VETERAN sports broadcaster Drew Morphett, OAM, has died, aged 69.

Morphett, who began as a cadet with the ABC in Sydney in 1966, died suddenly at the Pakenham property he shared with his wife Karen while watching the Hawthorn-Western Bulldogs game.

media_camera Drew Morphett. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Long-time friend and colleague Tim Lane said he was deeply shocked by the news.

“We go back a long way. Drew was always the life of the party.’’

His friend Sandy Roberts, who met Morphett shortly after the 1980 Moscow Olympics, befriended Morphett and the late Stephen Phillips in a golden period of broadcasting in the 1980s.

“They were both larger than life characters, Drew having that sense of mischievous fun.

“He had a big personality, loved a party, could be occasionally cantankerous and often smiling,” he said.

“As a broadcaster he was ABC-trained and as such was more that mould, not a screamer or shouter, a controlled performer on both radio and television. He was a fine cricket broadcaster which he loved.

media_camera Channel 7 sport and football commentator Drew Morphett.

“He’s one of those blokes it’s really hard to believe he’s gone. He died exactly the way he and his wife ‘Kaz” would have wanted, other than 15 years too early.

“He was watching the footy with a glass of red, before falling asleep and dying in his sleep, suffering no pain because his eyes were closed.

“Sadly they were leaving on a cruise down from Amsterdam next Friday which he had proudly organised.

“He loved where they lived outside Pakenham on their farm where they had some very good horses spelling from prominent trainers such as Peter Moody and Mick Price. He raced a few and loved a punt.”

Morphett covered a wide variety of sports, including tennis, golf, basketball, cycling, hockey, diving, lawn bowls plus six Olympic Games.

media_camera A young Drew Morphett. media_camera Drew and wife Karen ‘Kaz’ Morphett.

But it was his cricket commentary and more particularly his hosting of the hugely popular.

The Winners on the ABC in the 1980s that he’s best remembered, The Winners most recently being rebooted on Fox Footy.

His long-time ABC colleague Tim Lane recalled a broadcaster who reflected the excitement and joy he got from sport in a very natural manner.

“Drew came to Hobart when I had started with the ABC in Launceston in the late 1970s and we first spoke in the phone. It was as if we had been lifelong friends, such was his open and warm manner to a new boy on the block,” he said.

media_camera Channel Seven football team/sports broadcasters in 1993: Back - Dennis Cometti, Peter McKenna, Don Scott, Bernie Quinlan, Peter Landy, Bill McDonald. Centre: Gerard Healy, Max Stevens, Ron Barassi, Bob Davis, Ross Glendinning, Cameron Williams. Front: Michael Roberts, Sandy Roberts, Bruce McAvaney, Drew Morphett and Tim Watson.

“And that’s how he commentated, that enthusiasm coming through to the listeners.

“He was direct and called a spade a shovel, his language being colourful and entertaining.”

Mike Sheahan knew Morphett for 40 years and regarded him as a sunny addition to the media industry

“It’s a real shock. Drew was always chirpy and would greet you with a big ‘hello son’. I loved the Drew Package. He was warm which not everyone in our industry is,” he said.

“He was someone you were pleased to see which came through in his calling.

“When he broadcast it was as if he couldn’t be in a happier place. He had a natural zest for life which many others would have envied.”

Morphett was awarded an Order of Australia in 2014 for his services to sports broadcasting

In one of his final tweets, the broadcaster was photographed sitting next to Melbourne Storm rugby league captain Cameron Smith on a flight back from Sydney last Sunday.

media_camera Drew Morphett flew back from Sydney and was seated next to Melbourne Storm legend Cam Smith. Picture: Twitter.

Morphett spent long periods with the ABC and Channel 7, and also worked as a host and guest speaker.

He started his professional career at the ABC in 1966 as an 18-year-old sports trainee reporter.

He became known to Melbourne audiences as a football commentator for radio and TV during the 1980s.

The Winners, a national replay program, became a favourite for 10 years.

Morphett covered other sports, including cricket for many years, and attended four Olympic Games specialising in cycling, hockey and diving.

In 1988 he joined Channel 7 and called the footy for the next 13 seasons, then joined the ABC Radio Grandstand team.

He received an Order of Australia Medal in 2014 for his contribution to broadcasting.

Cricket great and fellow commentator Dean Jones described Morphett as a great broadcaster and “a bloody GREAT bloke!”

ABC Radio footy commentator Mark Maclure said Morphett and his wife had been looking forward to travelling to Europe next Friday for a cruise holiday.

A Channel 7 Spokesman said: “Drew was a highly respected and regarded sports commentator across radio and television.

“He had a passion for broadcasting and his attention to detail is legendary.”

“During Drew’s 11 years at Channel 7, he was a valued member of the commentary team working on national and international sporting events.

“Drew’s family and friends are in our thoughts at this very sad time.”

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VALE DREW

Sad to hear we lost @drewmorphett last night. As a kid, listening to Drew call cycling on ABC's Flashing Pedals filled me with inspiration. pic.twitter.com/g6N4YUEYEM — Scott McGrory OAM (@ScottMcGrory) August 26, 2017

Terribly sad way to start the weekend with the passing of @drewmorphett A great broadcaster, early mentor and wonderful person #RIPDrew — Swatta (@WayneSchwass) August 26, 2017

Shocked at the passing of sports broadcaster Drew Morphett at the age of 69... condolences to Drew's family and friends — Peter Hitchener (@phitchener9) August 26, 2017

Worked with the legendary Drew Morphett & regarded him as a mentor, one of the best & thoughts with Karen #DrewMorphett #TheWinners pic.twitter.com/9CUXUSEMC0 — Jim Wilson (@JimWilsonTV) August 26, 2017

We've lost a friend and a very special sports caller. Drew Morphett ...onya mate, ever a cheeky smile, laughter and another glass of red. — jim maxwell (@jimmaxcricket) August 26, 2017

I feel so sad with the passing of Drew Morphett. A wonderful and generous broadcaster. I loved working with him. RIP. Kb — Kevin Bartlett (@KevinBartlett29) August 26, 2017

Vale Drew Morphett.

I am devastated. A great friend, mentor and childhood hero.

And one of Australia's best ever sports broadcasters. https://t.co/2HFtcazFba — Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) August 26, 2017

“I LOVED HIM AS A MATE”: SANDY ROBERTS

media_camera Tony Peek, Sandy Roberts and Drew Morphett at the Southern Cross Hotel celebrating Lou Richards' 50th year in football in 1991.

Commentator and long-time colleague Sandy Roberts paid tribute to his friend, who he described as “very professional, but also mischievous”.

“He was very versatile as a broadcaster,” Roberts said.

“I just loved him as a mate – he had a couple of standard sayings. He called a lot of Daicos goals and his catch-cry was “magnificent”.”

Roberts said he got the call at 6am this morning and revealed that Morphett and his wife Kaz had been planning to travel to Europe next week.

“It’s extraordinary if you get a call at 6 o’clock in the morning and one of your great mates is no longer with us,” he said on SEN.

“He was healthy, in a really good space. Financially he was secure.

“He and Kaz had planned next Friday to fly to Amsterdam and go on a 19-day river cruise. It’s just terrible.”

Roberts said that the Morphetts had been watching last night’s clash between Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs with Kaz deciding to head to bed at half time, leaving her husband “in his favourite chair, with a glass of red and his dogs — he loved his dogs”.

A few hours later, he said she rose to get a glass of water and thought Morphett was asleep, but soon realised that “something wasn’t right” and immediately called emergency services.

Roberts said he had “a long chat” with Kaz this morning, who had indicated her wishes for Morphett’s farewell in coming days.

“She doesn’t want a sombre service in a church— she wants it done perhaps at a room at the MCG and to turn it more into a roast,” he said.

“That’s what Drew would like. He wouldn’t want to be sitting there in church with people moping about.”

media_camera Rex Hunt. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

“HE WAS A DARN GOOD FELLOW”: REX HUNT

Veteran football broadcaster Rex Hunt said he was “in total shock” to hear of Morphett’s sudden passing.

The pair had worked together last month recording a segment on memorable long goals for The Footy Show and had spoken during the week.

“I was in total shock (when told), it was just so unexpected,” Hunt said.

“We had spoken during the week and he and his wife Kaz were preparing to get on a plane and go for a river cruise holiday.

“It just goes to show that you never, ever know. I feel so sad for Kaz.

“I am saddened but I remember him as a fantastic broadcaster for so many years, I remember him as a bushy-headed kid running the Winners on Channel 2, but more importantly I remember him as a darn good fella.”

Channel Seven Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin said Morphett was a great broadcaster.

“Drew was a highly respected broadcaster known for his relentless energy for sports broadcasting,” Martin said.

“He had had incredible enthusiasm but the key talent to his broadcasting was that his unique style and his voice were instantly identifiable on both radio and television.

“The moment you heard that voice you knew who you were listening to and that is the mark of a great broadcaster.”

Former Channel Seven executive producer of football and sport, Gordon Bennett, said he was shocked and saddened by the passing of a good friend.

“We worked very closely together doing the footy and the Olympics and became good personal friends,” Bennett said.

“He was so enthusiastic about everything. He was always there and always willing to have a go. He loved all sports.

“He put his whole heart and soul into the footy and was very definite in his ways and would always question you if he did not agree with what you were saying about the way we covered football.

“He was just a terrific bloke.”

MORPHETT’S BEST MOMENTS

COLLINGWOOD VS NORTH MELBOURNE (1979)

1979 VFL Preliminary Final The Winners

ian.royall@news.com.au