Luke Darcy at centre of commentary controversy in Brisbane win over Carlton
Viewers outside of Melbourne were not thrilled with the commentary.
Channel 7 commentator Luke Darcy has irked some neutral AFL fans after being accused of hyping up Carlton during commentary amid the Lions' remarkable comeback win. The Blues kicked the preliminary final's opening five goals to shock the Gabba faithful in the first quarter but managed just four more in an 11.13 (79) to 9.9 (63) Lions win.
Collingwood await the Lions at the MCG next Saturday in a battle of the regular season's top two teams. However, viewers watching the Channel 7 broadcast became incensed after accusing commentator Darcy of 'barracking' for the Melbourne-based club.
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While the Lions didn't start well, they were by far the better team across the final two quarters having outplayed and outmuscled the Melbourne-based team. But viewers felt commentators Darcy and Hamish McLachlan were watching a different game as they tried to ramp up the contest.
Former West Coast star Will Schofield was particularly critical of the commentary team. "I’m all for a bit of bias… but the call I’m watching on TV is desperate for a Carlton win. Genuinely sound disappointed when Brisbane do something good," he wrote. Fans also agreed with Schofield and called out the Channel 7 team.
I’m all for a bit of bias… but the call I’m watching on TV is desperate for a Carlton win. Genuinely sound disappointed when Brisbane do something good.
— Will Schofield (@WillSchofield) September 23, 2023
Luke Darcy reckons a Carlton goal will bring the stadium to life.
They’re playing Brisbane in Brisbane…— Cam Gauder (@CamGauder) September 23, 2023
Wonder who Luke Darcy is barracking for in this one 🤷♀️ #AFLLionsBlues
— Kirsty Large (@kirstylarge11) September 23, 2023
Luke Darcy forgetting that there's a large population of supporters who aren't barracking for the Melbourne based team. All finals series.
— Aaron (@YalunBulante) September 23, 2023
So glad to see the commentators of a national competition openly barracking for the Victorian clubs.
Your job is to be impartial.
If you want to barrack, buy a ticket and sit in the stands.#AFLFinals#AFLLionsBlues— Laurence Bradley (@LaurenceBradley) September 23, 2023
Can Luke Darcy stop barracking for Carlton please #AFLLionsBlues
— ❤️ᖇ🖤 (@Bombergrl2000) September 23, 2023
The Victorian bias in the AFL commentary is embarrassing
— Bandwagon B R E T T O (@Brettoshank) September 23, 2023
It's a joke...
— Adam Young (@AdamYou70700779) September 23, 2023
Lions set up blockbuster Collingwood grand final showdown
Lions coach Chris Fagan was just as shellshocked as the Gabba crowd with Carlton's initial onslaught, before praising his team's resilience to bounce back. "It's a good feeling, I've never seen the (dressing) rooms like that ... just a lot of happiness in the room," he said after snapping a run of three preliminary finals losses in the last four years.
"We'll have to settle it down pretty quickly, but enjoy that moment. They're hard things to get to, as we know, and it was looking a little bit dicey at quarter-time."
Collingwood await the Lions at the MCG next Saturday in a battle of the regular season's top two teams. It will be Brisbane's first grand final since 2004 as they aim to break a 20-year flag drought, their 2003 triumph the final chapter of a three-peat that included two wins against the Magpies.
Their Saturday evening triumph ended the Blues' brave run - from 15th in round 13 with just four wins - under coach Michael Voss, the captain of Brisbane's triple-premiership winners.
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