Channel 7 caller Brian Taylor reveals the genesis for his Roaming Brian segment

CHANNEL 7’s Brian Taylor reveals where he got the idea for his roaming post-match interviews, and why they work: ‘I’m not sure what’s happening next’.

Brian Taylor conducts a post-match interview with Sydney's Jarrad McVeigh

IT WAS a team idea born from the chaos that precedes any Formula 1 race, the chaotic 15 minutes before the engines blast.

Channel 7’s Brian Taylor, a long-time revhead and self-confessed plagiarist, noted how Martin Brundle’s pit lane walks had transformed the lead up to the start of every race.

“There are people everywhere, movie stars, team owners, wannabes, grid girls, the camera struggling to keep up with Brundle as he walks between the cars. It’s raw and it works,” Taylor said this week.

So wind the clock forward and “BT” becomes Brundle, or as footy fans now call him Roaming Brian, in what he says are far more nerve-racking minutes than what takes place before it.

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“It’s about spontaneity, real and raw personality, just getting away from players standing deadpan in front of a sponsor-backed board, with words provided for them from media departments,” he said.

“It’s not so much about what I say or who I interview, it’s more the camera showing what happens in the rooms.”

Brian Taylor conducts a post-match interview with Sydney's Jarrad McVeigh

Taylor admits his questions are never going to threaten any players or reveal any major secrets.

“But it can be fun and you know what, it can be beneficial to clubs when they learn,” he said.

“I’m not sure what’s happening next but that can be a good thing, although we do have to be super careful of nudity.

“Players are naturally shy so sometimes I can see them creeping away. Then there is someone like an Patrick Dangerfield or Andrew Mackie who are natural at it.”

The commentator said Geelong, North Melbourne, St Kilda and West Coast had embraced the concept, but just about all of the clubs were now giving Seven the run of the rooms.

“Dangerfield, Hodge and Riewoldt just totally understand the value of the media, and that football has to be entertainment outside the field of play,” Taylor said.

“Mackie is another. A few weeks back he was standing with a couple so I asked who they were. The husband was introduced as Gary Simonds, who of course is the sponsor of the stadium. Great exposure for someone who wouldn’t normally be on television. So clubs will find a way to use this to their advantage.”

Not all work as well, such as when Taylor and crew recently entering the St Kilda rooms after a Friday night victory only to find them deserted, leaving Taylor trying to find words to best describe an empty room.