Bruce McAvaney, Anthony Hudson and Stephen Quartermain: the voices of football warm up for the AFL grand final

They are the September specialists.

Leading AFL commentators Bruce McAvaney, Anthony Hudson and Stephen Quartermain have called nearly 50 grand finals between them and provided memorable soundtracks to some of the game’s biggest moments.

The trio are gearing up for another finals series with McAvaney leading Channel Seven’s coverage, Hudson spearheading for Fox Footy and Quartermain calling the action on AFL Nation radio. McAvaney called his first grand final on television in 1991, and on the eve of his 18th decider, tells Domain Review he still gets nervous.

“I still get a combination of excitement and anxiety. ‘Have I done enough? Am I well prepared? I hope I call well’,” McAvaney says.

“You put pressure on yourself to perform. There’s an anxiety with me and the only time it actually leaves is when my headphones are on and I’m calling. I feel relaxed then.

“I’m still excited every time I go to a match to call it. That’s never left me, I don’t think it ever does.”

Every AFL grand final is a unique tale.

“Each has a great story, fantastic outcome for the winner, harrowing loss for the loser, stakes are high and that’s what grand finals are all about. Some games are close finishes and incredibly exciting, some are won half-way through the third quarter but just as important in terms of the story.”

McAvaney’s preparation is meticulous. His formula draws on history, form and stats, is added to by Seven Sport statistician Josh Kay, then handwritten.

He likens himself to an octopus and every tentacle hold a vital piece of information. “I have my own system,’’ he explains.

‘‘It’s a combination of being well organised, having everything at your fingertips but not forgetting there’s a match taking place. And when it comes to finals you do a bit extra.”

McAvaney has a September dream of his own and it involves two traditional rivals, Richmond and Collingwood, meeting on that last Saturday.

“I reckon we’re due for an inner-Melbourne, big club grand final. The excitement in Melbourne would be unbelievable.”

If Quartermain had a dollar for every time someone recited his own line to him, he’d be rich. In the dying seconds of the 2005 grand final, West Coast had entered its forward line when Sydney’s Leo Barry leaped in from the side to take the game-saving mark, to Quartermain’s call from the box: “One last roll of the dice … Leo Barry, you star!”

Quartermain says: “You’ll walk down the street and someone will yell out of a car, ‘Leo Barry, you star!’ It’s fantastic. I’m just glad I didn’t stuff it up.

“It’s not a term I’d ever used or have used after, it just came out of my mouth. It was so tense, we didn’t have the countdown clock so I had no idea how long there was to go. I’m just glad I did the moment justice.”

Quartermain began calling on radio in 1995 then was part of a memorable run of grand finals when Channel Ten netted broadcasting rights in 2002.

“There’d been a string of blow-outs then – as soon as Ten took over they became close, we had a string of them decided in the last five minutes,’’ he says.

“Sydney and West Coast had an amazing rivalry, they were brutal, dour affairs but gripping to watch and call.”

A passionate Hawthorn supporter, the 56-year-old hasn’t called a Hawks final. He stepped away from the commentary box while presenting Ten News, missing the 2013-15 trifecta, while the 2008 triumph was the first year Channel Seven broadcasted the match as part of its rotation with Ten. Quartermain thinks this year could be the year.

“Hawthorn or Collingwood would give Richmond a run for its money, that would be brilliant and my commentator’s dream.”

Grand final week is full of traditions and Hudson has his own.

As part of his preparation, the 47-year-old, who’s called 20 grand finals for TV and radio, watches last year’s match.

“It just reminds me of what’s to come. Finals are definitely different to call – there’s so much more at stake. You’re also trying to capture the colour of the day,’’ he says.

“You really have to respect the preparation.

“When the unexpected happens, that’s as much what the prep’s for, as well as helping paint the picture and giving the audience the knowledge they need.”

Hudson himself has enjoyed some memorable finals moments and coined the phrase, “Who would have thought the sequel would be as good as the original?” when West Coast, after losing to Sydney in 2005, got revenge the following year.

“The grand final is all about moments – the tension is greater, the outcome and meaning of it is elevated so much, and you feel that in the call,’’ Hudson explains. “It’s a real balance between going too hard and trying to keep calm and sticking to your disciplines to make sure you know who all the players are and where they’re going.

“The intensity of the last few minutes of a close game, you want to do a great job but need to remain professional, get names right and hope you come up with the right line at the right time.”

UNFORGETTABLE COMMENTARY

“JESAULENKO, YOU BEAUTY”

MIKE WILLIAMSON

It seems only too fitting that Carlton legend Alex Jesaulenko’s mark of the century (above), and commentator Mike Williamson’s iconic call of it, came in a grand final – the Blues’ 1970 victory over arch nemesis Collingwood.

Jezza’s spectacular grab, using Magpies ruckman Graeme Jenkin as a stepladder, came in the second quarter on the wing position on the members stand side at the MCG.

As well as becoming footy’s most famous catchcry, that mark has been painted on canvas, featured in song, was the centrepiece of Toyota’s memorable moments TV commercials and replicated in backyards all over the country.●

“THE FAT LADY”

REX HUNT

Picking just one classic line from Hunt is like choosing a favourite child. During his halcyon days on 3AW radio, the Richmond premiership player turned fisherman would unleash “The Fat Lady” ode – “it’s overrrrrrrrrrrr” – as a team drew away to win a match. “The Fat Lady’s sung” came to have more meaning that the final siren itself.

Fans at various grounds would be treated to a live rendition as Hunt flung opened the commentary box windows and erupted into song.

His “Yabbblett” call for the thrilling highlights reel that was the career of Geelong’s Gary Ablett senior (above), then junior, comes in a very close second. ●

“CENTIMETRE PERFECT”

DENNIS COMETTI

The grand caller from the west crafted many Cometti-isms during his dazzling 40-year commentating career, which came to a close at the end of 2016. Many of his unique phrases were coined during the glory days of the 1990s.

‘‘Centimetre perfect’’ was not only Cometti’s unique measurement of the perfect kick, but the name of his 2004 book.

Other Cometti fan favourites include “like a cork through the ocean” – Cometti’s description of Eagle Peter Wilson’s brilliant goal against Geelong in the 1992 grand final (above). ●

“SPECIAL”

BRUCE MCAVANEY

The perfect example of one word being linked to one man.

The doyen of sports broadcasting often used this term, with emphasis and gusto, to summarise the outstanding moments by the best players through the 1990s, and also inspired many impersonations – most notably by comedian Andrew Startin, known for taking off the likes of McAvaney, legend Sam Newman and journalist Mike Sheahan.

In recent years, “delicious” has come to be McAvaney’s most famous catchphrase – a term to describe his affection for the silky skills of Hawthorn premiership star Cyril Rioli (above). ●