Clinton Grybas

Clinton Grybas
Born	(1975-02-09) 9 February 1975 Warrandyte, Victoria, Australia
Died	5 January 2008(2008-01-05) (aged 32)
Occupation(s)	Sports commentator, radio and television presenter
Years active	1990s–2008
Known for	Australian rules football commentary, radio and television broadcasting

Clinton Andrew Grybas (9 February 1975 – 5 January 2008) was a renowned Australian sports commentator specializing in Australian rules football, radio, and television broadcasting.

Career

Grybas launched his media journey working as a club journalist and gameday host for the South East Melbourne Magic basketball team before advancing to roles at the ABC in both Melbourne and Perth. There, he provided commentary and presentation for Australian Football League (AFL) matches. His versatility extended to covering National Basketball League (NBL) and National Soccer League (NSL) fixtures, alongside events such as the Hopman Cup, golf tournaments, lawn bowls, and horse racing. A standout moment in his career was narrating the women’s water polo gold medal match at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where Australia clinched victory in the final moments.

In 2001, Grybas transitioned to commercial radio by joining 3AW alongside Rex Hunt, forming a leading commentary duo. His coverage spanned a broad spectrum of sports including the Australian Open tennis tournament, boxing bouts, Formula One races, and MotoGP Grand Prix competitions. Over his career, he provided commentary for two Olympic Games and three Commonwealth Games and was honored as a Torchbearer during the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games Torch Relay. His excellence earned him the AFL Radio Broadcaster of the Year award in 2005.

With the introduction of Fox Footy Channel in 2002, Grybas took on the role of chief commentator and host, delivering weekly game calls and leading programs such as White Line Fever, a talkback show, and The Winners, a highlights wrap-up. After Fox Footy ceased operations in 2006, he maintained his association with Fox Sports.

Death

On 5 January 2008, Grybas was discovered deceased at his residence at age 32 after failing to appear for his scheduled midday sports radio program on 3AW. Apartment personnel found him lying face down in his bedroom and promptly transported him to hospital where he was declared dead. Early accounts indicated that his passing might have been due to head trauma potentially linked to a sleepwalking incident. An autopsy was performed; however, its findings were not publicly disclosed.

His sudden death deeply affected colleagues and the broader sports broadcasting community, many of whom considered him among Australia’s premier sports commentators.

The funeral service took place on 15 January 2008 at CityLife Church in Wantirna South, open to the public and televised via Foxtel. The event attracted over 1,000 attendees including his partner Laurenna Toulmin, family members, as well as numerous figures from sports and media sectors.

Originally from Warrandyte, Victoria, Grybas held Life Membership at The Warrandyte Basketball Club and was interred at Andersons Creek cemetery.

On 25 March 2008, Derryn Hinch of 3AW reported that Grybas had died from natural causes related to an allergic reaction triggered by something ingested the night before. This assertion was contested by Grybas’ family who stated that no definitive cause had been established by the coroner and no allergic reaction was mentioned in official reports.