6PR footy commentator dropped

Tonight the footy is back but in Perth 6PR listeners won't be hearing long time commentator Graham 'Smokey' Dawson.

After 15 years calling AFL on the station he has been dropped and replaced by Basil Zempilas (who now does breakfast on 6PR) and Melbourne-based caller Shane McInnes.

Dawson says: "I have called football into Perth for 32 years. I am very disappointed with the way this has happened, but I am also saddened that I did not have the chance to say farewell to the fans."

6PR GM Martin Boylen says: "We have tried to beef up our coverage a bit. It is something different, but we are mixing it up based on our research."

The West Australian reports that Dawson was expecting to be part of the commentary team again because 6PR used his name to promote the football coverage to potential advertisers.