Magarey Medal Coverage

This week's FOOT-e TIMES SA is now out and it's editorial discusses coverage of this years Magarey Medal.

WHERE TO NOW FOR MAGAREY COVERAGE?

Firstly congratulations to Matthew Thomas on winning the 2013 Magarey Medal.

Well regarded by all at the Redlegs and the wider SA football community it was a great effort given he played just 15 games.

However many fans have expressed to me frustration at the extent of live coverage provided.

The Magarey count was first covered live on radio in 1938 before it became a major TV event, staying on the tube until 2007.

In 2008, the event went world wide for the first time with the votes heard on radio & their webcasts.

Since 2009 it has been internet only with an Adelaide Now live web stream taken over by the league’s web site last year.
This year finances meant there was no live web stream, replaced by live twitter updates, each round updated in 140 characters or less.

The Magarey Medal is the one annual event that generates interest across the fans bases of all 9 SANFL clubs.

It is proudly and rightly promoted as the oldest individual award in Australian Football in a competition that considers itself the best state league in the nation.

Yet it’s live coverage is now poorer than other state league counterparts the WAFL’s Sandover (Radio broadcast for 11th straight season) and VFL’s Liston (web stream).

Bottom Line … SANFL fans should have live access to be able to follow the count on a round by round, vote by vote basis.


Am I right or just a dinosaur who needs to embrace social media and the “twitter age” ?

Is it a reasonable expectation to maintain live coverage given the league’s financial situation and other cut backs made?

Would investing scare resources into live video or audio coverage be a waste due to low interest levels or is this the one event most SANFL fans still want to follow live and the support justifies coverage?

You can have your say with our quick 3 question survey.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HBKXHM9

Your thoughts should count so IF it matters to you, have a say.


Phil Herden
FOOT-e TIMES SA

If 7 are doing the footy next year, hopefully they can do the medal as well.