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Convicts squad named:

The squad is: Nathan Bock (Adelaide), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Matt Campbell (North Melbourne), Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Michael Firrito (North Melbourne), Nathan Foley (Richmond), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Roger Hayden (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Marc Murphy (Carlton), Michael Osborne (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Max Rooke (Geelong), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Adam Selwood (West Coast), Dale Thomas (Collingwood), Scott Thompson (Adelaide), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne).

Apsolutely shocking team from a Australian point of view. That would be lucky to be our 5th string international side.

I know you guys probably dont want to hear from a Swans fan but i thought id ask just how tall Kyle Coney is?

What height do you need to be

Well if he is quite tall then it would be best if he was between 192cm and 197cm. That is the height of either a Key Position Defender or a Key Position Forward.

I know you guys probably dont want to hear from a Swans fan but i thought id ask just how tall Kyle Coney is?

What has really changed for the Australian team in recent years is the type of players we selected for the International Rules series. In early yearrrrrrrrrrrr just take our All Australian team but that didnt work  as obviously Aussie Rules Football and International Rules Football are different games. These days we tend to take smaller and faster players as they are more suited to the IR series.

Kennelly is getting pretty banged up playing AFL. If he wants to play for Kerry again he needs to do it sooner rather than later because at this rate he will be a physical wreck at 30. From my experience playing AFL (local amateurs) the game is unforgiving on the body and Kennelly looks like he won'rt last much longer. From my watching of GAA Kennelly is going to lack the zip to be successful at that game if he limps back into Ireland after another 3-4 years of the AFL grind.

Its not unsuak for lots of players to need sergury after a season. For example the Swans have got 8 players going under the knife with injuries they have been playing with for large amounts of the season.

Im a Sydney Swans fan and for all of you bad mouthing Kennelly you have to remember that he has been playing injured most of the season. His shoulder has been popping out atleast once or twice a game and before that his knee's were abit dodgy.

When in form Kennely is one of the Swans best and most influential players as he provides a huge amount of run out of defence. He is in my opinion one of the best Halfback's in the AFL and from memory in the last IR series Kennelly was also one of your best players.

Obviously not this season (as he is yet to play a game for the Sydney Swans) but in afew years you guys will have Brendan Murphy playing for the Irish team. From what ive heard (from people who watch the Swans Reserves play) he will be a apsolute gun. Im expecting him to debut for the Swans next season as either a CHB (Centre Half Back) or CHF (Centre Half Forward) which are two key positions.

I know very little about Gaelic Football but would players like Tadgh Kennelly, Colm Begley and Martin Clark make the Irish national team against Australia?

Its just been announced that Tadhg Kennelly wont play in the Dreamteam vs Victoria due to injury. Its a shame as i was really looking forward to seeing him play.

[Kennelly clues up on interstate rivalry]

I thought some of you would be interested in this

Kennelly clues up on interstate rivalry

Irishman Tadhg Kennelly admits he will have to learn how to generate some anti-Victorian animosity very quickly ahead of this weekend's AFL Hall of Fame match.

The Swans premiership defender, who will line up for the Dream Team against Victoria at the MCG on Saturday, has been forced to look to his teammates for tips on how interstate rivalry works.

"It's pretty hard but it's something I'm trying to feed off the rest of the players that have been here," Kennelly said.

"Obviously AFL is very, very strong in Victoria and I really do see myself as a New South Welshman, now I've been in Sydney for 10 years.

"It's definitely something that you can see they have a lot of pride in and it would be great to get one over them."

Kennelly, one of the league's Irish recruitment success stories, said he was delighted to be the only `foreigner' in the side.

"I don't really feel like it, I've been here 10 years now but I'm very proud - it's an honour to be selected to play.

"Just meeting all the players is something we don't get an opportunity to do a whole lot in Sydney, playing with them and training with them and you can learn habits from them.

"I didn't even think I'd be playing at the MCG or playing Aussie Rules 15 years ago.

"It's been a long road and it's good to get recognised.

"It's a great opportunity for me to learn and play so much with the best players in the competition and learn so much from them.

"It's picking their brains more than anything else. Andrew McLeod is a similar type of player to myself - those types of players, you just want to learn as much from them and the way they carry themselves."

Kennelly said his selection in the team had been vindication for his decision to leave Ireland and start a new life in Australia.

"It is and it's great to get recognised amongst such good players.
"I left a lot behind and it's just good to know that a lot of the hard work I've done in the past has paid off," he said.

"Home's always going to be home no matter where in the world you're from I think but it is feeling more like home every year that I play here."

According to Kennelly the team which communicates better off the field is likely to have the edge in the clash.

"You don't know which way it's going to go, it's which team gets on a bit together off the field more than anything else then see if they can gel on the field," he said

http://news.realfooty.com.au/kennelly-clues-up-on-interstate-rivalry/20080507-2bvy.html

[An Irish rivalry re-ignited]

An Irish rivalry re-ignited

IF SYDNEY Tadhg Kennelly and Brisbane Lion Colm Begley were still in Ireland playing Gaelic Football, they wouldn't exactly be classed as ardent rivals.

Kennelly is from the football stronghold of Kerry. His county boasts 35 All-Ireland titles, five of which his famous dad Tim played in, even captaining the side on one occasion in 1979. As well as that, Tadhg's brother Noel has three to his name.

On the other hand, Begley hails from Laois, and can't brag much about his county's football exploits. They've yet to win a senior All-Ireland football title. It's a fact that Kennelly still reminds his compatriot of when they ignite their Australian football rivalry in Swans versus Lions clashes.

"I always try and get him with a shoulder early on and say to him, you're nothing but a Laois you-know-what," Kennelly laughed.

"But he's just as quick with his remarks. We've got a good bit of banter going."

Begley's defence is that he achieved county success before leaving for Australia.

"I won an All-Ireland minor (under-18) medal before I came out here. If I was still back there playing who knows what could have happened," Begley joked. 

Kennelly is quick to admit that, although the rivalry between Irish recruits is friendly, it does serve as motivation for both to perform at their peak.

"It does spice it up. I'm sure Colm will be keen to play well this weekend knowing he's up against me and I'll be the same. It's like playing Collingwood (who have Irish recruit Marty Clarke) or Carlton (the O'hAilpin brothers), you always try to play well when you're playing against your fellow countrymen. It's a healthy rivalry."

Begley says personal contests against other Irishmen are the most important ones to win during the season.

"It gives you bragging rights for the rest of the year if you beat them and it's especially good to have bragging rights against him (Kennelly)."

Whereas the Swans' defender is winning in the rivalry stakes when it comes to home county honours and indeed his own premiership achievement in Australia, there is one bragging right which firmly belongs to Begley.

"I made a faster AFL debut than Tadhg. And it's not that I like boasting but if someone asks then I have to tell them that. I couldn't lie about it. It's just part of what happened out here, part of my ongoing career," Begley chuckled.

Kennelly confirms Begley's openness about discussing the coup.

"He rang me up straight away and said 'you know, I'm playing AFL football quicker than you, I'm playing my first game quicker than you did'. He let me know on numerous occasions about that one, that's for sure."

But the pair's rivalry extends much further than the football field. According to Begley, it's in off-field areas that he excels over his Kerry compatriot. And when it comes to sledging, Begley uses his "advantage" in that area as material.

"He's an OK looking guy, but you couldn't really compare him to me," Begley said.

"The last time we played each other I chatted to him about losing his hair. It's unfortunate for him but he's getting old I suppose," he laughed.

Kennelly's response to such jibes is simple.

"He can keep his looks and I'll keep my premiership medal," he said.

Speaking of Grand Final victories, Kennelly's Irish jig, which he performed after winning the 2005 premiership with the Swans, attracted a lot of attention. He says overall he's a much better dancer than his compatriot.

"I've seen him in action. He's got two left feet. He's got no idea. He might have the looks but I've got the moves," Kennelly said.

As for Begley, he says there's only one way to really know who's better.

"At the end of the year, we'll have a few drinks and a dance off instead of an interview. And we'll see who's got the moves then."

http://www.afl.com.au/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsid=57358

cheers!!

No problem. Here are some wikipedia pages which has plenty of information if you want it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Football_League

lads, do any of yous know good AFL sites/ blogs etc? need it for part of my course! All help greatly appreciated!

This is the biggest AFL forum

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/index.php

Youre right about Tadgh though - the haircut is awful.  He must be trying to save a few dollars on haircuts!!!

I saw Tadgh Kennelly and Brendan Murphy on the news afew days ago and both were completely bald and had painted their bald heads green (for St Patrick's Day).

A ggreat game this morning between St. Kilda & Sydney.  Very tight throughout with womderful defense & Tadgh back to his very best and a star for the Swans who could have been overrun in the first quarter but held on and could of stolen at the end.  I am not an expert on what constitutes a foul in Aussie Rules but there was no doubt the Swans were on the wrong side of the officials with the count about 3 to 1 against them.  I know they are notpopular with the AFL chiefs but this was ridiculous!

Elsewhere Marty Clarkes Collingwood won but judging by the blogs he had an indifferent game.  Brisbane also lost and Carlton were beaten on Thusday so its 3 down & 1 up for the Paddies down under

Tadgh Kennelly was one of the few Swans players who i consider had a good game. He does look very different though now that he is bald.