A view with a difference

By Alison Zell

While most fans watch sports matches eagerly looking for where the ball will go next, the ABC’s Shannon Byrne has a very different vantage point, on the boundary as a sideline commentator for Grandstand radio.

“It’s quite bizarre – I now cannot watch sport the same because (of) what we do down on boundary.

“Say there’s a clash of bodies or a pack mark or they’re going in, I then study and watch the players as the ball goes off.

“You’re there to see if there’s an injury, to see if someone gets up limping, you look what happens behind the play.

“So the commentators and experts are still calling the play and just how marvellous the ball is flowing but I’m there looking to say, ‘I think he’s coming off with a limp, I reckon he’s hurt himself in that clash’.

“So you watch little things now, even if I’m just casually watching sport on TV or live, I’ll watch it so differently … I’m looking for any injuries or something the viewer and the listener won’t see.”

A talented sportswoman in her own right, Byrne grew up in Darwin and began watching AFL with her grandfather, a keen West Coast Eagles fan.

“I got my love from my grandfather and always watched it and then I actually played a couple of years of women’s AFL so that was pretty good,” she said.

“I got to play a couple of seasons so I’ve actually played the sport. I think that’s why I probably know it so well, being taught it.

“I was a ruckman and also played in the backline and centre half-forward so I’ve played and probably the difference between me and probably some other women in the game is I’ve played and even made the State team.”

Byrne began her broadcasting career in Darwin on their sports show, covering the Northern Territory Football League before moving to Wagga Wagga in southern NSW.

“From Darwin I got the gig with National Grandstand in Wagga and it was awesome because I looked after the Hume Football League, the Farrer Football League and the Riverina Football League so I had three Aussie Rules competitions to look after,” she said.

Now Byrne is in Sydney and is a sideline commentator for several AFL or Rugby League matches almost every weekend.

“I’m living the dream,” she said.

“Every weekend it’s the big time, I get to do AFL and NRL every weekend and that’s what I love about Sydney – one minute you could be doing Rugby League, one minute you could be broadcasting AFL, you could be out doing some rowing, you could be out doing an interview for Rugby Union or for baseball, so I think Sydney is pretty special.”

She names last year’s Preliminary Final as one of her favourite AFL highlights but said it isn’t just about the big wins.

“A big highlight would be last year with the Swans Collingwood in one of the final games because obviously they went on to win the flag so it was a big game at ANZ Stadium and they had to win to keep going through.

“I was also there when the GIANTS won their first game in Canberra so that was pretty special to be in the change rooms and be there getting interviews and having Powerade thrown on everyone, so it’s just the little things.

“It’s the team that’s struggling and then they get their first win, it’s teams that are going through to the finals … there’s so many.”

As the AFL celebrates Women’s Round this weekend, Byrne said the Round is important to recognise all women who have an impact and influence on the game.

“I think the significance is that it recognises women that have a role within the game, that’s everyone from administrators, to people on the board, trainers, runners,” she said.

“I think this year’s going to be extra special because we’re going to see the first sanctioned AFL women’s match.

“I’m very excited and think that is something pretty special and the girls that run out for that match. It’s going to be something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives … running out onto the MCG, actually playing, that’s pretty cool.

“I’m looking forward to that; it’s going to be a huge highlight.”