s butt is in the box”. Obviously meant to be “and now Tameka Butt inside the 18 yard box”!

What makes a good commentator?

A good commentator informs the audience and enhances the broadcast. The commentary should give the people watching, information they don’t already know and the tone and inflection in the voice should give the right energy to carry the viewer along with the ebb and flow of play. My personal pet hate is commentators that either dominate the game, or spend too much time telling you their own opinion. The stars of the show are on the field of play, not in the comms box.

Who are the players to watch in Australian soccer in 2020?

In the women’s game I think all eyes will remain firmly fixed on Sam Kerr and her progress as she starts her career with Chelsea and hopefully leads the Matildas through to the Tokyo Olympics, however there are many to keep an eye on closer to home. So far this season I’ve enjoyed watching the progress of young guns such as Shay Evans at Sydney FC and Mary Fowler at Adelaide United.

After interviewing and observing so many athletes from so many different codes, are there similar traits that you have observed in all successful athletes?

The common denominator with all successful athletes I’ve had the privilege of dealing with over the years is their passion for what they do. They have a drive to succeed and failure doesn’t seem to be an option. They all share great mental fortitude – setbacks are merely opportunities to work on their weaknesses for a better outcome the next time.

How often do you return to Brisbane and what are your favourite things about the city?

I don’t get back to Brisbane nearly often enough. I’d love to see my family more and probably get ‘home’ a couple of times a year for catch-ups though there are usually a few mad dashes to call games or host events. I love Brisbane, it’s changed a lot since I lived there – so many great cafes and restaurants have popped up and there’s a lovely vibe about the people – a little less intense than Sydney.

Brantz will be commentating W-League on the ABC every S unday.