SATURDAY at Cora Lynn was no different to any other home game at the Cobras’ nest - except a national audience listened in courtesy of the ABC.

The Coodabeen Champions comedy team set up camp at the picturesque ground and broadcast their two-hour show between 11am and 1pm from the venue, as part of its grass roots football celebration over the weekend.

With no AFL football on in Melbourne, it was the perfect opportunity for the team to get back to basics and they were not disappointed with the on-field action.

Regulars Billy Baxter, Ian Cover, Greg Champion and Jeff Richardson were joined by leading ABC commentator and Pakenham South local Drew Morphett, and peppered their regular segments with chats with both senior coaches in Dean Hendrickse and Chris Toner, together with an interview with Cora Lynn legend Michael Dillon before he took to the field in the club’s reserves, and his sister who is in the US.

The Coodabeens enjoyed Cora Lynn’s famous cupcakes, chatted to spectators and kept listeners around Australia informed about happenings on the field.

There was also a controversy to boot when the field umpire wiped visiting club Buln Buln’s entire first half score in the under 18s, after it was found via a head count that the Lyrebirds had one too many players on the field at the start of the third term.

The radio broadcasters loved the theatre surrounding the incident and said it was the first time they had witnessed such an event at any level.

League officials later vindicated the umpire’s decision and the Cobras went on to win the thirds clash by 13 points.

The show created good exposure for football in the district and grass roots football as a whole.

Turn to the Gazette football liftout for more.