‘I’m pinching myself’: Melbourne race caller Matt Hill excited to be commentating first AFL grand final

Matt Hill has been calling footy for the past three years and will realise a dream when he commentates his first AFL grand final.

Melbourne race caller Matt Hill will commentate his first AFL grand final on Saturday. Picture: Michael Klein

Melbourne race caller Matt Hill will complete the Australian sports broadcast Holy Trinity on Saturday at the MCG, commentating the AFL grand final.

The versatile broadcaster will be heard on SEN’s second and digital platform, AFL Nation.

“It’s one of those things I always dreamt to do, as a kid it was the Melbourne Cup, the Olympics and the grand final, they were the three things,” Hill said.

“This is the last of the three, so I have to find another ambition after this.

“I’m pinching myself about this one because I never thought an opportunity would come this early, I’ve only called footy for the last three years.

“The main priority, just like a race call, is to call it as accurately as you can.”

Hill, who has called six Olympic Games and six Melbourne Cups to date, will bookend the career highlight with his regular racing commitments on Friday night and Sunday.

“It’s easy to work hard when you love it,” Hill said.

“If it’s a close game the voice might be a little bit scratchy at Sandown on Sunday.”

Matt Hill says his voice could be scratchy for Sandown on Sunday if the grand final is a close match.

Hill commentated Thursday night and Sunday fixtures on AFL Nation during the season.

“Traditionally the football used to be Saturdays so it would’ve been impossible for a race caller to call football,” Hill said.

“Now the way rounds are spread from Thursday night to Sunday I can call races on Saturday and call footy around it.

“The hardest thing for me, as much as I’ve loved being a race caller … I didn’t want to just be a race caller.

“It’s always interesting when you go and do another sport how they (audience) always pin you as ‘the racing guy’ … can be hard to shake because people know me as the racing guy.

“Some of the great callers, Bruce McAvaney, Ray Warren, Peter Donegan, were all race callers who went on to be sports broadcasters, so following in their footsteps in a way.”

His experience calling horse racing has helped the successful foray into football.

“Once you get into a rhythm calling the footy it’s a little bit like a race call,” Hill said.

“The thing about calling races is economy of words and the AFL is becoming a bit like that too because it’s fast.

“I’m sure on Saturday the first 15 minutes is going to be pretty full on, you got to breathe and try and go with it.”

Originally published as ‘I’m pinching myself’: Melbourne race caller Matt Hill excited to be commentating first AFL grand final