What I See with Peter Fiorenza: The special privilege that is calling the GNFL alongside Glenn Barndon

The local football season is finally here. It seems like a lifetime since we saw Brigades eclipse Railways to take out the 2025 premiership in what was a terrific grand final. As always, my good mate Glenn Barndon and I are all set to broadcast the footy for another year. I’m not sure, but I think this will be about the 25th year in succession that I have had the pleasure of calling football here in Geraldton, alongside Glenn. It has been simply fabulous. Together, we have seen some great teams and times, witnessed some outstanding grand finals and had the privilege of watching youngsters cut their teeth in the GNFL and move onto the big time. I’ve been so lucky to see the likes of AFL players Josh Kennedy, Harry Taylor, Liam Ryan, Jamie Cripps and Liam Anthony hone their craft here and take it to the highest level. Watching both Jaegar O’Meara and Jack Martin dominate in consecutive local grand finals was nothing short of top shelf. There are also those who have moved onto admirable WAFL careers, such as Mitch Boyle, Aiden Tropiano, Brad Cooper and Jack Perham just to name a few. In fact, Tropiano went on to take out the best and fairest medal in the SANFL, the Magarey Medal, after moving on to have a significant stint in South Australia. To have a front seat to watch the careers of these individuals and many others has been more than special. And this experience has been made all the more special by sitting alongside Glenn. Glenn’s knowledge of and rapport in the GNFL is second to none. I vividly remember the first day I called a match. I regularly lost the flow of play, and constantly fumbled over my words. To be honest, I was all over the place. Bloody hopeless. At the end of the debacle, I thought whether I should even continue. But with steady, cool and patient tutoring, Glenn greatly helped me to reach something that today is perhaps acceptable. Glenn Barndon’s broadcasting spans more than 40 years, and his general involvement goes back even further. In some respects, Glenn holds the mantle of “Mr Football” a little reluctantly, but many will agree it is certainly appropriate for a man who has eaten and slept GNFL football most of his life. On top of all that, he is a good bloke. He is one of the most affable people I know — approachable, disarming and someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously. Glenn, I look forward to another great season calling our great game with you. Peter Fiorenza hosts Sport Shed Saturday (9am-noon) and Fiorenza on Sunday (10am-noon) on Radio MAMA. He can also be heard on Radio Geraldton