AFL-Geelong: 2004 Season Highlights (2004)

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General		Extras
Category	Sports	Main Menu Audio & Animation
Rating
Year Of Production	2004
Running Time	105:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	None Given
Studio Distributor	Aust. Football Video Visual Entertainment Group	Starring	None Given
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$29.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	None	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    The 2005 AFL season is well and truly underway, and after Geelong's disappointing performance against the West Coast Eagles at Subiaco Oval last weekend, turning to last year's highlights package seems increasingly irrelevant. They say a week is a long time in politics, but it must surely be as long, if not longer, in football, especially considering the minutiae of the game the media and public fanatically debate, dissect and prognosticate on. 2004 was certainly a year of significant improvement for the Cats, acknowledged by their often sternest critic (and past champion) Sam Newman but, as coach Mark 'Bomber' Thompson would acknowledge, last season counted for less than precious little once the Sherrin struck the earth to herald his team's first game only a few weeks ago.

    Thompson, in my opinion the most personally impressive coach in the game at the moment, fields questions from another popular former Cat in Billy Brownless, as we follow the typical path through the twenty two home and away rounds and beyond. Thompson speaks candidly about the frustrations and joys of coaching what Brian Cook calls the AFL's only regional club (I suppose Adelaide just deserves its city status). Much has been made of the two Abletts playing for their father's old club - Gary Jr. being one of the stand-out players of last season, be it in a way (thankfully) completely different from his father.

    Cameron Ling and Matthew Scarlett are also frequently singled out for tremendous individual contributions to the team's impressive performances, but as with most teams who reach the finals, they are only a part of a well rounded and consistent squad, all of whom needed to fire for the team to perform as well as it did. Whatever happens this year, 2004 was certainly a triumphant return to form for a much maligned (particularly in my home state of W.A.) team.

Video

    The video transfer is generally very good. We are presented with an appropriately widescreen image, framed at approximately 1.78:1, with 16x9 enhancement.

    Sharpness and shadow detail are excellent. The interview footage intercut into the match footage is of a terrific clarity.

    Colours were realistically presented and there were no film artefacts to report.

    Grain and low level noise were hardly a problem. Some MPEG artefacts were noticeable on occasion, but again, nothing serious. Aliasing is slightly more of a problem - the grass shimmers a little on occasion, and railings and signs in the stands do cause some disturbance.

    All in all - what we'd expect from recent TV material.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track does its job well, and although the surrounds and subwoofer get little to do, there isn't too much to complain about.

    Dialogue was easy to hear in all but a few instances. Audio sync was excellent during the interviews.

    There were very few moments of any sort of distortion.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

    This release is playable on any PAL compatible system, and is likely only available from Aussie retailers.

    Geelong 2004 - Season Highlights is a professionally produced DVD with all the stuff Cats fans would want to see.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio is suitable.

    No extras.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall