Ando’s Shout: Matt Hill to call AFL games for 3AW and Fox Footy in 2021, plus the local footy ‘Buddy’
Matt Hill is already one of the finest race-callers this country has heard. But this year he will be sinking his teeth into his other broadcasting passion.
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While Matt Hill has rapidly become one of the finest race-callers this country has heard, his passion to again call football is to be realised on 3AW and Fox Footy this winter.
Hill has called football previously when employed by the ABC, but was surprisingly starved off opportunity five years ago before moving to full-time race-calling.
His racing commitments will most likely see him call some Saturday night matches, no doubt with the same clarity he displays in the thoroughbred world.
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MEET THE BUDDY OF LOCAL FOOTY
Meet “Buddy” and “Boof”, the pair of left-footed goalkicking machines who have been booting sausage rolls for almost two decades.
But they do differ in height (Lance Franklin is 199cm, Darren Ewing is 183cm) and goal tallies, given Franklin is stuck on 944 AFL goals whereas Ewing went past the magical 1000 mark a couple of years back.
And while Franklin waits for his troublesome body to allow him a first game in 20 months, “Boof” Ewing just keeps kicking goals for whoever wants to hire his prolific services, from Penshurst to Warrnambool to Thunder to St Mary’s to Banks.
Last night he was in action in a preliminary final for Banks Bulldogs against Nightcliff in Division 1 of the Northern Territory Football League, where he is very much a legend.
Born in the Victorian Western District township of Penshurst 33 years ago, Ewing cut his teeth against the senior men while still a kid.
“Back then I was a skinny half-forward 15-year-old (85kg then, 100kg now), before playing TAC Cup with Ballarat, and then Warrnambool for a year before joining Palmerston in Darwin,” Ewing said.
“Then I played with Thunder in the QAFL and then NEAFL where I kicked a few goals (780 in nine seasons) and won a few goalkicking awards (nine club, six league). I’m not the most athletic bloke but hopefully I’ve learnt a few tricks with the body.”
Two years ago he went back to Warrnambool and kicked 108 for the season, but Darwin has been his home for a decade.
“I love it up here with my wife and three kids, and what started as an adventure has become a big part of our lives,” he said.
“Any young bloke should do the same as Darwin is such a great city. Should the NT have an AFL side? One day, definitely, but I think Tasmania deserves it first.”
INDIGENOUS RADIO SERVICES WILL CONTINUE IN 2021
Positive to hear the National Indigenous Radio Services football broadcast will continue in 2021 after some funding concerns in recent months.
It features former Indigenous AFL players in Peter Crackers Keenan, Smokey, Chris Johnson, Andrew Krakouer, Nathan Lovett-Murray, Chris Egan, Josh Hill, Darryl White and Gilbert McAdam, plus a pair of crusty old white fellas named Peter “Crackers” Keenan and Graham “Smokey” Dawson.
STARS CAME OUT FOR FORBES
When the late John Forbes, OAM, called, they came, which was the measure of the man as emphasised a decade ago when a tribute cricket match was held in his honour at Kangaroos Flat, Bendigo.
And they came from all over Australia with Adam Gilchrist (Perth) Ian Healy (Brisbane) and Mark Taylor (Sydney) part of the action that also included Tony Dodemaide, Matthew Elliott, Merv Hughes, Peter King, Simon O’Donnell and Shane Warne plus footballers Brad Johnson, Pail Kelly, Ken Sheldon and Rohan Smith.
HOT
THE AFL
For listening to the people in scheduling a day Grand Final.
AMERICA’S CUP
In terms of television sporting production, name one better?
ANDREW MARTIN
For scoring a world record four eagles in seven holes at Bonnie Doon GC.
NOT
MICHAEL ZERAFA
What was the point in fighting Anthony Mundine?
MELBOURNE STORM
Where was Cooper Cronk’s statue alongside Billy Slater and Cameron Smith?
BEST PLAYERS
Who don’t the rugby codes and soccer list best players?
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