Two popular Channel 7 commentators have been called out over an apparent piece of favourable commentary during a Round 7 AFL clash.
It comes after Western Bulldogs great Luke Darcy caused a stir when he was shifted to the expert commentary role for his former side’s clash with Fremantle on Saturday.
Darcy is also on the Bulldogs board and was commentating his son Sam while making a concerted effort not to come across as a biased dad.
Watch Carlton v Collingwood LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo | Friday 7:40PM | New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
The Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson praised Darcy for his balanced commentary of his own son in an article published on Monday night, before suggesting his colleagues at Channel 7, James Brayshaw and Brian Taylor, may have been guilty of some favourable commentary towards another player.
The commentary in question came during the Anzac Day game between Essendon and Collingwood which finished in a thrilling 85-85 draw as both teams reinstated their finals credentials.
Essendon captain Zach Merrett won the Anzac Medal as the best player on the ground, but Channel 7’s commentators were repeatedly talking up another player throughout the game — Bombers defender Jake Kelly.
Brayshaw is close friends with Kelly’s father Craig, the Collingwood chief executive and Robinson wrote that relationship “could or could not have played a role in his over-the-top appreciation of the Bombers’ back flanker”.
At halftime on Anzac Day, Kelly had four disposals and gave away consecutive 50m penalties.
The 29-year-old took a mark at one stage which prompted Brayshaw to say: “Kelly mark … a reliable defender.’’ But his kick to teammate Dyson Heppell was intercepted by Collingwood’s Bobby Hill.
In the third quarter Kelly peeled off his opponent Jamie Elliott and picked up a ground ball before receiving a handball from Heppell in the same passage of play.
After Kelly tackled Patrick Lipinksi soon after, Taylor suggested he could attract some votes in the Anzac Day medal.
“Met by Kelly, he’s been prominent the last few minutes, in fact the entire match is Kelly,’’ Taylor said.
“You never know the Anzac Day team, our commentary team, has votes in that.’’
Brayshaw: “Kelly, as BT said, has been really good.’’
Kelly finished the game with 15 disposals and was one of three players to have 100 per cent game time.
But it could be argued there were at least half a dozen Essendon players who had a bigger impact on the game.
The panel of Collingwood great Dale Thomas, Crows icon Eddie Betts, Geelong great Cameron Ling, football reporter Andrew Wu and football reporter Sarah Black varied significantly in the votes awarded in a game where there were few standout players.
Merrett polled 11 of a possible 15 votes — including three best-on-grounds — from five judges after finishing with 31 disposals, 10 contested possessions, eight tackles and six clearances.
Four of the five judges voted for Merrett, with only triple premiership Cat Cameron Ling leaving the Bombers star out of his votes.
Essendon teammate Andrew McGrath finished second with seven votes, while Collingwood star Nick Daicos was third with five votes.
Kane Cornes said he would have liked to see Essendon’s Jake Stringer recognised more for his 11 score involvements.
Craig Kelly was spotted in Essendon’s changerooms after the game consoling his son.
While Taylor and Brayshaw were talking up Kelly, Darcy tried his best to remain objective in his special comments role during the Bulldogs.
Seven’s commentary team was made up of game callers Jason Bennett, Alister Nicholson and four-time premiership winner Shaun Burgoyne, who was used in an “expert commentary” role.
Sam Darcy kick three goals for the game and his dad was noticeably quiet when his son touched the ball but did offer some insights when his son took a mark inside 50.
“Great kick from Lachie Bramble there,” said Darcy.
“Saw that Sam had the mismatch and needed the ball out the back.”
He also had some words of wisdom when Sam took a mark and lined up goal on the stroke of three quarter time.
“(He) has a habit of getting a little bit close to the man on the mark,” Darcy said of his son’s routine.
“Maybe go back another two steps.”
Nicholson joked: “Stop giving his secrets away Darce”, while Bennett said Darcy was showing off “20 years of research on your part”.
Darcy, who is also a Bulldogs board member, also hosted Seven’s post-game coverage from inside’s Fremantle’s changerooms.
News.com.au has contacted Channel 7 for comment.
You can read Mark Robinson’s full breakdown of the Jake Kelly commentary in the Herald Sun.