Players Voice- Tom Jonas

Tom Jonas (of Port Adelaide) recently wrote an article about the media and their lack of professionalism. I thought it was particularly relevant to our club seeing as we constantly receive unprofessional and frequently incorrect commentating.

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At Simonds Stadium recently I conducted a stock standard post-match radio interview. Firstly, they introduced me as the son of North Melbourne and Central District great Peter Jonas. I’m not.

Secondly, they made note of our recent away trips and stated that going to Tasmania to play the Hawks the following week would be another tough one. I agree. It would have been. If it were true. It wasn’t. We were back at home in front of our beloved fans.

A week earlier two TV commentators were setting up for a regular pre-match interview with me, chatting away before the camera started rolling. Or at least they thought they were. However, I was still in the change rooms. The ‘Tom’ they were talking to was a somewhat confused Jack Hombsch. It was an honest mistake, but not an isolated one. These sorts of errors by the experts who cover our game are unfortunately far too common.

These inaccuracies aren’t confined to Port Adelaide, but they’re the ones I notice for obvious reasons. Nor are they confined to commentary teams, with print publications guilty of similar misinformation.



It was previously reported that Jackson Trengove played a vital pinch-hitting role in the ruck while Paddy Ryder was injured for parts of last year. Hmmm… I’m pretty sure injury wasn’t the reason he couldn’t lead our ruck. And how often do you see the best players in the paper on a Monday morning and notice the misspelling of a name? At least I don’t have to worry about that one!

I could go on but I think you get the point.

The AFL is part of the entertainment industry. What matters to the big boys at AFL house is getting bums on seats, television viewership and ultimately the bottom line. This is more than fair.

The recently completed CBA negotiations signified the playing group’s own interest in being partners in a thriving industry that fosters an equal, financially viable and most importantly, entertaining product for fans. The media forms an integral cog in the AFL machine.

It acts as a conduit between players, the clubs, the AFL and fans. The growth in media coverage is THE major reason our game is in such a strong position and players enjoy such a privileged lifestyle.

Not all of the coverage is serious and nor should it be. But a certain level of professionalism should be universal.

However, while players are rightly expected to perform in a professional manner on and off the field, the same standards don’t seem to apply to those who cover the game.

In today’s commentary circles it’s alright not to know the names of the players running around on a Saturday afternoon, provided of course you played a couple of hundred games of VFL/AFL footy and can have a bit of banter with the lads.

I love the theater and insight that these personalities bring to the telecast, as does the general public, but surely there must be some accountability.

These individuals achieved what they did because of hard work. Is half an hour of research before calling a game, sitting on a panel show or writing an article too much to ask?

It’s no coincidence that the likes of Dennis Cometti and Bruce McAvaney are among the best operators I’ve seen — just ask Bruce how much preparation he does before a Friday night call, and he’s loved for it!

Most of the errors are relatively harmless, I agree. And I get it, people make mistakes, but isn’t that what editors or producers are for?

To provide some perspective, when we make a gaffe(s) the commentary team usually pick up on it first. We might even get a mention in the worst on ground votes after the game. Then scrolling through Twitter or leafing through the paper on a Sunday you get to see what the footy experts and general public thought or didn’t think of your efforts.

Lastly, the coaching group take notice. They are our editors, charged with getting us to perform.

Many of you reading this might be thinking, ‘Stop complaining and play footy. You get paid well and live a great life because of the media coverage you get.’ I can’t argue with that, but the consumers of media deserve better, too.

Players, coaches, administrators and support staff are accountable for their words and actions, why shouldn’t the media be?

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That is a great write up by Jonas.

It does highlight how poor most of the media actually are.

The worry is as newspapers die, and all the good journos leave, opinion pieces will take over as the news. You look at the Age, and Rohan Connoly is gone, Emma Quayle, Martin Flanagan and many others. Who the hell is writing the stories?

The media sends along some graduates to the press conference, who know little about the AFL armed with little research and you get all these mistakes. Sub editing is outsourced and suddenly we have inaccuracies, mistakes and overall bad reporting.

Fantastic write up. I am a big fan of the NBA, the difference in professionalism between NBA and AFL 'journalism' is astounding. It's almost a badge of honour/'cool'/funny to proclaim how you don't watch games in footy media. Being aloof etc.

Marcus Picken, Jesse Stringer and Brad Boyd concur

This has been a hobby horse of mine for many years, especially the appallingly amateur hour coverage that ch.7 brings to the game.

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Originally Posted by Sedat

Marcus Picken, Jesse Stringer and Brad Boyd likes

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I don't want go to on a rant but I think it stems from Australia really thinking being educated = wanky. We prefer journos who are drunken slobs and mock ones who are educated as complete nerds/geeks or even in a borderline homophobic manner. Our footy media reminds me of the movie 'Idiocracy'.

Btw just to further a point about lack of quality in AFL media, Damian Barrett has said the two following things in his "surely written purely to be mocked" sliding doors column today:

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If you keep telling us you are fully committed to coach this club THEN ...it is freakish how often you have your name linked to other clubs. It's not all random speculation, Brad. But you know that"

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He also makes a comment about how Collingwoods 3 inclusions are the best of the week (Moore, Wells and Howe), while mentioning that Gold Coasts are inferior (Ablett, Hanley and Hall).

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Originally Posted by Rocco Jones

I don't want go to on a rant but I think it stems from Australia really thinking being educated = wanky. We prefer journos who are drunken slobs and mock ones who are educated as complete nerds/geeks or even in a borderline homophobic manner. Our footy media reminds me of the movie 'Idiocracy'.

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Yep, anti-intellectualism is a badge of honour in Australian media and the AFL media is certainly no exception.

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Originally Posted by soupaman

Btw just to further a point about lack of quality in AFL media, Damian Barrett has said the two following things in his "surely written purely to be mocked" sliding doors column today:



He also makes a comment about how Collingwoods 3 inclusions are the best of the week (Moore, Wells and Howe), while mentioning that Gold Coasts are inferior (Ablett, Hanley and Hall).

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A few weeks back in the same column he made reference to Buddy Franklin sleeping better tonight knowing Cale Hooker is out injured.

Cale Hooker has been a forward all year, and it's not like it's been a sneaky little move that's gone unnoticed.. There were weeks of reporting on how little impact Hooker was having as a forward.

This is apparently from the best in the business.

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Originally Posted by Rocco Jones

I don't want go to on a rant but I think it stems from Australia really thinking being educated = wanky. We prefer journos who are drunken slobs and mock ones who are educated as complete nerds/geeks or even in a borderline homophobic manner. Our footy media reminds me of the movie 'Idiocracy'.

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In Australia, we prefer our footy journos to have no journalistic training or skills because if you can kick a footy, you can surely write about it.

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Originally Posted by comrade

In Australia, we prefer our footy journos to have no journalistic training or skills because if you can kick a footy, you can surely write about it.

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or call a game on commercial radio or Channel 7.

I like the way 774 use professionals to call the games

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Originally Posted by Jaytee

A few weeks back in the same column he made reference to Buddy Franklin sleeping better tonight knowing Cale Hooker is out injured.

Cale Hooker has been a forward all year, and it's not like it's been a sneaky little move that's gone unnoticed.. There were weeks of reporting on how little impact Hooker was having as a forward.

This is apparently from the best in the business.

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Not by Damo apparantly.

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Originally Posted by Sedat

Yep, anti-intellectualism is a badge of honour in Australian media and the AFL media is certainly no exception.

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Newman prides himself on his lack of knowledge (respect) of any player, other than himself and Polly Farmer, who has played the game. It's a tiresome and belittling narrative that he's run with for his entire career, and in return has been awarded the most lucrative sporting media career in this Country. Go figure.

It's not just footy media and its mass of followers that don't like intellectualism, our politicians (predominantly of a particular persuasion) revel in telling us all how we're sick of intellectuals or experts telling us what to do all the time.

The irony is I love in Adelaide, i know a few of the Poet players, and i wouldnt know Tom Jonas if he knocked on my front door :)

Yep, I must admit tgat I'd never heard of him.

Still it's a bit rough getting who your dad is wrong.

Fantastic article and he really is spot on

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Originally Posted by Throughandthrough

The irony is I love in Adelaide, i know a few of the Poet players, and i wouldnt know Tom Jonas if he knocked on my front door :)

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Not sure the point of your post? Are you paid to be in the media?

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Originally Posted by azabob

Not sure the point of your post? Are you paid to be in the media?

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His point is that its ironic that the player writing the article is fairly unknown so many people would make the same mistake as the "professional" journalists. I dont believe it says anything about the article or point of the article.

Hands up who saw the author of the article, the club he plays for and assumed he was Peter's son? I did. I thought "must be a F/S, that's why he has never come to my attention through his junior games" but it just turns out that I'm stupider than I thought I was.

Not stupid enough to barrel up to the kid and announce it on national television during its highest rating show though.

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

Hands up who saw the author of the article, the club he plays for and assumed he was Peter's son? I did. I thought "must be a F/S, that's why he has never come to my attention through his junior games" but it just turns out that I'm stupider than I thought I was.

Not stupid enough to barrel up to the kid and announce it on national television during its highest rating show though.

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It's ok to assume but in the words of Benny Hill if you assume you can mate an "ass out of you and me"
If your a journalist though you would want to check everything about your questions before you ask.

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Originally Posted by ledge

It's ok to assume but in the words of Benny Hill if you assume you can mate an "ass out of you and me"
If your a journalist though you would want to check everything about your questions before you ask.

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Exactly. Check your facts. You can go and yell at the researcher after the fact all you like. The researcher didn't look like a dickhead on national TV. The article in the paper doesn't mention the researcher...

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These individuals achieved what they did because of hard work. Is half an hour of research before calling a game, sitting on a panel show or writing an article too much to ask?

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I think this sums up most of my frustrations with the football media.
It has never been easier to find information than it is today yet those charged with leading the football conversation have never seemed less informed.

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Originally Posted by Les Abbott Cheer Squad

I think this sums up most of my frustrations with the football media.
It has never been easier to find information than it is today yet those charged with leading the football conversation have never seemed less informed.

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Yep it takes no time to google something or someone. On your phone while you're waiting for the siren to go. Even say to someone "could you just check that Peter is Tom's dad. I'd hate to get something like that wrong."

The easy option is to also not just say something unless you know it's a fact. Not only our AFL journos uninformed, they make stuff up. If you don't know something, stay quiet or say the little that you do know. Uneducated + loud= the worst.

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Originally Posted by Topdog

His point is that its ironic that the player writing the article is fairly unknown so many people would make the same mistake as the "professional" journalists. I dont believe it says anything about the article or point of the article.

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For mine that's just not good enough for a scribe or a commentator. Frankly there is no excuse whatsoever to not know a player's name - that sort of information is the bare minimum requirement for doing what you are paid to do.

Eddie Colligwood went off his nut last night over reporters making stuff up .
He mentioned they should be held accountable , it must be bad when a bloke who grew up being a reporter is fed up with it , Kudos to Eddie for saying what we all know on fox footy.

Tom Jonas is a turd. I'm glad that commentater didn't know who he was.

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

Tom Jonas is a turd. I'm glad that commentater didn't know who he was.

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Sorry but that is a silly thing to say. Regardless of his ability a professional commentator should know who they are talking to

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Originally Posted by Topdog

Sorry but that is a silly thing to say. Regardless of his ability a professional commentator should know who they are talking to

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Just my opinion.

The turd bit is fact though.:)

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Originally Posted by Twodogs

Just my opinion.

The turd bit is fact though.:)

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I'm sure Andrew Gaff won't disagree.

Jonas' elbow knocked him into next century last year.

YouTube it.

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Originally Posted by westdog54

I'm sure Andrew Gaff won't disagree.

Jonas' elbow knocked him into next century last year.

YouTube it.

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What a naughty elbow. We should make it sit in a corner with Toby Greene's foot.

Tom Jonas is somehow in the AA 40-man squad.

I've been racking my brain to think of a reason, maybe trying to appease his anger from this article is why.

Just to repeat, the guy who let Cale Hooker kick 5.3 is allegedly an AA-level defender.

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Originally Posted by Happy Days

Tom Jonas is somehow in the AA 40-man squad.

I've been racking my brain to think of a reason, maybe trying to appease his anger from this article is why.

Just to repeat, the guy who let Cale Hooker kick 5.3 is allegedly an AA-level defender.

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Better than Rampe apparently

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Originally Posted by Happy Days

Tom Jonas is somehow in the AA 40-man squad.

I've been racking my brain to think of a reason, maybe trying to appease his anger from this article is why.

Just to repeat, the guy who let Cale Hooker kick 5.3 is allegedly an AA-level defender.

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All I will say is FMD. I am speechless.