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"Tyrone's coming down with Plunketts. Most were named after the blonde bombshell though"

Now if they have blonde mullets I think the mothers' are trying to tell us something.

I met Dermot Earley two years ago in Perth when the Irish forces' team was over.  A real gentleman but a hoor with an RPG7 I'd say.

What's John O'Leary up to these days?  He had a great eff ya all attitude and those kickouts with the rugby boots on. Inspired me to invest in a pair.  Feckin useless for gaelic.

Indeed sad news.  There's a terrible tradition in media throughout the world of speculating and hypothesising what went wrong when there is a fatal aviation accident.  However, the Squirrel (which apparently Colin was piloting) has a very good safety record, and many are used here in Western Australia in fire-bombing duties, especially around the Perth area. 

Just heard a jet has gone down in Thailand on the way from Bangkok to Phuket.  Approx. 50% were Europeans.  Terrible weather conditions.

Chris Judd, the undisputed superstar of the competition has just announced that he will be leaving the WC Egos.   Big shock for the chardonnay set I'd imagine with the ponces on the South Perth foreshore choking on their caviar.  That's part two of the three-part Eagles "super" midfield on the way out leaving Daniel Kerr to shoulder the responsibility (providing he can keep out of jail). 
Cousins' injury is the first he has had for many, many months making you wonder if all that meth-anphet he was pumping into his body was the reason he stayed so fit and so injury free.

Talk is Judd will be joining either Collingwood or Carlton with the latter favourites and already a price tag of $7.5 million over three years  on the card.  What a boost that would be for either Marty or Setanta to have the man along side them.  Mind you I'd love for him to go to Freo but that won't happen. Period.

It was a great game from a neutral fan' s perspective.  Marty gave a great pass in the last 2 minutes of extra time for a goal.  He even got a compliment from Lee matthews one of the C7 commentators for keeping playmaker Michael Braun quiet all the game.  He seemed to have had a lot of game time too. 

Ah well that's the one and only time I'll be slightly happy the pies ever won a game.

H'man the Dockers.

What's the craic with the Irish school up in Tír Cahan?  When did it start up and where (apart from Slaughtneil) do the students come from?  Where are the other such schools in the county/Antrim?

Just wish I'd stuck at the Irish when at school.

Tiger Craig, what really pissed me off was McGuire's blatant bias when commentating on his own club.  Nearly as bad as listening to John Motson on England. ( And that wee gimball on Channel 7 who tries to immitate the brilliant NRL commentator is another one.)  And the fact that clubs like Richmond and Western Bulldogs had to travel twice to Perth and Adelaide yet the Pies only ever go once a year.    They may have the biggest fan base but seeing some of them on a game day would make you think Deliverance was set in Melbourne.

The Tigers had a very good win at the end of the season so things are looking better for them.  Personally I don't care who wins on Friday as after yesterday's performance I doubt if anyone will touch Geelong.  So I'm going for the Power again.

Marty's not quite in the semis...yet.

Here's how the AFL playoffs work.

The top 8 teams qualify for the finals.

this weekend:
(A) 1 v 4, Geelong v. Nth.Melbourne Kangaroos (Sunday)
(B) 2 v 3, Port Adelaide beat West Coast EGOs, the winners have a week off while the losers must play the next weekend.

(C) 5 v 8, Hawthorn beat Adelaide
(D) 6 v 7, Collingwood beat Sydney, the losers are automatically out, so Sydney and Adelaide can start planning for next season.

Next weekend:
(I) The loser of A will now play Hawthorn next weekend (probably Kangaroos v. Hawthorn)
(II)The loser of B, the Egos, now play Collingwood (...hark hark is that the fan base of Collingwood in WA doubling as all the Freo fans start shouting for the Pies?  Prob not as Collingwood are the most hated in the country.  'twill be the only game I will ever support the Eagles this season.

Preliminary Finals:
Winner of Geelong/Nth.Mel v. II (Egos v. Pies)
Port Adelaide v. I (Hawthorn v. Geelong/Nth.Mel)

Clear?  I thought so.

An almost identical tackle took place tonight by an Eagles' player on a Power player.  feckin disgrace.

Glad to see the junkies beaten, and even happier to see Junky El Numero Uno Cousins twanging a hammy.

S22 17.51  E119 26.24

Where I'm based.  That's right, in the middle of effing nowhere.

Hitzelsperger, you're being a bit optimistic. 

Swans to win but it will be close and hopefully Power will thump the Eagles and their druggy players into oblivion.  Hell I'm even starting to change to supporting Collingwood when they play the cheats.

A colleague from work, a mad Collingwood supporter and the head of the West Australian branch of the supporters's club was at the game and close to the hit on Clarke.  He said a few of the ferals were baying for the Swans' player's blood...but then they are Collingwood supporters.  Clarke was back on the field in about 20 mins he said.

A few notable retirees this year include D'Arcy from the Western Bulldogs, Hird from the Bombers and one of my favourite Dockers players, Troy Cook. 

I think Martin will have to keep the premiership aspirations on hold for another year as the way Swans annihilated Hawthorn on Saturday was excellent.  Adam Goodes' individual goal in particular caught the eye.  He' 6'4" and shifts along.  Swans, if they play like that consistently will be very hard to beat, however I have a sneaking feeling Port Adelaide will be the winners. They were close to losing to Freo on Saturday, but had too much in the tank in the end.

Begley will have to wait for another year and the signs are good for the Lions after this year.  Setanta and Carlton, well...not much to be said.

I'll only be shouting for the Eagles if they play Collingwood in the final.  Actually, I won't even bother my arse watching the game. 

Mini-me joined the Aussie Education ( ) system last year as a Kindy student and then moved into the Pre-Primary class last January.  Next year he begins P1.  It's a different system to ours (either in the 6 or 26 counties).  We've never had a problem yet, but I'm sure when the crap education system kicks in properly there'll be issues.  His wee classmates are also his footy club mates so both are seen as extensions of the same big playground.

I remember the first hour of the first day of school quite well.  I was taken in and one of the more senior students gave me plasticine and we made the UFO from the UFO TV series.  Will never forget it.

I had a leather school bag too, one with the strap.  From about 6 I walked home (1.5 miles) down a quiet country road.    Weird to think that in those days there was all the paramilitary activity going on and yet we could walk safely home without fear of weirdos.  Now things have quietened down and it's a different story.  I think wanes are soft.  They get lifted and laid all the time.

I used to love the summer weather when you'd burst the tar bubbles on the road (and then risk getting pasted for having crap all over your hands).  Then there was the wee bridge and you throw your "boats" (sticks) in one side and watch them come out.  And then there was the sticklebacks and the daily battle to snag a few.

Fremantle are in the hunt for a lump of a fella with speed to help strengthen the midfield so if any of you can think of recommending anyone, let's know.  I'll drop a line to them.

The '93 semi and Johnny McGurk's  point and the trip back to Preston on the Dun Laoghaire to Liverpool ferry with the dejected Dubs fans...the trip back a few weeks later and meeting up with the family and cousins for a few before the game.  The parade and seeing the lads you were in class with about to finally do it for Derry.  Streaming on to the pitch at the end and hearing Henry's speech.  The craic in Dublin that night with wans from all over Ireland.  Scoring with a quare one from God-knows where that night too.  Making my way back to Derry with another Kilrea lad in a car full of Ardboe wans, and them roaring as we went through every town where we were cheered, as if Tyrone had won...and then Maghera and that night.  Ah bliss. Then despite the UVF threats proudly hoisting the red and white flag on the telegraph pole on the lane and one on the shed for all to see.

Being overseas and ringing home at all hours to find out who won and then as tonight, sitting in the middle of nowhere depending on you lads to keep the scores coming through.   

Wishing Derry was a hurling force.