Pop a nurofen after listening to 5 minutes of arabic slanging-match commentary and tell me you don't want boring Hilly

When Fox lost the A-League, Hill was actually quite outspoken about the pressures from the broadcaster on journos when attempting to write anything remotely critical about the game. There was a period between Fox dumping most of the football staff and 10/Paramount offering Hill a contract in which he was very vocal about the state of football journalism in Australia (or lack there of). Without an employment contract, he was able to say whatever he wanted on his podcast with Kalac and Moore. I would speculate that a condition of his employment at 10/Paramount was that he had to cease production of his podcast. Like you said, everyone has to make a living, so don't blame him.

Haha 😆 classic. Definitely one of the hardest accents on the ears. I know Harper and even Hill commentary can be a little Sydney biased sometimes but those Kiwi guys are next level biased for those Nux

yeah that sucks... I dont blame him for it, man's gotta make a living but a compromised media is the first step to apathy from everyone else I reckon. Try watching some AFL shit, I mean talk about toxic.. They DEVOUR their own at the drop of a hat... NODOBODY, and I mean NOBODY dares push an agenda against the AFL (even when they pretend too it is well sanitized and "controlled" by AFL house)I miss "the Cock" and old man Lynchy although Joey sometimes goes a little rogue and isnt afraid to ask difficult questions on ESPN.  

Hahahahahaha. Those 'Nux' pricks need subtitles.

This clip basically turned into a documentary.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XImxsBMtWY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhafPwRd7-k&t=54s

AFL commentators are the worst.

they just scream and explain exactly what you are watching. For complete boofheads 

https://youtu.be/lm1tIX14iQE?si=FOF5BenmwGRB_R8N

There's 140 million reasons why 'outsiders' aren't welcome

KeepUp kept them at a distance whilst providing the stories you should be interested in

yep, every single game is done from a studio in Sydney, except finals, home Socceroos/Matildas games and the Australia Cup final. Teo Pellizzeri relocated from Melbourne to Sydney for this reason. 

I will add that we are not the only sport that does this. Fox Footy and many of the radio stations broadcast AFL from a Melbourne studio. The NBL is done form a Melbourne studio as well.

Agree 100%. He's not biased at all, but his sidekicks usually are. Harper, McBreen and Moss all favour the NSW teams. McManus too (although he is a sideline reporter).

The same goes for his radio show on SEN. I've had to switch off because the Sydney bias was getting too much. The 2 Alex's can't help themselves.

Not anymore they're not - must be a carry over from the COVID run of games, they're realised it still 'works' and saves money.

Maybe they're still at the Sydney games, but nowhere else. Might even be the same for Socceroos games. I tried looking up into the comms boxes in Canberra and couldn't find anyone.

There was a good code sport article on this that interviewed Hill. It gets very nasty with journalists that don't tow the line. Ostracised. Death threats. The works. I guess Hill has decided to stay in the game but it probably mutes the contribution he can make. I'd love to know who these characters are running journos out of the game. They need to get dealt with. It's unhealthy. 

Exactly this. Hill is great in his niche. The broadcaster needs to partner him with someone who is a bit more animated to get a good balance. 

Hill is a well prepared and often fair commentator, at least he was, haven't heard him for a while but his opinions are sometimes just plain mercenary... just another snout in the trough towing the company line I suppose.

https://10play.com.au/football/articles/opinion-simon-hill-and-the-nsd/tpa230309cwozg

As for his insistence that an Asian Australian would NEVER be a  South Melbourne member while arguing about it online with an actual Asian Australian South Melbourne member.... well that was just ..... gold. 

Probably already knows Paramount are pulling the pin in May

Screaming commentators can get in the bin. Prefer Martin Tyler/Simon Hill over this Peter Drury clown every day of the week. (Or the Australian equivalent, James Brayshaw.)

Peter Drury screaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-4kn0G9ymc

I reckon you're probably right there.
That being said, I still don't have any problem with Hill's commentary. He doesn't have an annoying voice. He's knowledgeable. Any biases are minimal and well within expectation for the job. I reckon the issue lies more with who he's partnered with on the day. If you have Hill filling the 'seasoned professional commentator' role, then that needs to be offset by someone that is a bit loose and a bit more of a character. At the moment there are too many people trying to bring the same thing to the table. 

Wait what? Arent the commentators at the actual games?

I reckon its to do with the fact that he has to commentate from a studio. Its much harder to get enthused by a moment when you're not there live

Harper is the worst of the worst; his biasness is absolutely ridiculous. Can't stand any NT game he does when he just talks up Baccus simply because he has a personal connection to him, Disgrace.   

Yeah we are missing commentators like foster and slater so it is unbalanced a bit. If anything simon hill is the most likely to shout someones name when they score

Which commentator do you think brings the noise? We've got slim pickings I find. I personally like Harper as he's so keen to see Australian football to succeed but his bias needs toning down now and then. 

I find it an absolute shame the past 4 world cups had to bear Basheer for the Australian games after having Hill in 2006. Hill doing the Peru Playoff was so reassuring. 

i kind of like the way aussie sports do commentary, usually you have the panel chair statesman, the one that brings the passion and the noise, the technical analyst and the partisan, Simon Hill does the statesman role perfectly

I find Hill lifts when it's appropriate and just calls the game. The game shows enough itself. Better than German commentary that doesn't shut up or gives their opinion on every matter. Hill is probably smart too by not overexerting himself too much amongst platforms and stations that aren't going the extra mile themselves. 

He's probably sad how much it's regressed in 10 years 

He is boring I have been saying it for a while. Compare his commentary 10-15 years ago to now.. he has regressed just like the league. 

Agree. I've only really noticed it since he's been calling from a box in Sydney, not actually at the matches. He doesn't seem to bring his own energy, much like Harper.

All great football commentators just call the game. Martin Tyler similar to Simon Hill. Both professional at all times

Maybe they need to put him on the preshow panel then 

I like Hill. He's a pro. Not the excitable type though.