Drew draws

By Paul Dunlop
BREAKFAST had an extra bite for businesspeople last week with ABC sports commentator and local resident Drew Morphett urging employers to give youth a chance.
Morphett was a popular and entertaining guest speaker at the Cardinia Business Breakfast, held at the cultural centre in Pakenham.
About 100 guests sipped tea or coffee and enjoyed bacon and eggs while the TV and radio personality, who has a horse agistment property in Ballarto Road, gave a potted history of his career with the ABC and Channel 7.
“Give young kids a chance and if they ask questions please try and be helpful,” he said. “ You never know, they might one day own the bloody business.”
Morphett told of how as a youngster he worked with radio sport doyens Alan McGilvray and Norman May.
An early supervisor told the emerging Morphett how he had never made a mistake in 20 years of hiring people.
“Don’t you be the first,” he told Morphett.
It was advice well heeded. Morphett remains one of the most familiar voices on radio, in any season.
Despite being synonymous with the ABC’s football coverage, Morphett said cricket was the game closest to his heart. He said he grew up idolising Norman O’Neil and made his way as a commentator at the same time champions such as Dennis Lillee were carving their names into cricket history.
He recalled the Christopher Skase era at Channel 7 in the 1980s.
“We were picked up at home and driven to VFL Park at Waverley in stretch limos,” Morphett said. “I don’t know if anyone got paid but we had a great time doing it.”
He received special applause for an anecdote about Brisbane Lions coach Leigh Matthews visiting the Morphett property in Pakenham South.
“Leigh was on one of the horses in the dressage ring, going around in circles, and said he wouldn’t mind clicking it up a bit,” Morphett said.
“Riding out to the paddock, he gives the horse a dig in the ribs, the horse takes off at a 100 miles an hour and off went Leigh. I caught it beautifully on video camera and when he hit the ground I thought he was dead. I thought, ‘I’ve killed Leigh Matthews’.
“Fortunately, he got up and shook himself off, having left a fair hole in the ground. I told the crew at Talking Footy I had footage of Leigh falling off. They showed it about six times.”
Morphett said he enjoyed his years on television but loved being back on radio.
“I don’t do it for the accolades and at the ABC you don’t do it for the money, but I’ve been privileged to have the best seat in the house at sporting events around the world.
“I’ve talked golf with Peter Thomson, footy with Tony Lockett, Malcolm Blight, cricket with Keith Miller, Bob Simpson, Allan Border and Shane Warne. I’m having the time of my life.”