Gerard Healy

[plumber dan]

I taped last night's game as I was lucky enough to be at the SCG. After watching the game today I have to say, what is Gerard Healy's problem with the Swans? He never says anything positive about them, and when put on the spot about the Swans aggression and attack on the ball, he gives grudging praise. This from a guy who won three best and fairest and a Brownlow with the Club.
I have to say Brisbane's first two goals were from very dubious free kicks, so I was very pleased to hear Richard Colless speak out about them.

[liz]

It's possible that he deliberately errs towards the other side because of his link with the Swans, not wanting to fall into the category of commentators who's bias for their team is annoying.

IIRC he was one of those ex-players who gathered out in the middle of the SCG back in 1996, several hours over that PF win over the Bombers. I suspect he still has a real soft spot for the Swans and would love us to achieve the ultimate.

As far as praise for yesterday goes, it was a strange game in that we convincingly beat the in-form three time premiers yet it is hard to pick out a single Swan who had an outstanding game.

[midaro]

Originally posted by liz
It's possible that he deliberately errs towards the other side because of his link with the Swans, not wanting to fall into the category of commentators who's bias for their team is annoying.

Agree. Spot on.

[Snowy]

I hear Healy on a nightly basis and I believe he has a soft spot for the Swans, I guess he doesn't want to sound biased but he was a bit critical last night and seemed to call for Lions frees. It is a bit like someone umpiring their own side, you tend to overcompensate.

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Snowy
It is a bit like someone umpiring their own side, you tend to overcompensate.

So does that mean that virtually all the umps at senior level are Swans supporters???

[Snowy]

funny one, I was talking more when you did it as an amateur, and let's face it we don't always know who they barrack for, though Allan who umpired the Geelong game which many Melbourne pundits thought Sydney was robbed in, was a Cats fan. I suspect Colless agrees with you (lol)

[Damien]

I have always felt Gerard was pretty fair.

I believe on shows like "On the Couch" he can actually show a pro Swans bias and defends them where necessary.

[Damien]

Just watched the half-time wrap of the West Coast/Bulldogs match on Fox Footy and Gerard gave us the biggest wrap of them all!

Said we were brilliant and tough and "scared the Brisbane 5".

(Gerard is probably my fav ever Swan btw lol, loved watching him the '80s, so I have to defend him lol)

[Benevolent Ert]

Also, he tends to be pretty pro-Swans on his nightly radio show on 3AW

[penga]

i have seen next to no footage of healy when he was playing, however i did see some on the winners with flares or something like that. i thought mcveigh is looking very similar to him. he wore no. 3 as well IIRC...

any old school supporters agree with this?

[NMWBloods]

Hard to say yet as McVeigh is still a bit slow (in terms of temp of the game). Healy used to run beautifully with the ball and had a superb kick, as well as being a great reader of the game.

[penga]

i dont necessarily mean his ability, more or less he has a similar kicking style and running style

[SWANSBEST]

I agree totally with NMWBloods . Healy was a very classy player who had skills in abundance combined cwith a certain degree of toughness. He was a pleasure to watch.

[Nico]

Healy was a very gutsy player. Was very good at dropping back into the "hole' and putting his body on the line. A true midfielder of the top order. Ran all day.

I believe he barracks for the Swans. He certainly seems to know a lot about them and sounds like he still has close contacts with the club.

He is a polished media presenter and is excellent in his role in On the Couch, and knows his stuff without being a "know it all".

[NMWBloods]

Originally posted by penga
i dont necessarily mean his ability, more or less he has a similar kicking style and running style

Not sure. I'd need to watch old footage again as I can't totally recall Healy's exact style.