Truth Hurts Ep #6_Ayrton Wooley
[00:00:00] Wayne: I'm Wayne Carey, and this is The Truth Hurts. It's been a very different year for me, obviously, Anton, because I haven't been to games live, so I've been watching a lot of footy on TV and listening on radio as well. So every time I get into the car now, and now I'm not as loyal to Triple M, by the way, these days.
[00:00:21] Wayne: So I do listen to the Triple M boys, because I still love them, but I do flick over and I listen to 3OW and SEN, so I'm right across. All platforms now, and also I don't just watch channel seven, uh, Friday night footy, but I flick over to Fox footy and I watch that. So I'm, I'm across it all. So what I thought, and, and it reminded me of the great callers of all time.
[00:00:46] Wayne: And the greatest of all time, who I've worked with, and that's the great Bruce McIverney. What made me think about this as well is because I turned the races on, on Saturday afternoon, and Bruce was on the races. He's still going strong. His knowledge is [00:01:00] incredible. He's, he's, he's the absolute best. And he's an absolute gentleman.
[00:01:03] Wayne: He's the one person in commentary in TV, uh, that is an absolute superstar that wants to make you better. He will do anything. That he can to make you better and perform better because he believes different. Oh, it is just, it's a dog eat dog world, isn't it? Massive dog eat dog world. And to be honest, a lot of, a lot of people in the media couldn't give a stuff about the bloke next to him.
[00:01:25] Wayne: They're just worried about where their next meal is coming from. So they're just, they're just head down, bum up. I'll do what I need to do. Who gives a crap about what, uh, you know, snowy off the trans over here is doing. So, but Bruce wasn't like that. And obviously Dennis Cometti is the other one that comes to mind.
[00:01:39] Wayne: I think. I've, I've always said Bruce is my absolute favourite and I, and I think part of that is because when he came to Melbourne and we played so much Friday night footy, so many Friday night games that our careers aligned with one another and, and I'm a big believer that a commentator, a caller can make you be better.
[00:01:59] Wayne: What I [00:02:00] mean by that, correct, they can make you sound better, or you know, they make a certain goal bigger than what it is, or a mark bigger than what it is, or even your performance bigger than what it is, and I think Bruce certainly did that for me, so he holds a special place. I did wonder whether you ever got a special.
[00:02:17] Wayne: He's an absolute beauty. I absolutely love him. Every time I see him on TV now at the races, you know, I just light up with a big smile. I think he's just an absolute gentleman and a beautiful person. So, so what it made me think, I thought, And, you know, I'll get a little bit of backlash from this from, you know, cause I've got mates in the media.
[00:02:35] Wayne: But you know what I thought I'll do? I thought I'm going to try to nail down the five best special comments people in the game right now for me, and also the five best callers. And this is easy to do that. This is my opinion. I'll tell you what, there's a lot around. I'm sure you've got a, I'm sure you've got a healthy list there.
[00:02:53] Ayrton: Yeah, I can go through now, if you like, just some of the names that are, that are calling. You've got, I mean, obviously Bruce is not calling anymore, [00:03:00] but you've got the likes of Huddo, James Brayshaw, BT, Gerard Waitley, Dwayne Russell, uh, Dennis is not commentating anymore, but the likes of Hamish McLachlan, Jason Bennett, Andy Ma, Hutchy, Pickers, all of these names, Matty Granland, Tim Lane, the list goes on, there
[00:03:14] Wayne: are a lot.
[00:03:14] Wayne: They're all callers. They're all callers. Wow. No, I knew that. I knew that. And what about special comments? Wow, even,
[00:03:21] Ayrton: even bigger list. You've, you've got your old mate Lingy, Stevie J's on the bandwagon now, Hodge, Selwood, the two Watsons, Jobe and Tim, Dermot, Jimmy Bartell, Daisy Pierce, Abbey Holmes, Richo Man, Sean Burgoyne, Lee Matthews, Nathan Jones, Chris Johnson.
[00:03:37] Ayrton: I could keep going. There's a whole lot.
[00:03:38] Wayne: Rude. Moldhouse. Bucks. Yep. There's plenty. Alright. Where do you want me to start? Special comments or callers? Let's start with your, well. I'll start with callers. Yeah. I'll start with callers. Number five. Number five. Yeah. And people will think that this is a bit of a suck up job, but it's not.
[00:03:55] Wayne: Oh no. But it's not. It's not a suck up. You said you weren't going to be politically correct. No, no, this, I'm [00:04:00] not being politically, this, this is what I truly believe. I love the storytelling and I think he's very accurate. I love Hamish McLaughlin. I don't think he does enough calling. He's a, he's an unbelievable host.
[00:04:11] Wayne: Very good host. He's a very good host, but I, I really liked the way he calls. I really do. He is a big storyteller. And he's cool. He is. Yeah. He's a story. He does. He does paint a picture. Yes. And I love that about him. And he's a beautiful human being as well. So I've got him at number five. I've got Dwayne Russell at number four, the pipe.
[00:04:31] Wayne: The reason why I, I, I, as good as it gets. Yeah. And he loves these little, uh, crazy good. Yeah. I know. I think he's very good. And the other reason why he is number four too, cause I reckon he's about the only bloke in 40 that's got a worse name than Wayne and that's Dwayne. So, so pipes at number four. I'm going to get smashed for this.
[00:04:53] Wayne: I can see your list. I'm going to get smashed for this. BT at number three, [00:05:00] BT at number three. We don't need you to explain this one. Well, well, I actually like BT. No, I've had, I've had BT at number one. I've had him at number two before. I've had him at number three. When Bruce was around, he dropped down.
[00:05:10] Wayne: He won't like being at three. Well, for a lot of his career, he's been at three anyway, because Bruce and Dennis has been there. And I think he's always sat below those guys. So he's going to be a bit disappointed now that they're gone, that he hasn't gone straight up the list. So I've got him, I've got him at number three.
[00:05:25] Wayne: I love, I do love. But is brilliant, brilliant caller. I love him as a radio caller as well. I think he, he obviously shows a lot more personality when he calls on radio, but this is, this is more, this is TV, by the way. This is TV. I know they all do radio and TV, but this is for me, this is TV. Oh, only TV. This is only TV.
[00:05:48] Wayne: Oh,
[00:05:49] Ayrton: so you've ruled out a few people before we started. Correct. See, I think his radio stuff
[00:05:53] Wayne: elevates him, if you, if you... No, it does, BT. If this was radio, if it was radio, I'd have BT higher. [00:06:00] Okay. Okay? So, BT3. I've got Hutto at number two. That is very
[00:06:05] Ayrton: controversial. Why? Because I think he's, I think he's number, I think he's number one.
[00:06:09] Ayrton: Hutto? I think he's by far and away the, the,
[00:06:12] Wayne: the best brawler in the game. Well, he's off Broadway, for starters. He's on foxtail. That's Channel Seven's fault isn't they? Should've paid. Yeah. Well he's off Broadway, so that goes against him a little bit because you know, unless you're, you know, not everyone has foxtail,
[00:06:26] Ayrton: You talk about elevating moments though. Has, has anyone got as many I 13, you know, buddy You and he is 13 in
[00:06:33] Wayne: Launceston and Yeah, I've, I'm not as big a fan on the 13. I think he, I think no. Well I think he does other, other stuff in the Jack. Did he do the Jackie, was he the Jackie Chan? Um, was he the Jackie Chan with Wells?
[00:06:44] Wayne: He's goal. Was that? Oh, geez, you're testing me. I think it might have been. No, I do love the way he calls. I think he's, he's absolutely brilliant. Um, but I, my favorite, and once again, people say our triple M boys club and not because he was the president of North Melbourne, but I think JB, [00:07:00] I think he, I think he brings color.
[00:07:02] Wayne: Um, to the TV call that others don't bring as much color, like, as we said, Hamish tells a story, um, pipes, pipes, Dwayne, he obviously likes his little, likes his little, uh, sayings, um, in a call, uh, we know BT, he brings a lot of color as well, but I think JB, I, I, Just really like he can, he can lift a moment. He can elevate very well.
[00:07:24] Wayne: Just like, uh, just like Bruce did. So I've got JB at the moment on top. Now that, by the way, we're only nine rounds in. We might revisit this at the end of the year. So you're telling these blokes there's room for them to move up the list? They could move up the list. James
[00:07:38] Ayrton: is, he's harshly, and BT to a degree, but Brayshaw particularly, he cops a bit.
[00:07:53] Wayne: I think we can all get a name wrong. I think, no, I think we can all get a name wrong, but I, I know they're my top five for the moment. Like I [00:08:00] said, by the end of the year, we'll revisit at the end of the year and we'll say where they say, Oh, I like that.
[00:08:03] Wayne: This could be bigger than. You know that top 50, uh, what, what, what, what's Robbo. Robbo's top 50. Yeah. This could be bigger than Robbo's top
[00:08:10] Ayrton: 50. I think it's a really solid top five. If I just couple names to look out for, if you, you know, you're, you're, you're, you're your big name.
[00:08:18] Wayne: You know who I do like is I think Jason Bennett.
[00:08:21] Wayne: I don't think he gets the credit that he deserves as a caller. Okay. He does. He can sort of drift into the special comments as well as he's doing the call, but have you to, did you tell him that? He's knowledge. No, I don't tell. He's brilliant at his job. He's knowledgeable. He's well researched. Um. So he's one to look out for.
[00:08:39] Wayne: Jason Bennett could slip into the top
[00:08:41] Ayrton: five. I've got a couple of names. You wouldn't have heard of these guys because you love your, your big, your big, big names you do. But there's a guy, uh, there's a guy in Perth. He used to work for Fox Sports in Melbourne, actually. Adam Papali, a very rock solid, I'd call him, rock solid, uh, commentator.
[00:08:55] Ayrton: So keep him, he does often does the free our West Coast games on Fox and [00:09:00] Alistair Nicholson.
[00:09:03] Wayne: Yes, I did. I've done a couple of games with Alistair and like, like how he's built. Yeah, he's building. He's a bit like dirty. Yeah. He, who knows where his future may lie on this list, but he, no, but he's, he is very good and you're right. He's getting some opportunities on channel seven, which obviously elevates his profile now onto special comments, which was, uh, you know, my old job when let's be honest, didn't say a lot of things that were that special.
[00:09:31] Wayne: But what
[00:09:31] Ayrton: makes a good, before you start this, what makes A good special comments caller in your
[00:09:36] Wayne: eyes, not stating the obvious is would be one. And the other one would be not over talking. I think the other thing to remember when I, when we write this, especially with a special comments, people is that Foxtel, I think Fox, the guys on Fox 40, they have an advantage over the channel seven special comments people.
[00:09:58] Wayne: Okay. And I'll tell you why, [00:10:00] because, because of the ads. So after a goal and we get. told in our ear, okay, we're going to an ad break. We're told not to talk again then until we come back from that ad break. So if you're watching the channel seven coverage on Fox footy and you hear all that blank air, that's because they're told they told not to talk.
[00:10:18] Wayne: And then when you come back from the ad break, you've got a, you've got a really short period of time in before the ball bounces that you're able to say anything. Whereas the Fox guys get a lot more clear air to make their point. So they can all have a say, they can all, you know, talk about whatever it is they want.
[00:10:34] Wayne: So they can explain themselves much clearer, I think, than Channel 7. So they are at an advantage, I think.
[00:10:39] Ayrton: How much jostling, or not jostling, but how does it work when you're in there? Because you've often got two main callers, Fox sometimes one, but two main callers generally, two special comments. How does it work?
[00:10:51] Ayrton: Who gets which bit of time? And you're saying, I've got something
[00:10:54] Wayne: generally it's first in best dressed. If someone, you know, messages down to the truck and says, I want to talk about [00:11:00] something after the, after the ad break, you come back.
[00:11:02] Ayrton: So that's how you do it. Is it you tell the producer I've spotted something that I like, or sometimes this is where I guess Bruce was really good for you.
[00:11:10] Ayrton: Cause I always felt that Bruce, he tries
[00:11:13] Wayne: to bring you in. Yeah. Yeah. Bruce did that a lot and other callers. Don't do that as much as I said, but what you got to remember is Bruce's experience and, and he's that in control. He knows exactly, you know, where he's at with a lot of people, especially when you're on TV, you're focusing on what, you know, you've got to do rather than worrying about trying to bring other people in.
[00:11:32] Wayne: But, um, which brings us to the special comments at number five. I'm going to go with, uh, I'm going to go with, uh, David King, not because he's an ex teammate and you, you believe me on that because I can be critical. Yes. King is very stats driven. Which I like. I like the analysis. I think you can go overboard with the stats.
[00:11:54] Wayne: I think, you know, let's be honest, you know, and there are some people out there that want to hear, you know, [00:12:00] they want to hear all of that. confusing stat stuff because if I'm confused, trust me, they're confused, but I like the way I think Kingy can be very succinct. I like, he can make a very strong point.
[00:12:13] Wayne: Um, so he thinks about the, he does think about, Oh yeah, he's got, he's a great football brain. He's got a great football brain. He really has. Kingy should have probably, it will, Could have stayed in coaching and maybe been a very good coach. I would have thought
[00:12:27] Ayrton: he's
[00:12:28] Wayne: got a little bit of presence. Um, well, he's got a lot of presence, but I've got him at number five.
[00:12:32] Wayne: I'm not sure when he made the jump, but he was an assistant coach for a period of time. Number four, Joey Montagna. I've got him at four. New boy on the block. In relative terms. Yeah, new boy on the block. He's also doing a bit of calling as well, but, uh, a bit like Kingy, he can get, he can delve into the stats a little bit too much, but I, I think when Joey and Kingy do talk about stats, and I think Joey in particular, he simplifies it.
[00:12:58] Wayne: So it is very easy to [00:13:00] understand, although it is, it can be technical at times. He makes it easy. So I love the way he's going about it, both on radio and TV, by the way, at number three, and this guy has been my number one of all time forever in a day, but unfortunately not on often enough. And if he was on more often, he would be number one.
[00:13:22] Wayne: And that is the greatest VFL player of all time. VFL. Lee Matthews. Lee Matthews. Without a doubt, he would, he, he's been the best special over... Did you shunt him off
[00:13:37] Ayrton: Friday nights?
[00:13:37] Wayne: Over a period of time. Did you get him off Fridays? Was that you? Well, I didn't. Louis Martin, mate. But, Lee Matthews, without a doubt, um, still very good Lee.
[00:13:46] Wayne: All time favourite. You can cut through the crap. Cut through the crap, make a point, get in, get out, few words, doesn't waffle on, but I tell you what, when he speaks, everyone listens. Absolutely. So, still number three, [00:14:00] even though not used enough on TV. He should, he should still be on prime time. Why has that happened then?
[00:14:05] Wayne: I don't know. I, I, well, why does it happen in society? I think, you know, once Is it because he's old school? Well, one people, I think once people reach a certain age, for whatever reason, we think, oh no, they're not, uh, whereas I think Lee Matthews should be front and centre on just about everything Channel 7 does.
[00:14:22] Wayne: That's my opinion. Because I still think he's the best at Channel 7. At number two. I have Jason the Big Dunstall. The Big Chief. The Big Chief. Very similar to Lee in the way that I think he's, he's clearly articulate, very intelligent. I think he makes a point, um, and then gets on with it. He doesn't waffle on.
[00:14:43] Wayne: Um, doesn't, doesn't give you the, the obvious that picks things up that others don't pick up. And
[00:14:50] Ayrton: he's not afraid to have a crack either the chief easy, which I like, because sometimes
[00:14:53] Wayne: you need to, he calls it as he sees it. But number one, drum roll, yep, um, [00:15:00] Gary Lyon. And he's been good for a long, he's been good for a long time.
[00:15:05] Wayne: Um, I've always liked the way he goes about it. He's always very, uh, well researched. He's, he's another one that's articulate, um, also succinct. I don't think he waffles on. He understands when to come in, when not to, when to give other people space. So I think he's, he's number one. But as I said, if lethal, if we saw more of lethal, I'd, I'd, I'd have lethal still on top.
[00:15:29] Wayne: But right now, Gary Lyon, number one special comments person in the game. I love listening to him. Find that really
[00:15:36] Ayrton: hard to disagree with much of what you've got there. On a Saturday afternoon, often Fox have Hutto, Gary and
[00:15:41] Wayne: Jason. It's a pretty, it's a pretty good, uh, team that, isn't it? Absolutely. So there you go.
[00:15:46] Wayne: So once again, all of these, uh, all of these people have the opportunity to, uh, go up the list or, or go down the list, I'm sure. I can't wait for the phone calls you get this week. I'll tell you what, you know, the first phone call I'll be [00:16:00] getting? Who's that? When they hear about it? Who? BT. Absolutely.
[00:16:04] Ayrton: I've got one question for you on BT.
[00:16:06] Ayrton: Yeah. And I know this is a favourite of you guys at Triple M. Did, was BT really getting, His, uh, partner or wife to time his time
[00:16:16] Wayne: on air. Was that? Well, look, I am not into rumor and innuendo because I've never, clearly it's one of my pet hates rumor and innuendo, but, um, I'm led to believe in the people that, that it came through.
[00:16:32] Wayne: I tend to believe that there may be a little bit of truth in that. You had the stopwatch out. Not sure it was a stopwatch. I'm sure it was a stopwatch, but it might have involved Jason Bennett as well. I think it was, I think it was, might have been when Jason and BT were doing a game. And this was a couple of years ago, a few years ago now.
[00:16:50] Wayne: And I think there might've been a, you know, I think Jason Bennett might've had a little bit. You know, too much air time and what a bit of watch just, yeah, just [00:17:00] keeping an eye on how much BT got, but he, he can, he can get a little frustrated BT. And then once, if he gets upset by something, then he just goes back into his shell.
[00:17:10] Wayne: So then you'll get absolutely nothing out of him, but now he's a ripper BT. So, but I will be getting a call from him. So there you go. Top five callers, top five special comments.
