Paul Roos @ On the Couch

[707]

On the Couch is the best AFL commentary show on TV. Paul Roos has now joined Gerard Healy and Mike Sheahan replacing James Hird. All three of those were intelligent, insightful and informative over the last couple of years.

Debut show tonight by Roos and he was excellent, just all class. I really hope he is not tempted by silly offers from other clubs to return to coaching next and that he stays with the Swans in his current capacity.

From memory, Robert Walls preceded James Hird on the show and Walls has to be the most over rated commentator on the game. I rarely find him insightful and his ignorance of non Victorian teams is embarrasing.

Congratulations Roosy, On the Couch maintains its high standard of recent years.

[liz]

It was a solid debut by Roos tonight. I enjoyed his subtle dig - couched in terms of praising Buckley - at star players who don't think it is necessary to do any apprenticeship as an assistant coach before stepping into a senior role. Presumably it was aimed at Hird and Voss, but Healy let the comment go through to the keeper.

My one criticism of the format of the show, not applicable to tonight's edition, is the special guest spot. The interviews are usually very soft and hence incredibly dull. The Cousins one from last year is the one exception I can think of. And they take up 15 minutes or so which could be better used, IMO, talking about the previous week's games. Usually there a couple of games which barely rate a mention, which is a shame.

[royboy42]

It was a solid debut by Roos tonight. I enjoyed his subtle dig - couched in terms of praising Buckley - at star players who don't think it is necessary to do any apprenticeship as an assistant coach before stepping into a senior role. Presumably it was aimed at Hird and Voss, but Healy let the comment go through to the keeper.

My one criticism of the format of the show, not applicable to tonight's edition, is the special guest spot. The interviews are usually very soft and hence incredibly dull. The Cousins one from last year is the one exception I can think of. And they take up 15 minutes or so which could be better used, IMO, talking about the previous week's games. Usually there a couple of games which barely rate a mention, which is a shame.

I dunno Liz.
Granted some of those interviews are just a free kick for the interviewees, but there have been a few squirmy moments for them.
The barely contained antagonism from Clarkson , the 'laugh it all off' approach from Ross Lyon and the patronising 'let me explain it to you plebs' approach from Malthouse all add value to that segment.
The constant rotation of Collingwood and St Kilda platers is irksome, but the interview has sufficient value that I look forward to most.
Roos fitted seamlessly into the scene last night. He is a media genius, and will not hold back as the year goes on , and he gets further away from the actual action in the box and on the field. He was already amazingly objective..on night one!

[Margie]

This is my favourite football analysis show. Intelligent people discussing relevant issues. I like Mike Sheehan for his sheer knowledge of the game, Gerard is an excellent host and Roosy just fitted in perfectly.

Roos has a way of expressing his opinion without being mean-spirited about it. I agree that as he puts more distance between coaching and commentating, his already objective approach will improve even further.

[Doctor]

I thought it was a great debut from Roosy last night. Mike Sheehan said at one point that it was like Roos had been on the show for three years (it had been about 25 mins). It also occurred to me that on the highest quality AFL chat show currently on tele we now have two former Swans, including a Brownlow medallist and a Premiership coach, and arguably the only Melbourne press writer who has enough big picture perspective to have a bit of an interest in us. I'd like to think we'd be well represented on the show this year!

I reckon the choice of pink shirt from Roosy was an amusing dig at Hird and Sheehan as well.

[Lucky Knickers]

Roos was superb - very relaxed on the TV and in that format looked a treat and he speaks so frankly.
Agree with Liz - I'm not a fan of the interview would prefer more analysis of the games just gone particularly now they have quality coach and given the substitute should provide plenty of discussion fodder - looking forward to it.

[Mr Magoo]

After watching afl360 and afl teams you really get to appreciate how much better on the couch is.

AFL teams must be one of the most melbourne centric afl shows on tv. Adding brad johnson instead of liam pickering is a step in the right direction (mind you im no fan of johnson but he couldnt possibly be more one sided than pickering) but taylor is a fair dinkum tool.

Johnson unfortunately looks like hes still too close to the players and his old club and his opinions are just not very interesting or insightful

On the other hand roos was interesting, he was prepared to express an opinion without being too offensive and he just has a whole heap of charm. If players didnt want to play for him, they are kidding themselves.

[ugg]

For those who don't have FOX, you can listen to the audio podcast. It comes out 1 or 2 days after the broadcast

On The Couch - Fox Sports Australia - Download free podcast episodes by Fox Sports Australia on iTunes.

[penga]

Bring back Barnesy on League Teams. That was the best show on television; let alone AFL-oriented programming.

[Nico]

After watching afl360 and afl teams you really get to appreciate how much better on the couch is.

AFL teams must be one of the most melbourne centric afl shows on tv. Adding brad johnson instead of liam pickering is a step in the right direction (mind you im no fan of johnson but he couldnt possibly be more one sided than pickering) but taylor is a fair dinkum tool.

Johnson unfortunately looks like hes still too close to the players and his old club and his opinions are just not very interesting or insightful

On the other hand roos was interesting, he was prepared to express an opinion without being too offensive and he just has a whole heap of charm. If players didnt want to play for him, they are kidding themselves.

Johnson = Luke Darcy. Darcy was exactly the same. The greatest fence sitter of all time, and seemed intent on saying the right things to ensure he kept in with the boys and didn't get ejected from the AFL Gravy Train.

[Albert Park]

Well done Paul . A new Standard of wisdom and you were very patient with Mike Sheehan. Not that he deserves it

[Go Swannies]

Hird was excellent last year - especially after Walls. Roos is as clever as Hird but has the status of a Premiership coach while Hird was just a clever ex captain.

It was interesting to see how the others deferred to him as they have been reporting, he's been doing.

[Bloody Hell]

Thought he did a very good job. Seems to have aged in the off season!

[RogueSwan]

I wasn't sure whether to start a new thread or add to this one.
Roos has been busy at the keyboard this week -
Former Sydney Swans coach Paul Roos gives his verdict for the opening round of AFL action and
The golden rules of AFL coaching . I thought this was interesting

I tried to be light-hearted in the coach's box, but when the siren went, it was like nothing I'd ever experienced as an assistant coach.

NAB Cup is nothing more than a glorified training run compared with the two hours of a premiership match.

There is so much going on that your head spins and now I look back on it, probably my best achievement was bluffing the others in the box that I was completely under control. The truth is there were times I had no idea what was happening.

[Doctor]

Roosy on the Demons' recruitment and retention strategy on OTC last night "The draft is not a panacea to success." Gold!