The Serve

Tarrant promo silly but not insulting

Things must be really tough at Seven. They’re now resorting to vilifying a player to promote their Friday Night Football coverage. Perhaps as an attempted diversion to Seven’s own struggles in 2007, Chris Tarrant is seen missing goals for both the Dockers and the Magpies in a delightful split screen. A piece of technology that came into television about thirty years ago. For Seven’s AFL, that seems about right.

It’s like an ad for the circus. Come and see the freak show. Particularly intriguing since this is an attractive match up. Slapstick should be saved for Melbourne and Richmond in round 12. In fact let’s write a delightful promo for them right now:

It’s the battle of the titans. Melbourne against Richmond. A game Demons and Tigers fans have been waiting all year for: The chance to actually win a match. There may only be one goal kicked all night, and with a bit of luck, Seven’s cameras will be focused on that magical moment. With a bit of luck.

Copyrighted.

Ok, the Tarrant ad is silly. But Fremantle complaining and calling the AFL?

Oh C’mon.

Tarrant has a problem kicking for goal. Fact. Would the Dockers want to censor commentary as well? If he’s kicking 1.6, should Bruce refrain from saying ‘Tarrant is having a shocker’? Would be fantastic if Bruce would wait for Tarrant to miss one, then say ‘Wayne Carey would have got that’.

The Tarrant promo is not great television. It’s doubtful a bloke missing sitters would inspire the casual fan to sit through three hours of football. However it’s Seven’s right though to promote a match any way they want. The Dockers are eleventh. They have better things to worry about.