Messages

The naysayers will be pleased to note that the AFL has almost lost interest in the concept and on the back of numerous poor showings by Australian sides and stories of excessive partying by the indigenous lads it is likely that they will kill it off at a meeting with the GAA this Wednesday. I suspect the GAA is of similar mind.

The series was set up as an outlet to provide the players of both codes with an opportunity to represent their country. Having to bastardise both games was never going to work in the long term.

The AFL is becoming increasing professional and competitive and the clubs do not want their star players engaging in some mindless end of season series where they are at risk of serious injury. I am sure that GAA clubs have similar concerns.

[Don't know much about this franklin guy as havn't followed AFL as much in recent years]

well whatever about soccer, rugby has 10 serious international teams (13 if u wanna count the pacific island), and we are not even in the top half of that group.

Actually big miss that adam goodes isn't playing, he has been the real big name, he was brilliant in the last series over here. Don't know much about this franklin guy as havn't followed AFL as much in recent years

Franklin is the biggest name in AFL. Has just moved from Hawthorn to Sydney (signed for nine years for $10 million). Franklin is 196 cms and weighs 100 kgs and unless there is a Irish lad with freakish speed is likely to be the quickest lad on the park in a straight line. 

I don't know why people think players are more likely to sustain injuries in these two games. You think all the games a player might play throughout the year, all the training, all the weights, some probably play other sports in the winter. Don't see why players would not play because of the fear of injury.

Because they will be up against professional athletes that apparently hit harder than any gaelic footballer. Its no place for the smaller,lighter player thats for sure.

The Australian squad are a team of runts (with a few notable exceptions).

If want to see some fighting get one of the Irish lads to make a racist comment - that will bring on the biffo. It would be a good blue methinks - most of the Aboriginal lads have some idea how to fight.

It's a delicate matter to navigate this with the obvious racial minority angle involved, but limiting the side to indigenous players only might be a massive own goal from the Aussies. Whatever about the eventual quality of the team, right now nobody here knows anything about these players and will just feel the travelling side is diluted, either rightly or wrongly, simply because it appears the squad is not selected from the full roster of AFL players.

All this comes after a few years of very asinine performances from the Aussies whose teams have of late gone full circle from balls out blood and thunder decapitations to advocating a slightly less sanitised form of Morris dancing. I used to be a fan of this but it's abundantly clear, no matter how much it sticks in our craw as proud Irishmen, that if the Aussies picked their best team and took it seriously in the physical sense - and I don't necessarily mean resorting to the fist either - then they would blow Ireland away every time. We've made huge advances in the physical preparation of our players but despite the similarities in the codes in some respects, in this one the sports are worlds apart. If one side has to water down their physicality or go less than full tilt just to make sure the thing is viable and the other lads don't get hurt or too badly beaten - with apparently limiting selections now coming into the mix too - then the thing just isn't viable and should be dispensed with. We can be very proud of our players and our game and there's no shame in saying we can't match full-time professionals in an all-out game. Back in the eighties the playing field was much more level and then both teams could have a go and each other full-throttle - but those days are long gone and won't be back.

The AFL seem to have lost their appetite for it and I expect the GAA will too after this years series.

The indigenous side will be pretty good and includes some of the biggest names in AFL who wouldn't bother playing if the regular selection criteria were used. The side will be better than the last side that turned out for Australia (which was very poor and easily accounted for by the Irish lads). The indigenous lads generally aren't as well muscled or as heavy as other AFL players but are very quick and agile. Likely to more a contest of physical equals and will come down to the most skilful side.

I do agree that the concept is tired and needs to be shelved. 

Port Adelaide have signed Daniel Flynn. Appears to be some athlete. Kennelly was talking in up last night on Skynews.

Are the Aussie team just comprised of Aborigine and mixed-race players?

Indigenous players only. All the players have some Aboriginal ancestry - some obvious and others not so obvious. The brothers Stephen and Brad Hill will be in the team. Stephen (Fremantle) has fairer skin and his brother Brad (Hawthorn) is quite a bit darker despite being full brothers.

Brilliant stuff Aerlik. Marching from Fed Square to the G with the Purple Army would have been a highlight. I wish I was there. The G is a fabulous place and hopefully the new stadium in Perth will be something similar.

We aren't far away - another power forward and some kicking practice and we could be right in it again. Jessie White doesn't look likely but maybe we should have a crack at Sam Reid

Thanks HeaveHo,
but even that is still out of range for the two of us. 

The auld banner has been doing the rounds on Thewest.com.au, too.  Haha.

Enjoy the drive. It gets a bit boring for about 2,000 kms after Southern Cross but when you are singing the club song at 5pm on Saturday it will all be worth it. 

Yeeeha,
the tickets have been confirmed and the road trip begins.  Mini-me, a group of 9 friends and I set off on Wednesday morning to drive two days to Melbourne as the airlines have bumped up their airfaires eightfold.  Thieving barstewards.  What an experience it is going to be.
And if we play like we did for three quarters before finally giving the Sydney score a bit of respectability, maybe, just maybe things will turn out as planned.

Freo Abu 

PS, the game should be on ESPN.

Aerlik

A travel agent in Joondalup was organising a charter flight at $1200 per head. That is a bit cheaper than the current offerings. If that falls within the budget you should be giving them a ring. I have the flyer at home if you need more details.

I did see your sign on Saturday night. I was a little disappointed in the lads easing down in the last but I suppose there was nothing to be gained by slaughtering them by more.

Aerlik

That (Freo v Geelong) was the best game I have seen this year. The pressure was intense.

Barlow doesn't look like a footballer but the boy knows how to find the footy. I thought Sandi was done but he proves the old adage about big guys not getting any shorter as the game goes on - the 2.11 metres came in handy as game went on and they had no answer to our clearance rate. And the Hill goal as special - he doesn't look like he is going that fast but no one can catch him - Christensen is no slouch and he was left behind.

Hopefully Jonno and Garrick come up. We will be hard to beat at home.

Id say Pearce will have to hang around to attend the Brownlow Medal night this year. Wont win it but could have got some votes throughout the year.

Not on for three weeks - plenty of time to sneak to see friends and family.

He might be a target for St.Kilda or even the Bulldogs because their mids half-back stocks are not great.

Look out for the "Lyon Kings" banner behind the Subiaco/western end goals.  That's mini-me's.  It will be a very tough one as Port need the win to avoid being caught on the last day by the Blues.

Don't think Ballaz will play tbh.  Hope I'm wrong.  Good to see Mammoth Hannath back in again.  He is going to be some unit with a bit more game time.

Glad I was wrong on Ballaz. All a bit too easy in the end.

I didn't see the sign on game day but saw it on Fox Footy last night.

He might be a target for St.Kilda or even the Bulldogs because their mids half-back stocks are not great.

Look out for the "Lyon Kings" banner behind the Subiaco/western end goals.  That's mini-me's.  It will be a very tough one as Port need the win to avoid being caught on the last day by the Blues.

Don't think Ballaz will play tbh.  Hope I'm wrong.  Good to see Mammoth Hannath back in again.  He is going to be some unit with a bit more game time.

I am right on the wing on the Subi side - will keep an eye out for Lyon Kings. Won't be an easy game - I like the look of Wines, Windgards and their big ruckman.

Ballaz won't play. Hannath lacks pace to be a key forward unless he could hold some pack grabs. Not sure he will play much once Griffin and Bradley are back.

Got a feeling it is the end for Clarke.  Nothing to suggest he will be around next year.  Hope I'm wrong.

Heave Ho, are you for the game on Saturday?

I don't think Clarke will be at Collingwood next year - I reckon someone else will grab him if he nominates for the pre season draft.

I will be there on Saturday night - might be a hard game for us.

Hawthorn 119-83 Collingwood
Billed as the game of the round, all it did was cement Hawthorn's favouritism for the premiership this year.  Some great passages of play but in the end the Hawks were just too good.  Hawthorn should finish top of the table but the loss for the Pies means they will not make the Top 4 and the second chance game.

Saw most of this game and the scoreline flatters Collingwood, Hawthorn seemed to stop playing at the end of the second quarter and allowed the pies back into the game when they should have been dead and buried. They did something similar late on as well, but it really was men against boys at times with Hawthorn owning the ball.

What is the deal with Martin Clark, has he been dropped? Don't even see him mentioned in the VFL.

Clarke is done for the season. Will need a big preseason