By Travis Parnaby
Fervent, brash and opinionated - Phil Cleary is an icon of Victorian football.
Cleary is this year’s recipient of the VFL Media Award for his outstanding coverage as a commentator with ABC TV and a columnist at Inside Football.
A shocked and excited Cleary collected the honour at last Friday's VFL Grand Final at Telstra Dome.
Post a stellar playing career that netted 205 matches and 318 goals and back-to-back flags as a coach with Coburg, Cleary has successfully carved out a niche in the media.
He was the ABC’s Match of the Day expert commentator from 1988 to 2006, the first five of those years whilst still coaching his beloved Coburg.
These days, he remains a vital component of the call team and acts as a boundary rider and a host of the excellent Footy Flashbacks series.
His knowledge, insight and bombast make him unique.
ABC TV colleague Darren Boyd said Cleary’s passion endeared him to both interview subjects and viewers alike.
“Phil’s got a different angle, he’s always got a different take on things,” he said.
“He really tries to get opinions out of people and discuss opinions and I think that really brings the best out of people.
“You don’t always agree with him but he excites debate.”
Boyd said Cleary’s persona and ability to engage with people from all walks of life was of great benefit to the profile of the VFL.
“Phil’s’ one of the most famous people to have played VFA/VFL footy,” he said.
“Obviously, he’s been a player and a coach and is now a life member and he’s been into battle with people from all sorts of backgrounds and he’s loved every minute of it.
“He represents a bridge from the past into the current times.
“I think he’s inspired by good footy, by a contest and loves to see people do well.
“I think that again it comes back to his passion about the competition and wanting to spread the word and get people to enjoy what he’s enjoyed for many years.”
AFL Victoria Marketing Manager Peter Harley applauded Cleary for his forthright nature and his genuine love for the people who make the VFL tick.
“We don’t always like what Phil says but at least he says it,” Harley said.
“Phil has been an enormous attribute to the ABC TV VFL coverage for more than 20 years and is synonymous with the competition.
“His contribution is peerless.”
Last Modified on 13/01/2009 18:04