Vale Drew Morphett

[watt price tully]

Vale Drew Morphett. Part of my growing up & part of footy.

Sad.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victor ... b6755aab66

https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/s ... b88580127z

[stui magpie]

Shit. very sad.

One of the great callers

[Pa Marmo]

Loved Drew when the footy was on the ABC, was great during intermission the cross cost also, sad for his family.

[Tannin]

Oh no! The best caller in the game - not just footy, practically any game. Drew was the master.

Drew dreamed about calling sport even as a little boy growing up in Sydney. It was all he ever wanted to do. One day, still only in his teens, he was one of a small group of youngsters who managed to get an interview with the ABC Sport Department, which took place at a Sydney footy ground some hours before the game. (Being Sydney, this was Rugby League of course.)

The interview went OK. Rather to their surprise, the boys were then invited to call a few minutes each of the no-account seconds game that happened to be on. Obviously, no-one knew any of the players or their numbers. that was OK, said the senior man, you haven't had a chance to study, just make something up or say "Number 3" or "the full-back".

When Drew's turn came along, he knew every player on both sides and called them accurately. Young Drew loved his sport and "just happened" to know every player in every team - first and seconds both - in the New South Wales Rugby League. So he ignored the instructions and called them all by name.

He got the job.

He was posted to Western Australia as a cadet, and thrown straight into calling the completely unfamiliar game of Aussie Rules. Took to it like a duck to water, and never looked back.

Even when he was right royally shafted by Tony Abbot's disgraceful "no cuts to the ABC" savage cuts and sacked, he took it in good spirit and finished his days at an inferior commercial broadcaster, never showing any trace of bitterness. He just went on calling sport in his inimitable way.

Go well Drew Morphett. Top bloke; best sport broadcaster of our generation. No-one else ever managed your unique blend of easy-going style, true-to-life accuracy, tremendous knowledge, understanding, and infectious good humour.

You will be sadly missed.

[sixpoints]

^
Wow, great back story Tannin!
Yes he knew his stuff. He always struck me as an intelligent caller, one who knew players, knew the game and knew exactly when to raise or lower the tempo of his call. He was a professional. Something that is distinctly lacking in today's boys club of "hire a celebrity player" assuming we the public give a rats.
All I guess we want is quality in footy calling. Drew supplied just that.
RIP.

[Pies4shaw]

Very sad news. A wonderful broadcaster and an obviously good person.

[HAL]

Be more specific.

[stui magpie]

Oh no! The best caller in the game - not just footy, practically any game. Drew was the master.

Drew dreamed about calling sport even as a little boy growing up in Sydney. It was all he ever wanted to do. One day, still only in his teens, he was one of a small group of youngsters who managed to get an interview with the ABC Sport Department, which took place at a Sydney footy ground some hours before the game. (Being Sydney, this was Rugby League of course.)

The interview went OK. Rather to their surprise, the boys were then invited to call a few minutes each of the no-account seconds game that happened to be on. Obviously, no-one knew any of the players or their numbers. that was OK, said the senior man, you haven't had a chance to study, just make something up or say "Number 3" or "the full-back".

When Drew's turn came along, he knew every player on both sides and called them accurately. Young Drew loved his sport and "just happened" to know every player in every team - first and seconds both - in the New South Wales Rugby League. So he ignored the instructions and called them all by name.

He got the job.

He was posted to Western Australia as a cadet, and thrown straight into calling the completely unfamiliar game of Aussie Rules. Took to it like a duck to water, and never looked back.

Even when he was right royally shafted by Tony Abbot's disgraceful "no cuts to the ABC" savage cuts and sacked, he took it in good spirit and finished his days at an inferior commercial broadcaster, never showing any trace of bitterness. He just went on calling sport in his inimitable way.

Go well Drew Morphett. Top bloke; best sport broadcaster of our generation. No-one else ever managed your unique blend of easy-going style, true-to-life accuracy, tremendous knowledge, understanding, and infectious good humour.

You will be sadly missed.

Nice Bio but it makes it seem like he was at the ABC all his career, which neglects the fact that he left the ABC in 1988 and called the footy on 7 until 2000, when he went back to ABC radio.

[Tannin]

So he slummed it for a few years in the middle of his 50-year career. And your point is?

[stui magpie]

So he slummed it for a few years in the middle of his 50-year career. And your point is?

The point was that, not only was he a very good caller, he underlined that by leaving the sheltered workshop that is the ABC and proving it in the big time.

[ronrat]

I remember some fans giving him heaps at Victoria Park one day and he took it in good humour and waved back. Laughed it off. A caller of integrity which is more than we can say about a few others. Ilost my best mate 2 weeks ago who was the same age. Far too young.

[watt price tully]

So he slummed it for a few years in the middle of his 50-year career. .......