Photo sparks AFL commentary box furore after swipe at rival etwork
A casual remark by AFL commentator Brian Taylor has sparked a heated debate after a photo exposed a rival broadcaster.
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A casual remark from Brian Taylor has sparked a heated debate after the AFL commentator appeared to expose a rival broadcast network.
The veteran football caller pointed out that the SEN radio commentary box was largely vacated at one point during the Demons’ come-from-behind win over Richmond at the MCG on Monday night.
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While calling the action for Triple M alongside James Brayshaw and Leigh Montagna, Taylor was sidetracked when he noticed the box alongside his only had one person sitting in the front row.
The box belonged to rival football broadcast network SEN, where Adam White, Gerard Whateley and Nick Dal Santo were among those calling the action.
A video shared by the Triple M Footy Twitter page showed Taylor looking bewildered as to why only White could be seen from the Triple M camera.
“The box next door to us JB, just has one commentator and he’s taping himself,” Taylor said. “He’s on camera. He looks at himself every now and again.”
He went on to say: “He’s by himself in the box. I don’t know how he does the whole game. Who is it? Oh, it’s SEN.”
The vision had been viewed more than 82,000 times on Twitter, before it was deleted. It attracted a flurry of comments — both positive and negative, with more than 120 responses to the original post.
Former SEN radio caller Benny Jones posted on Twitter: “This just seems incredibly petty, unnecessary and pointless.
“Then the double down to tweet a video clip (irony) repeating it. Boys club stuff. Don’t get the point…and/or need for it?!”
SEN video producer Alex Patterson has also responded on social media, according to News Corp.
“Pretty petty this. We put a lot of hard work into our “taping”. Probably no need to comment on another broadcast …” Patterson posted.
“Essentially he was hosting the halftime show while the other callers record a video for the big screen, he was solo for like 10 minutes. Anyway, not sure why it needs to be highlighted.
“Our cameras are there to post highlights of the calls up on socials.”
Taylor hasn’t been able to catch a break in recent weeks and has been on the end of a number of social media backlashes.
Taylor was slammed for what many said was blatant one-sided commentary during Collingwood’s loss to the Brisbane Lions.
He was also last weekend slammed again by some commentators over his ambush to ask Swans star Isaac Heeney to pop on the scales during a live TV segment after Sydney’s win over Richmond.
Originally published as Photo sparks AFL commentary box furore after swipe at rival etwork
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