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Hall of Fame Welcomes Shane Clohesy
Shane Clohesy joined the Kangaroos in 1999, so this year was Shane's 10th with the Kangaroos. He initially showed up to a game in 1999, the second year of the club, and as the story goes, he wandered over to the commentary booth, volunteered his services, and the rest is proverbial history. It took no time at all for the club to recruit Shane as the full time commentator for all home games. Shane is best known for his color commentary at the Kangaroos home games where he easily earned the moniker, THE MOUTH OF THE SOUTH. He has only missed a couple of home games in 10 years and the game is just not the same without him. It is one thing to call a game and merely say what happened. Shane brings a joie de vive to color commentary, truly adding the "color" in his own unique style. Whether it starts with "And the big me fly" as he calls a ruck, or needles Craig Warner, one of our senior umpires by calling him "Pops Warner, the oldest umpire in footy", or he celebrates a Kangaroos goal with a "and he splits the uprights with a hey diddle diddle", you have not experienced a footy game in the US if you have not heard the Mouth of the South.
Shane was also instrumental in getting USFooty to begin using color commentary at the US Nationals Tournaments when in 2001 he talked the staff at the race track in Washington, DC (the site of that year's tournament) into using their PA system so he could call the Grand Final match. Commentary has been a staple of the US Nationals ever since.
Shane has served the Kangaroos for seven years on the Board of Directors, three of them as President. He was the driving force behind the Club Manual and the club structure that still defined the club to this day. He was instrumental in growing the Australian Festival in the early years, serving on the Festival Committee until it moved to Florida. He was even pressed into duty as player in the Barassi Cup in 2001 when the Roos were short a couple of players on that trip to New York.
Yes, Shane is a Kangaroo, through and through. In fact, it is hard to imagine playing a game without the Mouth of the South calling the game in the booth and that is testament enough. Congratulations, Shane, on your induction into the Hall of Fame.
Meet Hall of Famer: Shane Clohesy
Club Member since 1999
President, 3 (2001-2003)
Board Member, 7 (2000-2003, 2005-2007)
Australian Festival Committee, 5 (2000-2004)
Roo Games Called by the Mouth of the South: 58
Games played: 2 (under duress!)
Wife: Kristina
