Triple M Footy Callers
Garry Lyon Stretcher
JB's Cricketing Days
BT Loses It
Triple M Melbourne
Brian Taylor
BT has been a member of the Triple M Football commentary team from the very
beginning. It was back in 1997 when BT aka 'The Bristler', first feverously screamed out
those immortal words 'Triple M Roooocks Football'. BT began his football career
in 1980 with Richmond, and later moving to Collingwood in 1985 for a combined
total of 140 games. A highlight of BTs distinguished career was winning the John
Coleman medal in 1986 as the leading goal scorer with 100 goals. Forced to
retire with knee problems in 1990, BT has become a favourite amongst the
football loving public with his incisive and enthusiastic call of play.
James Brayshaw
JB began his sporting career as a professional cricketer for W.A. & South Australia. Doing sports reports on Adelaide radio, led JB to a permanent role as a breakfast co-host on SA FM. As JB's media repertoire expanded, so did his love of sport commentary. JB was a host of the Sydney Olympics and the 2001 Ashes Tour of England for the Seven Network. During those famous Olympic Games he became the only commentator in Australian broadcasting history to call synchronized swimming! Mightily impressed by this achievement, in 2002 he was quickly snapped up by Triple M to be a principal caller of its AFL coverage.
Garry Lyon
In 1986 Garry Lyon debuted with the Melbourne Football Club and made an
immediate impression in the red and blue. Able to play key positions at
both ends of the ground but specialising at centre half forward, he
played 226 games, kicked 426 goals and captained the Demons from 1991
to 97. He won Melbourne's best and fairest award in 1990 and 1994, was
named All Australian from 1993 to 1995 and was the Dee's leading
goalkicker in 1994 and 1995. Garry's media career is nearly as
impressive as his football career, excelling on television, radio and
in print journalism. In 1995 he joined Channel Nine as a panellist on
The Footy Show and has been with the program, and the network, ever
since. In 1998, he became a regular on Today, doing previews of weekend
matches, and hosted crosses for Hey Hey It's Saturday. In 2005, in
addition to hosting The Sunday Footy Show, he was joined by James
Brayshaw and Sam Newman on Any Given Sunday, a live sports chat show.
Such was the success of this show, Garry and JB were selected to
jointly host The Footy Show on Thursday nights. This year Garry is the
new boy on Triple M Football block, working his brilliant football
brain and giving the listeners the jump on tactics and strategies.
Jason Dunstall
Four-time Premiership player, multiple John Coleman Medallist and a multi-faceted media personality. Jason Dunstall aka Chief, or according to his fellow commentators 'a large swine of a man', is an integral part of Triple M Football. Jason always delivers incisive and insightful comments during the course of our broadcasts. In 2004 JD was under the pump as the acting CEO to the embattled Hawks. Every week he was ambushed by the other commentators and Hawk supporters demanding information, but through it all JD retained his sense of humour and showed immeasurable restraint. JD also hosts The Dead Set Legends with Andrew Gaze on Saturdays in Melbourne.
Danny Frawley
A former St Kilda champion from 1984 to 1995 (240 games) and coach of Richmond from 2000 to 2004 (113 games), 'Spud' featured as one of Triple M Football's special commentators during last year's final series. Danny's trademark sense of humour and his impressive transition from coach's box to commentary box left no doubt that Spud was destined to be part of the Triple M Football commentary team in 2005. Having experienced the highs and lows of playing and coaching, Spud brings to Triple M Football a unique insight to the mindset of the modern AFL coach and player. Now released from the verbal restraints placed on anyone representing a team in the AFL, 'Spud' will not hesitate to give his opinion on all matters, be it umpiring, other teams, other coaches, the tribunal or the AFL hierarchy. Nothing's sacred.
Wayne Schwass
With a playing career of 282 games (184 with Kangaroos and 98 with Sydney)
Wayne, aka 'Swatter', retired mid-season in 2002, falling short of the 300 game
milestone. Swatter achieved what many players can only dream about - he was a
premiership player, an All Australian and Best & Fairest at both the Swans
and the Roos. Upon retirement Swatter moved easily into a football commentators
role for FoxFooty and is now showing his style on Triple M Football as a caller.
Mike McLean
For over ten years Mike McLean has been plying his sports trade over the airwaves. It all began back in Canberra in the early 90's where Mike worked for two years providing sports reports and general announcing to the politicians and public servants of the nations capital. Next Mike pitched his tent in regional Victoria in the fruit growing town of Shepparton. Here Mike spent five years as a sports broadcaster covering both local and national sport and hosting the stations coverage of the local football league. Mike was then offered a job in the big smoke and he came to Melbourne to call AFL football for Magic 693. After one year with Magic, Mike joined the Triple M Football team as a caller and host - a role he has held now for six years. In addition to Mike's football work, he is also Triple M's sports reporter covering all sports and breaking news stories throughout the week. Mike has won two ACRA's (Australian Commercial Radio Awards) for his work and has also been a finalist on two other occasions. Over his career Mike has covered just about every sport there is, although he is still yet to call a Synchronised Swimming event.
Peter 'The Doc' Larkins
Back in the 80s the 'Doc' travelled the world extensively studying sports and exercise medicine, eventually returning to Melbourne and setting up a private practise. He has been team doctor for the Australian Track and Field Team, Australian Cricket Team, Australian Triathlon Team, Australian Lacrosse Team and was a football club doctor for Geelong and Adelaide. The Doc began with Triple M in 1997, bringing a new initiative to broadcasting football with medical reports from the boundary. With the Doc's expertise and quick eye, he was able to diagnose a player's injury as it occurred. His prognoses were so accurate that he has assisted in lifting the veil on the mystery and myth behind some footy injury folklore. Now if a sporting injury occurs to a footballer or any other athlete, the Doc is the first person to be questioned by the press for his expert opinion, which has helped educate the general public and the media on some important issues such as concussion, injury recovery and the blood rule.
Triple M Sydney
Troy Luff
Originally from Traralgon in Victoria and later moving to Nelson Bay NSW, Troy Luff was recruited by the Sydney Swans in 1990. Known for his versatility, the 190cm tall Luff was often required to play in defence matching up on a key opponent. Deceptively quick for his height with good marking skills and a big leap, Luff attracted a cult following with a Melbourne based cheer squad called the Luffites. Wearing the number 34 guernsey, Luff played 155 games and kicked 85 goals before retiring at the end of the 2001 season. A highlight for Troy was Sydney making the Grand Final in 1996, and he was considered one of the better performing players from the losing Sydney Swans team. This season Luffy will again be seated in the Triple M commentary box giving his expert opinion and proudly watching his beloved Swans.
Triple M Adelaide
Kym Dillon
Star
of Triple M's breakfast show - Kym, Ali and Dzelde - Kym backs up on
the weekend as a caller for Triple M football. His own football career
was cut short when injury forced to him to retire after a breif stint
with both North Adelaide and West Torrens. These days he's a bit of
expert at sporting trivia nights, due to his work reading Channel 9's
Sport during the week, and his work with Triple M Football on the
weekends.
Mark Bickley
Mark
Bickley is best known as dual premiership captain of the Adelaide
Crows. Mark was a mainstay in Adelaide's line-up, playing 272 games
from the club's inception in 1991 to 2003. Since hanging up the footy
boots, Mark has made a successful transition from the locker room to
become an all round star media performer. He has been a regular on The
Footy Show, a weekly panellist on The Sunday Footy Show, presenting
weekend sport on National Nine News and making guest appearances on the
Postcards program. In 2006 Bicks joined another great winning team -
Triple M Football.
Mark Ricciuto
Now
in retirement Mark Ricciuto finds himself in the Triple M commentary
box giving his expert views on the game. Back in the day though "Roo",
as he is better known, achieved just about everything. He played 300
plus games, including the '98 premiership, and in 2003 was handed the
games highest honour, when he won the Brownlow Medal..
Brenton Yates
Brenton is now entering his seventh season calling the AFL with the Triple M
Adelaide Commentary Team. Over the last 10 years Brenton has been a race caller
in South Australia, calling the Greyhounds, Trots and Gallops. Brenton is a
self-described 'sports nut', and loves nothing better than calling 'the best
game in the world' AFL.
Corey Wingard
South Australian born Corey, began his career in the media at Channel 9 in
Sydney working on the Wide World of Sport program. He spent one summer working
alongside Ritchie Benaud, Tony Greig and Ian Chappell on their cricket coverage.
Many years followed on the sports update desk and co-hosting many outside
sporting events with Darrell Eastlake. In 1999 Corey returned to Adelaide and
joined Network Ten News as sports producer / reporter and co-hosts Simply Footy.
An experienced commentator of NBL, cycling, cricket, even the surf life saving
championships, Corey has now joined Triple M Football.
Tim Ginever
A Port Adelaide champion, Tim played for the Magpies between 1983 and 1997 (314 games) and was club captain from 1994-1997 he played in 7 Premierships and 9 Grand Finals and represented his state in 1995 and a Best & Fairest winner in '94 and '97. Tim was the midfield coach for The Power in '98, and is now back at Alberton as coach of Port Adelaide Magpies.
Rhett Biglands
Rhett was recruited by Port Adelaide and placed on their list but did not play a
game. He was de-listed and drafted by the Crows. Debuting in 2000, Biglands now
plays as a ruckman with the Adelaide Crows. In 2006, Biglands severely injured
his knee partially tearing the ACL during a dive for the ball in the preliminary
final against West Coast, ruling him out for the 2007 season, this meant a bit of spare time and a stint in
the Triple M Commentary box. Another knee injury means Triple M is lucky enough
to have him back for '08.
Sean Tasker
Sean made his SANFL debut in 1988 for the North Adelaide Football Club
playing in two grand finals and winning the 1991 Premiership with the Roosters.
Altogether he played 157 games of SANFL footy for the Roosters, Glenelg and
Sturt footy clubs. Sean spent 7 years with The Crows for 57 games in total,
including the finals series in 1993. He was part of the squad for the Crow's
inaugural premiership in 1997. These days he spends his weekends on the Triple M Stats
machine.
Darryl Wakelin
An
absolute legend around the Port Adelaide Football Club, Daryl Wakelin
joins Triple M Football for Season 2008. After starting his career with
St Kilda, he moved back home and was part of the Power's 2004
Premiership, and all up played over 250 games.
Ben Hook
Ben
Hook is a former first-class cricketer who won two Bradman Medals for
District Cricketer of the Year, and this year joins Triple M Football
as boundary rider. Ben is well connected in the sporting circles
through his roles with the Sunday Mail and Channel Seven, and will this
year give Triple M listeners the inside scoop on all the big AFL issues.
Triple M Brisbane
Michael Price
A football loving Carlton fan, living in Queensland and every weekend surrounded by ex-Lions players calling Brisbane games. Pricey is a either completely insane or very brave. But having lived in Brissy for 30 years, Pricey undeniably now has maroon running through his veins. His first footy experience in a rugby dominated State was having his Sherrin confiscated by a teacher who didn't approve of that 'Southern sport'. He was promptly withdrawn from this educational facility by his annoyed parents and sent to a 'real footy playing' school. Pricey has the distinction of playing for Mayne, the same club that spawned many years later a kid named Jason Akermanis. He was captain of the Under 19's and represented Queensland in schoolboy football before injury, lack of pace and skill ended his football dreams. Radio was his calling, and Pricey unleashed his verbal talents on the Brisbane folk through 4BH, 4BC, B105 and Triple M. Sports reporting, program producing, newsreading, an announcer rated number 1 from 2002 to 2004 - and now calling footy for Triple M Brisbane.
Richard Champion
After a 10 year career at Brisbane for a total of 183 games, Champs retired at the end of 2000. This sturdy and reliable defender worked incessantly on his skills and became one of the best full-backs in the AFL. That's the Champs way - work hard, be professional and create great team spirit, and thus during his playing days he was awarded Best Clubman, Most Professional Player and life membership honours. Champs has embraced life after football by juggling roles as a travelling reporter for Channel 7's Queensland Weekender and Great South East, an ambassador and Public Relations officer for AFL Queensland and appearances on the speaker's circuit. The versatility of the man was further showcased when Champs sang up a storm on Channel 7's It Takes Two series, and made it to the final 5. As chief commentator for Triple M Football, Champs is ready to call all the footy action in 2007.