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Kelli Underwood on the outer

Kelli Underwood will no longer be calling AFL matches for TEN after the network opts to discontinue the bold move.

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Kelli Underwood, the first female to call AFL football on television will no longer be calling matches for TEN / ONE after the network opts to discontinue the bold move.

Underwood has been relegated to boundary-line duties after two seasons.

She will also be calling netball plus some AFL games for ABC Radio.

Underwood’s calling had attracted considerable debate amongst AFL fans, many of whom preferred hearing the traditional male voice calling the game.

TEN’s head of football David Barham told the Herald Sun, “It’s not a never, and she was always calling on a trial basis. She never had a full-time calling gig, so she is not going to do it this year.”

Underwood said, “It is disappointing but I am a pretty positive person and pretty resilient. I have done 12 games over two years.”

Originally employed as a sports reporter for TEN News, Underwood’s role expanded to include feature stories on Sports Tonight, AFL boundary riding, the Brownlow Medal Red Carpet Special and hosting and commentating netball.

In other news, ONE announces two new AFL shows: a Thursday night preview show The Gameplan, and a Sunday night review show The Final Siren.

Source: Herald Sun

32 Responses

  2. Had nothing to do with her gender, she’s just not any good.

    Ten should poach one of the girls from Fox Sports News. All very knowledgeable and not as grating.

  3. Thank goodness, she was horrible. While I never went to the extreme of changing channel like one of the other commenters here, she really Wasannoying, and one can’t help but feel she was chosen for the position Because she was a woman, rather than based on merit. I think the lady who sometimes hosts the soccer on Fox Sports is also in a similar position… not in the same league as the people on the show with her.

    While I almost always disagree with Caroline Wilson’s opinions, I think she is one who can more than hold her own with her male counterparts on any AFL commentary team (although she is a little over sensitive at times). The problem is, she’s contracted with Nine (on the excellent Footy Classified), so probably can’t appear on any network that actually has broadcast rights.

  5. While some people believe it was because of her commentating ability there are others within the community (several friends of mine) who did see it as a gender issue citing ‘you can’t have a woman commentating the footy’ so I guess the decision was a combination of the two factors so to completely dismiss the gender issue is simply ignorant.

    I however did not really care and thought she was an ok commentator, much better than what they have on channel 7 at least.

  6. I’m sorry to hear that Ms Underwood won’t be calling this year but its not for everyone. I agree that it’s not a gender issue I think if you gave the mic to someone like say Caroline Wilson who’s AFL knowledge is well, fearsome then we’d get a great female commentator.

    I’m so pleased that there are two new shows on One for AFL, if they’re anything like One Week at a Time we’re in for a treat, if they’re anything like the Footy Show, we’re in trouble.

    I have one question David, if we’re getting a preview show on Thursday nights, what’s happening to TNL?

  9. About time!, she was horrible to listen too, everytime I heard Keli was going to call a game on Ten, I would swtich to Fox Sports no matter what game Fox was showing at the time.

  10. I’m with Douglas Quaid. This isn’t a gender issue. She simply isn’t a good commentator. She was given Geelong games for a reason (her knowledge of other clubs pales in comparison to her knowledge of her club, Geelong). Her voice wasn’t suited to TV, she didn’t keep up with the game either.

  11. It’s unfortunate that so many people (such as Dr Rudi below) want to turn this into a gender debate rather than a performance one. Kelly Underwood as much effort as she put into the rule, just was not enjoyable to listen to. She had a droning voice and she just sounded like she was reading a script, with long pauses inbetween. I prefer the more natural, free flowing commentating from others.

  12. she is a terrible commentator you can’t sugar coat it. but i feel sorry for her, because she was only getting the chance to call the games. because it was all about 10s agenda in trying to look good in front the womens movement in the afl and nothing else

  13. I think Kelli Underwood does a great job on ABC Radio – either as a boundary rider or as a commentator – she does both. (Frankly, who listens to commentary on television). Her reception and treatment, and that of women journalists who cover the game is symptomatic of the malaise in AFL culture regarding women. It’s a disgrace.

  15. Personal attacks against Kelli concerning her gender have been totally uncalled for, but I must admit I am glad to hear that she’s out of the commentary box. For me, it has never been about her sports knowledge or content and everything about Kelli having the worst voice on Australian television. That’s saying something when you also consider the likes of Lynda Kincade on Today Tonight and Jodie Speers on Seven News(both also talented journalists that should be read and not heard).

  17. Don’t worry Kelli, I’m sure you will look back in 12 months and be in a better position. It is good to see 10 at least made what would be considered as a bold move to do this in the first place.

  18. I know a lot of the criticism was the fact she was a woman which is kinda sad really. A lot of people also however thought she was just crap. I didn’t really think she was as bad as people though. And being crap hasn’t stopped David Schwarz calling games, or Roger Rasheed and Hamish McLachlan in the tennis.

  19. Maybe I’m a bit old fashion, but for some reason a male caller suits AFL commentating. Comments like’ big game here at the G’ etc just didn’t sound right coming from Kelli. Nothing against her she did a pretty good job.

  20. The only problem I had with her calling of games were the stop,start, commentary as if she was reading from a script,instead of the continuos flow of the existing male callers

  22. I don’t think that the debate was due to losing the traditional male voice as much as it was that she was just not good. There are plenty of female sports journos out there who have much better voices for play by play.

  24. Feel sorry for Kelli, most of the criticism on AFL forums was just plain personal and nasty. So will the new Thursday night show mean the end of Thursday night live?

  25. Wow more AFL shows from One HD. Much needed to boost the channel ratings and Im sure they will do the trick.
    All in an effort to impress the AFL as the TV rights goes under the hammer in the coming months, no doubt, and presumably feed the growing appetite for AFL news and views with the introduction of Gold Coast Suns.

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