Vale: Scot Palmer

Retired sports journalist Scot Palmer, best known for AFL broadcasts, has died aged 84.

He died yesterday after a series of health battles.

The Herald Sun reports Palmer was one of the first multimedia performers, using his ‘Palmer’s Punchlines’ column in the Sunday Press, the Sunday Sun and Sunday Herald Sun to build his profile with a side career on television and radio.

He appeared on the Seven Network as a regular during half-time breaks of AFL matches, and on HSV7’s Sunday football panel over two decades, relaying his catch-cry “Keep on punchin'” back to hosts Ron Casey, Peter Landy, Sandy Roberts and Drew Morphett.

He would serve the Herald & Weekly Times tirelessly, writing for The Sun, Sunday Press, Sunday Sun and Sunday Herald Sun for more than 50 years, before retiring in 2008.

“No one can underestimate the indelible mark and legacy that Scot Palmer made to the game of Australian football through his personality and profession,” Eddie McGuire said.

“He was a part of as many sporting stories in Melbourne, particularly in football, as he actually reported.

“To me, he was also the mascot of journalism and football and inner-city, gritty Melbourne. In a way, a chapter of that period closes in our game, in our city’s fabric and in our profession with Scotty’s passing.”

He also appeared in The Club (1980).