Coodabeen Champions
Encyclopedia
The Coodabeen Champions are an Australian comedy team with several programs currently broadcast on ABC
Radio. These programs are the Coodabeens Footy Show (Saturdays between 11.00 am - 1.00 pm) on 774 ABC Melbourne
, The Idlers (Saturdays between 6.30 and 8.00 pm) and The Coodabeen Champions Sundays (Sunday nights between 6.30 and 9.00 pm) which are both broadcast nationally on ABC Local Radio
. The Sunday night show was often pre-empted for sports broadcasts but could still be heard over the internet on the ABC's website. At the end of December 2008 the ABC announced that the Sunday night show was "untenable" because of the conflict with sports broadcasting, but the Saturday night show would continue. The Idlers program on Saturday evenings is also broadcast outside of the football season and deals with travel around Australia and its wealth of destinations. The program's team consists of members of the Coodabeens plus "Camp Oven Governor" Scott Watkins-Sully and others. In 2008 it was re-named The Saturday Soiree. The Coodabeens members often refer to "Young Andy"; this is Coodabeens' producer Andy Bellairs.
and has twice moved to 3AW
. It is now broadcast primarily on 774 ABC Melbourne
and ABC Victoria. It is mainly focused on Australian rules football
, with the Coodabeens discussing current sports events and news in a humorous manner, also interviewing numerous retired football players and commentators. Its current members are Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover, Greg Champion
and Billy Baxter). Former members of the group include Tony Leonard
and Simon Whelan
(now a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
).
The show includes various regular segments, including:
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Radio. These programs are the Coodabeens Footy Show (Saturdays between 11.00 am - 1.00 pm) on 774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. Originally known by its callsign 3LO, it began transmission on 13 October 1924 – Melbourne's second radio station after 3AR.-History:...
, The Idlers (Saturdays between 6.30 and 8.00 pm) and The Coodabeen Champions Sundays (Sunday nights between 6.30 and 9.00 pm) which are both broadcast nationally on ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
. The Sunday night show was often pre-empted for sports broadcasts but could still be heard over the internet on the ABC's website. At the end of December 2008 the ABC announced that the Sunday night show was "untenable" because of the conflict with sports broadcasting, but the Saturday night show would continue. The Idlers program on Saturday evenings is also broadcast outside of the football season and deals with travel around Australia and its wealth of destinations. The program's team consists of members of the Coodabeens plus "Camp Oven Governor" Scott Watkins-Sully and others. In 2008 it was re-named The Saturday Soiree. The Coodabeens members often refer to "Young Andy"; this is Coodabeens' producer Andy Bellairs.
Coodabeens Footy Show
The program began in 1981 on 3RRR3RRR
3RRR is a popular Australian community radio station, based in Melbourne. It is the largest per capita subscribed radio station in the world....
and has twice moved to 3AW
3AW
3AW is a talkback radio station in Melbourne, Australia on 693 kHz AM. It began transmission on 22 February 1932 as Melbourne's fifth commercial radio station.-History:...
. It is now broadcast primarily on 774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. Originally known by its callsign 3LO, it began transmission on 13 October 1924 – Melbourne's second radio station after 3AR.-History:...
and ABC Victoria. It is mainly focused on Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, with the Coodabeens discussing current sports events and news in a humorous manner, also interviewing numerous retired football players and commentators. Its current members are Jeff Richardson, Ian Cover, Greg Champion
Greg Champion
Greg Champion is an Australian songwriter, guitarist, radio personality and athlete.Born in Benalla, Victoria, Champion is most recognised for his work as part of the Coodabeen Champions as a songwriter and guitarist. Greg often appears on the program writing songs about both Aussies rules football...
and Billy Baxter). Former members of the group include Tony Leonard
Tony Leonard
Anthony "Tony" Leonard is an Australian radio presenter.Originally from Seddon, Victoria, Leonard was an Australian rules footballer who played for the North Melbourne reserves....
and Simon Whelan
Simon Whelan
Simon Whelan was appointed judge on 17 March 2004 in the Supreme Court of Victoria, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Victoria...
(now a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
).
The show includes various regular segments, including:
- Covie's Quiz: a football-related quiz run by Ian Cover.
- Guru Bob: a fictional GuruGuruA guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
- he has belonged to various religions - who claims to relate advice to Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
players and coaches who "visit the temple", often giving them comical spins on well-known philosophical quotes as this advice. He is described as the Coodabeens' Special Adviser on Football Spirituality and has released numerous books of football quotes. For example, "It says in The Bible, Book of Shane 3:11: 'It is harder to win a Premiership, than it is to put a needle into the eye of a camel'." - Greg's Songs: Greg Champion, a singer-songwriterSongwriterA songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, performs parodies of popular songs and relates them to Australian rules footballers. - Outer Barcoo: regional Australian amateur or semi-professional football teams are profiled, with a player or coach interviewed.
- Torch's Footy Talkback: a fictional talk radioTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
segment, with callers phoning in with various football questions, rumours or thoughts, often in the form of humorous and subtle attacks against football personalities.