Michael Voss in,
Cometti on board
09 December 2006 Herald-Sun
Jon Anderson
WITH Channels 7 and 10 increasingly likely to telecast all eight games each weekend in 2007, the networks are pencilling in their commentary teams.
Channel 10 general manager of sport David White yesterday said his network was going ahead with business in the belief that Foxtel would not be involved.
"Forget all the rubbish that's been spoken, I haven't heard from them (Foxtel) so they musn't be interested," White said.
"We've booked everything and are telecasting four games each weekend next year."
The channel's biggest recruit for its commentary team is likely to be retired Brisbane Lions captain Michael Voss, who will fill the experts' commentary chair vacated by Stephen Silvagni.
Voss, who has not yet signed a contract, heads a quality field for the role that includes Wayne Campbell, Alastair Lynch and Jarrod Molloy.
And Seven's Melbourne chief executive Ian Johnson yesterday confirmed that Dennis Cometti would join Bruce McAvaney to call Friday night games for the network.
"I'm delighted. I've worked with Bruce many times over the years and thoroughly enjoy calling with him," Cometti, 56, said from Perth last night.
"I will be dedicating my energies to Seven on Friday night and one other game (probably Sunday) because I've taken a step back in other areas. I'm not getting any younger."
Cometti's duties with Seven will also include the Beijing Olympics, where he's likely to call the swimming.
Johnson also confirmed Seven would produce a Monday night football program along the lines of Talking Footy.
Joining Cometti and McAvaney on their Melbourne calling team will be two of Brian Taylor, Clinton Grybas or Dwayne Russell.
"We are speaking to those three to find out what their radio commitments are. In Perth, Basil Zempilas will call and in Adelaide we have Chris Dittmar.
"We have been waiting for the agreement to be finalised so we can book OB (outside broadcast) vans. They need to be booked three months in advance."
As for the four days when Seven will have a clash between football and V8 Supercar commitments on Sundays, football will take precedence and the starting time of the motor racing will be changed.
In radio footy news, Rex Hunt, who is out of contract on New Year's Eve, met 3AW executives yesterday to discuss his long-term future.
Hunt is keen to continue calling football at 3AW after a successful 2006, but wants his football team from this season unchanged.
Does that mean he isn't keen on pairing up again with his old sparring partner and friend Sam Newman? "That's between management and I," Hunt said yesterday.
And Triple M has re-signed expert comments man Jason Dunstall.
New player SEN is believed to have spoken with axed Triple M caller Stephen Quartermain and Channel 10's Tim Lane regarding calling duties next year.
Quartermain's problem would be availability on Saturdays and Sundays given Channel 10 will require its callers to double up next year when they add Sundays to their schedule.
Anthony Hudson will call for SEN on Friday nights with Kevin Bartlett.
Nathan Buckley and James Hird are two names suggested for expert commentary when match duties allow, while ex-Triple M comments man Newman has been discussed.
Anthony Mithen, who recently departed the breakfast shift he co-hosted with Michael Christian at Sport 927, is another calling possibility.
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,20896587%255E20322,00.html
