Kelli Underwood exits TEN
TV's first AFL game commentator takes a voluntary redundancy on TEN.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
AFL reporter Kelli Underwood has taken voluntary redundancy at TEN, The Age reports.
Underwood joined TEN in 2007, most renowned as TV’s first female game commentator for 14 AFL games in 2009 and 2010. It was a move that attracted considerable feedback from traditional sports fans. She was later relegated to the position of boundary commentator,
”I was pretty well prepared for what would happen,” she says. ”I knew people would have passionate opinions. There was some pretty nasty stuff, especially on the social media networks. But I made a conscious decision to avoid it.”
But among those who rang to offer their encouragement was radio and television doyen Tony Charlton. Contemporaries including Gerard Whateley, James Brayshaw, Tim Lane and Bruce McAvaney offered guidance and reassurance.
She also called netball matches with Liz Ellis, but after TEN did not renew its netball deal, Underwood accepted a redundancy. ”I got to do a lot at TEN, travelling with the footy news, calling games,” she says. ”But the timing was right.”
She will now continue to call AFL games for ABC radio next season, co-hosts Grandstand Breakfast with Francis Leach on the ABC’s digital channel two days a week and will work at the Australian Open.
Share
- Tagged with AFL, Australian Open
10 Responses
The problem with calling AFL games was her stop,start commentary! like reading from a script it wasn’t free flowing nothing to do with her being female as far as I was concern
Good luck to her.But he commentary on Football was terrible to listen to i found myself always turning the volume to almost 0 as when she called the game,she would always piece my ears,when she got excited.Males are best suited to calling AFL Football
Thanks for clarifying that David.
Well I’ve commented on the Ten Network before on this website, but I think that the Network will look unappealing to new Journalist coming from University and those that do Multi Media courses in Tafe.
you never know who’s next to go at ten. This site has rumoured Eddy Meyer and Jacqui Maddock would go but I have seen reports from both of them this week.
Both those names were referenced from other media. They aren’t names I broke. Also remember many are leaving on Nov 30.
Got nothing against female commentators in sport but Kelli herself was trying too hard to sound like and fit in with how the other males were commentating. I’d much rather she have her own style.
kelli does a good job at being a boundary rider, not so much as host or commentator
Same Frankie, I enjoyed Kellie when she called the Footy on TEN, look forward to more on Grandstand as well (be syncing the sound up with the TV Picture thanks to a pause button on Digital Radio).
Really looking forward to hearing her more on ABC Grandstand where her gender isn’t a factor.