EXCLUSIVE: FORMER St Kilda coach and now commentator, Grant Thomas, has been sensationally sacked by radio station SEN.
Thomas was told late this afternoon by station boss, Barry Quick, that his contract had been terminated because of financial reasons.
It's believed, however, Thomas' constant ridiculing of umpires and the AFL was a concern to league officials and had officials had voiced those concerns to SEN powerbrokers.
SEN is currently in talks with the AFL about their next media deal, which centres around the radio station calling games of football.
Thomas, who is special comments person on match-day and central to the station's preview program on Saturday morning, could not be immediately contacted.
More to come
GT sacked again
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kosifantutti23
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GT sacked again
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/ ... 42,00.html
Furtius Quo Rdelious
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Devilhead
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SteveStevens66
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Not a fan of GT. Never was. But this is deeply troubling. I've said it before on this site--the media is totally in bed with the AFL. That's why the criticism of the umpires, except when the most obvious errors are made, is tepid at best. It is also why there is barely anyone who criticizes the impending Western Sydney and GC fiascos.
No media outlets want to rock the (money) boat and if any commentators or journos do not toe the party line the AFL can have them sacked, as appears to be the case here.
It is chilling how the AFL have been allowed to evolve into the monster it is.
No media outlets want to rock the (money) boat and if any commentators or journos do not toe the party line the AFL can have them sacked, as appears to be the case here.
It is chilling how the AFL have been allowed to evolve into the monster it is.
Last edited by SteveStevens66 on Mon 11 May 2009 8:41pm, edited 1 time in total.
Carna Saints!!!
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JEANLUCPICARD
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As much as I always don't agree with GT and was not always a big fan of his, I do think that it is refreshing that he say's it as he see's it. There is not enough of that in Footy anymore.
I agreed on his call on Josh Fraser, I went to the North v Pies game two weeks ago and he doesn't put in for the hard ball.
I agreed on his call on Josh Fraser, I went to the North v Pies game two weeks ago and he doesn't put in for the hard ball.
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Legendary
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Yup. Will be fireworks.F_Q_F wrote:Is Footy Classified on tonight?
This is a disgrace. I don't like GT, but this is stupid.
Email SEN management: bcamm@sen.com.au OR enquiries@sen.com.au
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JEANLUCPICARD
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perfectionist
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iwantmeseats
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This is not the first time the AFL has stepped in (and make no bones about it, they did). Tony Shaw was forced to apologise on air a couple of years ago for making comments the AFL did not like. He apologised, but openly told viewers that he was only apologising because he was forced to by the radio station execs because of the threat of puling the rights to the footy from 3AW.
The AFL rules with an iron fist and the only thing that surprised me about this decision is that it took them this long to put the screws into Thomas. I am not a fan AT ALL of Thomas's and I do believe that he took his comments too far. However, that said, he is never going to get another job in this town in the media as long as Andrew Demetriou is at the helm of the AFL. Demetriou made if perfectly clear what his opinions of Thomas is when Thomas was coaching the Saints. All I can say about this is thank goodness he is no longer our coach!!
The AFL rules with an iron fist and the only thing that surprised me about this decision is that it took them this long to put the screws into Thomas. I am not a fan AT ALL of Thomas's and I do believe that he took his comments too far. However, that said, he is never going to get another job in this town in the media as long as Andrew Demetriou is at the helm of the AFL. Demetriou made if perfectly clear what his opinions of Thomas is when Thomas was coaching the Saints. All I can say about this is thank goodness he is no longer our coach!!
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BAM! (shhhh)
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Hard to judge, it's not exactly the first time Thomas has found himself on the wrong end of a pink slip...
However, there's a definate story there if the innuendo has merit, if there's a journo who wants to track it down rather than relying on the AFL drip feed that all too many of the ex-AFL player/Coaches in the media rely on.
It's rumours like this that make it so difficult for the umpires to ever get their head above water in public opinion... whether true or not, without addressing the lack of trust, every time something like this comes up it's like scratching a scab, and all the conspiracy theories ride again.
However, there's a definate story there if the innuendo has merit, if there's a journo who wants to track it down rather than relying on the AFL drip feed that all too many of the ex-AFL player/Coaches in the media rely on.
It's rumours like this that make it so difficult for the umpires to ever get their head above water in public opinion... whether true or not, without addressing the lack of trust, every time something like this comes up it's like scratching a scab, and all the conspiracy theories ride again.
"Everything comes to he who hustles while he waits"
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bigcarl
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The media is only in bed with the AFL because they have to be. They hold all the cards in regards to the rights to the football and the media is at the AFL's mercy. End of story. Won't ever change and the truth in regards to this situation will never come to light. AFL will continue to deny any involvement, SEN will continue to trot out the 'financial reasons' line and the AFL will continue on their merry way. it will be world domination next......
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ace
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AFL an abbreviation for corruption.
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When I was a young child, I knew that I knew so much about so much.
Now that I am old and know so much more, I know that I know so much about so little, and so little about so much.
If you are not engaging AI actively and aggressively, you are doing it wrong.
You are not going to lose your job to AI.
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