Brian Taylor called out by fans over his ‘biased’ Collingwood commentary

Brian Taylor has come under heavy fire from AFL fans over his commentary towards his old team during the opening final on Thursday.

Brian Taylor’s commentary called out. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Brian Taylor’s commentary during the Thursday night qualifying final has come under attack from fans who tuned into the contest.

Collingwood held off a fast finishing Melbourne to record the 9.6 (60) to 7.11 (53) victory and book their place in the preliminary final.

Watch every match of The 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Despite the thrilling finish, it was Taylor copping heat from fans over his biased commentary for Channel 7.

Taylor played 97 games for the Magpies, booting 371 goals along the way, and has been put on notice in the past from those tuning in over his tendency to skew his commentary towards his old side.

On Thursday night fans were calling him out for it all over again.

One fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “Brian Taylor should not be allowed to call Collingwood games. So biased commentator it’s a joke”.

Another wrote after Dan McStay was collected by Melbourne’s Jacob van Rooyen: “BT’s commentary around this was dead set putrid”.

A third user wrote: “How to ruin watching football, listen to Brian Taylor call a Collingwood game”.

Trying hard to just focus on the positive rather than the negativity from oppo fans, media etc... but! Watching the replay and listening to the absolute biased garbage spewing from BT's mouth against the Pies is nauseating! Please @CollingwoodFC, keep him away from the Copeland!

— TheNorthernPie (@PieNorthern) September 7, 2023

All I’m hearing from the Collingwood supporters at the G’ is “Booooooooooooooooo!!!”

I mean, I’m all for the odd ‘boo’ but really??

Mind you, it does drown out BT’s commentary so I shouldn’t complain.

— Mark (@Darth_Tempus) September 7, 2023

Taylor opened up prior to the finals kicking off regarding where he stands ahead of the 2023 Grand Final and whether or not he’ll be apart of the commentary crew.

While he may be among the top in Channel 7’s stable of commentators, that alone won’t lock him into the biggest game of the season.

“I think it’s more than individual, it’s a team that gets selected rather than an individual,’’ Taylor said on the latest episode of his Life of Brian podcast.

“It has been predominantly the Friday night team over the years that I’ve been at Seven. I don’t know what the history has been prior to that.

“I can honestly tell you right now as I stand here three or four weeks before the Grand Final — I don’t know if I’m doing the Grand Final. It’ll be a decision that will be made by the network as to which team should be doing the Grand Final because chemistry is of ultra importance.”

Broadcaster Brian Taylor with the 2022 Premiership Cup. Picture: Alison Wynd

The decision on the Grand Final commentary team will all come down to those who have performed throughout the season, according to Taylor.

“I don’t know that I’m doing it, contractually there is nothing in my contract and as far as I know there is nothing in anyone else’s contract at Seven that says that they are entitled to do whatever games they are,’’ he said.

“You just get selected based on what the Channel 7 hierarchy want you to do. I would assume that boils down to you having a good year, you need to be in form, you need to be doing well and I think that’s how it’s selected.

“One thing I do know is on Grand Final day I think just about everyone in the team is doing something … everyone is involved in the broadcast somewhere along the line.

“There is no right to the berth on Grand Final day for any person within the Seven team, it’s got to be earned.”