Before the game 1985 VFA Rd17 Preston Vs Coburg at CramerSt Channel 10 includes the start Gezza1967

[@danrobinson572]

Awesome 👏

[@darylcumming7119]

The memories.

[@rajivmurkejee7498]

Interesting to see Baby Bruce and Boy Rex . Both very tame by their later standards Even Phil Cleary before his ( brief ) political career

[@TimmyTickle]

Especially Rex - what he said at 3:07 is the exact opposite of the sort of thing he would say today (this is the same bloke who hosted Biffs, Bumps and Brawlers)

[@wowwe3011]

Bruce worked for Ch10??? Sheeessh

[@TimmyTickle]

He started his career at Channel 7 Adelaide, then went to Ten Melbourne in the early 80s before joining Seven Melbourne in 1990. While at Ten, he called five Melbourne Cups (1985-1989) commentated on the the athletics at the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, and read the sports segment on the evening news.

[@footy2rock]

Only 16 players to start a game whats going on there? Interesting to see Bruce calling VFA games I spose that was his apprenticeship into the AFL

[@Mhjeffrey027running]

VFA was 16 a side for many years until 1992.

[@kurtflahavin5994]

Bruce did call SANFL matches on Channel 7 in Adelaide in 1982 & 1983 before switching to Channel 10 Melbourne in 1984. He had a fair football commentary apprenticeship before he started to call AFL matches on Channel 7 in 1990.

[@shaundgb7367]

I think Bruce was primarily a race caller back then so if channel 10 did in horse racing coverage back then, he would have been onto it. He did not get noted as a football caller that he later became renowned for until he moved to channel 7. He was covering all sports but I think athletics and horse racing were the first two sports he was a good caller at. As someone else said, he was originally from Adelaide so would have called some SANFL games back in early 80's before moving to channel 10 in Melbourne. Sandy Roberts before him, went from SANFL footy to calling footy in Melbourne. Sandy was primarily a footy caller and did the VFL/AFL at channel 7 through most of the 80's and 90's.

[@shaundgb7367]

The VFA was always 16 a side when I watched it as a kid. They played without wings until the AFL killed of the VFA in the 90's and was already slowly killing it as the 1980's progressed with more and more Sunday league footy shown on channel 7 at same time VFA on channel 10. In 1985, you basically got the Swans playing every second Sunday live from SCG on channel 7 and also early September finals would have involved having the league have some finals from MCG on those Sundays too. I think if you look at the crowd in stands most of people in this video are people born in 1920's, 1930's and 1940's. I think that is the generation that was most passionate about the VFA and obviously if they took their kids along that born in 1950's that generation was probably the last hurrah for VFA having a good following each Sunday.

[@radic888]

What’s the host Phil’s last name?

[@TimmyTickle]

Gibbs (Ian the stats man is his son)

[@radic888]

@@TimmyTickle Thanks.

[@sentimentalbloke185]

He was originally from tassie & started on radio in the 1940s. Moved to tv when Channel 0 (10) began in 1964. He died 5 years ago at the age of 88.

[@nickhansen3127]

Phillip Gibbs was one of the most important figures in the media coverage of football. I also had the pleasure of meeting him to discuss a possible career in the media. I didn't become a commentator but was a journalist for more than 30 years This included several years covering sport with part of the time compiling a weekly column about Coburg coached by my idol Alex Jesaulenko.

[@radic888]

@@nickhansen3127 Thank you for that.