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Don't ask me why these two games are called "semi-finals".  The rest of the world knows what a semi-final is and Mayo fans in particular know exactly what a semi-final is.  But I won't go further.  However, this is Australia where, for some reason, things are done differently.

Hawthorn 135-61 Adelaide
A bridge too far for the crows.  Dominated from start to finish by an angry, fired-up Hawks team that was hurting from the belting it took last week by themmuns down the road from us here in WA.  The ferocity and intensity of the Hawks win was pretty damned awesome to watch.  I'm just glad they got that out of their system before they come back to play us in Perth on Friday night.

It has been a tumultuous year for the Adelaide Crows and one which will forever be remembered for the wrong reason.  The nation was supporting them on Friday night but in the end they finished their season well-beaten.  Who will be their new coach?  Assistant coach and ex-themmuns coach (and chief pharmacologist - he who has a degree in pharmacy, a pharmacy business etc and didn't know his players were dabbling in ice...yeah right, of course he didn't) John Worsfield is the alleged front runner for the job at Essendon.  Well how appropriate!  Star midfielder, Patrick Dangerfield - who scored a belter of a goal in this game - is rumoured to be on his way home to Geelong next year.  Time will tell.

North Melbourne 77-51 North Melbourne
This was a shock.  Even at this part of the season, it still caught many by surprise.  It wasn't a classic game to watch but one can only imagine how good the Swans would've been had they not had the injuries to their key players.  Another stirling effort from big Kurt Tippett, the man is a monster.  And sadly with the end of the Swans' season came the end of the careers one of the greatest players I have had the privilege to see on a footy field, Adam Goodes.  He quietly told his friends after the game that that was it, 372 game were enough.  No fanfare, no shouldered off the ground.  Just a quiet it's finished.  I've been a Goodes admirer from day dot ever since coming to Australia.  I'm so glad my son got to see him play one last time last week.  Likewise, Rhyce Shaw bade farewell to the AFL.  The former Collingwood premiership player played over 270 top level games.

So, to next weekend.
Friday night in Perth sees our boys play the Hawks.  We've been written off already and that is fine.  Hopefully the Hawks are afflicted by the Icarus syndrome.  On Saturday, I wish the same for themmuns when they play North Melbourne.  I'm resting the voice this week as it's going to be very, very loud in Perth on Friday night. 

Any word on Paddy Brophy or Sean Hurley's progress?

I'm not so sure about Brophy but I do know he was playing consistently in themmuns' B-team.  As for Hurley, he has put on quite a bit of weight and has been kicking goals and taking good grabs up forward in the Freo B-team.    I haven't had the chance to see him play, though.

Cheers Aerlik, Hurley wasn't exactly small before he left so will be interesting to see how big he is now. Brophy I would expect to go close to making it, has all the attributes. Both are expected back for the Kildare SFC semi-finals, Brophy with Celbridge and Hurley with Johnstown Bridge, who also have ex AFL players Flynn and Cribben playing.

Hurley's team, Peel Thunder, lost their knockout game on Sunday so that's the season over for him.  I'd say he'll be hanging around until after the Grand Final if Freo get to it but you'll notice some change in him if he goes home for the game.

I'll be at our next game and got an email today to confirm that if we get to the Grand Final, my tickets have been assured.  Bring. It. On.

Will you be able to bring the childer?

Oh aye, Mini-me will be there.  Flights arranged, hotels to be finalised in the next few days.

His team won the Perth Districts Year 8/U-14 Grand Final on Sunday and himself won the Best On Ground award.  One very pleased father on the sideline.

Any word on Paddy Brophy or Sean Hurley's progress?

I'm not so sure about Brophy but I do know he was playing consistently in themmuns' B-team.  As for Hurley, he has put on quite a bit of weight and has been kicking goals and taking good grabs up forward in the Freo B-team.    I haven't had the chance to see him play, though.

Finals Footy time.

Right, here goes trying to explain how it works. The top 4 teams have two dips at the flag, the bottom four only one.

Fremantle(1) v. Sydney(4), the winner gets the week off and the loser plays next week against the winner of North Melbourne( v. Richmond(5). The loser of that game goes on the piss.

Themmuns (2) v. Hawthorn (3), the winner gets the week off and the loser plays next week against the winner of Western Bulldogs (6) v. Adelaide (7).  Similarly the loser goes on the tear.

Righto the scores.

Themmuns 96-64 Hawthorn
Yes, yes, yes, I know they did better than I expected and better than Hawthorn.  Luckily I didn't have to watch the game as just putting up with the crap in the media is still bad enough.  A nasty ankle injury to star forward Jack Gunston is a major blow for the Hawks.  Not giving the fekkers any more air time.

Fremantle 69-60 Sydney.
Before Alrite Horse has a go at me let me just say this.  It doesn't matter how you win at this stage of the season, a win is still a win and his team didn't win.  Some shockingly bad inaccuracy by the Swans was mirrored by a Freo team just cruising through.  Phew, we got through but we'll have to start playing again as there is a premiership that needs winning.   Am I a biased, one-eyed Freo fan?  Folk yeah.

Adelaide 109-102 Western Bulldogs
What an absolute cracker of a game.  I really enjoyed every minute of this match.  Some great scores and tension right up to the final siren.  What finals footy is all about.  It's a pity the Bulldogs lost in this manner but what a season they have had.  Great to watch.  And as for the Crows, well after the tragedy of the murder of their coach, Phil Walsh, this has been a great story.  Here's hoping the Crows can ratchet up the pressure and beat the Hawks next week.

North Melbourne 105-88 Richmond
Oh dear,  third year on the trot that the Tigers collapse out of the competition in the first round of the finals.  This was another belter of a game and, while not quite reaching the same intensity and climax of the dogs v crows game, it was still great to watch.  Gotta feel for the Tigers fans though.  Some heavy hits and some wonderful scores. 

So, the two WA teams get the week off while the following games take place next weekend:-
Sydney v. North Melbourne
Hawthorn v. Adelaide.

I'll be at our next game and got an email today to confirm that if we get to the Grand Final, my tickets have been assured.  Bring. It. On.

Freo Abu.

Apologies for the delay.  Those fekkin gremlins in my computer came back but I think I've finally got rid of the wee hoors.

So, here it is, the last round for the 2015 season.  For Freo there was nothing to play for other than fulfilling a fixture as we could not be over taken.  In fact, the whole Top 8 was decided last week, and all that needed to be sorted were positions from two to eight with any number of possibilities eventuating depending on the results.

Richmond 108-67 North Melbourne
Yep, the result was par for the course when you decide to rest a dozen or so of your best players.  And why not, as the Roos had nothing to lose and not really alot to gain.  Nothing really of significance in this game.  The Tigers finished in fifth spot and the Roos in eighth.  Oh those losses to Freo and other weaker teams will haunt the Tigers.

Geelong 119-80 Adelaide
Adelaide would probably have been hoping that Geelong had decided not to renew Stevie Johnson's contract until after this game because if there is one thing that will spur a player, fan favourite and damned good player (albeit a bit of a thug), it was the news that his services were not needed.  And that is what happened as the Cats threw the form book out the window and belted the Crows.  Now why didn't the Cats play like this all year?  The Crows might regret this loss as it meant they were stuck on seventh spot.

Brisbane 130-122 Western Bulldogs
What?  How the blazes did the Lions manage to flop practically the whole season and yet turn on a show like this?  I dunno.  Ah well, the result meant the Bulldogs couldn't get better than sixth and luckily for them the Adelaide Crows lost.  Season over for the Lions, but some good shows form Pearse Hanley.

Port Adelaide 122-53 Freo "B" team
Yep, just a stroll in the park for both teams.  Nothing to gain.  The Power will look back on this as a bloody disaster.  Too many "coulda, woulda, shoulda" scenarios.

Hawthorn 113-56 Carlton
And the winner of the Wooden spoon is....Carlton.  What a shite season.  Utter garbage.  Where to from here?  I dunno.  Whilst he wasn't the worst, Tuohy didn't exactly set the world alight. 

Sydney 127-64 Gold Coast
A season that held so much promise for the Suns couldn't have come quickly enough and the Swans rubbed salt into the proverbial wounds.  The win guaranteed the Swans fourth spot and a chance at the double chance in the Finals.  What came to light afterwards was the Franklin had an epileptic fit the day before and still played this game.  Not all is well for the man.  Oh, and some season-ending injuries occurred to which will greatly affect the Swans chances.

Themmuns 125-30 St. Kilda
They had to win to secure second spot and they did.  But jaysus the bias of the media in Perth is fekkin painful.  You'd think first of all there was only one team in WA, then when it is brought to their attention that we exist, they yack on about Perth's "two" teams.  Nooo, we are not a Perth team.  We are Fremantle. 

Melbourne 103-77 Greater Western Sydney
Yep, the one game I was certain the Giants would win.   They didn't.   Wrecked my perfect 9/9 tipping chances.  Fekkit.  I even got the Richmond score difference bang on correct.

Essendon 95-92 Collingwood
What better time to kick the winning goal against one of your most hated rivals than in the last few seconds of the last game.  Not a bad game to watch to be honest.  But both teams will be really disappointed with their showings.  And as I predicted the Pies wouldn't make the finals.

So, that is it for another season...or, well, for ten of the eighteen teams, that is.

The final Top 8 standings were:
(1) Fremantle 
(2) Themmuns
(3) Hawthorn
(4) Sydney
(5) Richmond
(6) Western Bulldogs
(7) Adelaide
( North Melbourne.

Round 22 – the round that sorted them all out (save for a couple of positions).

Collingwood 110-62 Geelong
From disaster to collapse this week for the cats and any chance of a finals berth this year.  On a positive note the return to the paddock after four years being out with a serious knee injury for Geelong player Josh Menzies was great to see and to cap it all off he kicked a few too.  Both teams are now officially out of the finals series.  It's many's a year since that happened.

Greater Western Sydney 132-51 Carlton
More crap.

Hawthorn 134-62
Ditto the above

Western Bulldogs 96-73 North Melbourne.
A great game to watch.  Real finals-like atmosphere and tension right up to the last few minutes when the dogs managed to pull away.   Both teams will play finals this year but when and where has yet to be decided such is the closeness of the comp of the top 8.
Richmond 74-47 Essendon
The only point of interest was the goal from Connor McKenna of Tyrone with his first kick in his first game of AFL footy.  Well done, chap (even if you are a bushman).  The tigers are clinging on to a minute hope of sneaking a top 4 place but will still be a potent force in Melbourne.

Port Adelaide 88-51 Gold Coast.
Not a great game to watch but Port did enough.  Oh how they must be kicking themselves at this stage of the competition.

Adelaide 126-69 Themmuns
Now whilst I was punching the air with every Adelaide goal, as was every Freo fan I'd imagine, one thing that came from this is the serious and genuine threat that Adelaide poses to the other finalists.  This was some win. 

Sydney 135-38 St. Kilda
Yep, nothing to see.  Shite.

Fremantle 108-54 Melbourne
Our win today coupled with the win by Adelaide means that with one game to go Fremantle are the 2015Minor Premiers, the first accolade the club has won in its 21-year history.  We sit top of the pile and have the huge advantage of two home finals and, as it transpired today, the luxury of resting anything up to eleven regular players for the last game against Port Adelaide next weekend.  And to think I was going to go to that game in anticipation of it being a must-win for Freo to win the league.
This game wasn't great to be honest and yet another third quarter fade-out has more than a few of us worried.  We shouted and we roared and we clapped and we cheered.  And we won.  It is a great feeling.  Now for the serious stuff. 

Round 21
Only two rounds to go and things are still not clear cut as to which team finishes where.  This has been an enthralling last month of AFL footy.  And what a result to start of the round...

Port Adelaide 108-86 Hawthorn
Bloody hell, what a final quarter by Port.  What has happened this team this year?  Why weren't they doing this all season?  Ah questions, questions, questions but all too little too late methinks.  Anyways, it is great for Freo as it keeps the Hawks on a collision course with themmuns in the finals.  A superb game for the neutral and those of us who have Port as our second team.

Richmond 147-56 Collingwood
Massive result for the Tigers as it keeps them just in touch with the top 4 and that double chance.  I didn't see the game but watched the highlights.  I'm not sure if the Tigers were actually just that good or Collingwood totally shite.  One is inclined to presume the latter.

Sydney 133-44 Greater Western Sydney
The battle of the Bridge became a bit of a disaster for the new boys.  Even without the huge presence of Buddy Franklin, Sydney were waaaaay to strong for the Giants.   Still, many are not convinced that a fully fit Sydney squad are capable of winning the comp.  Interesting.

Gold Coast Suns 97-95 Essendon
And it gets worse.  Yet despite the loss this wasn't actually a bad game for the neutral, such was its closeness throughout. 

Geelong 97-97 St. Kilda
A disaster for Geelong.  They badly needed this win to keep in touch with the top 8 but, again, the neutral won't be complaining as this was good value viewing.  Both teams had their chances to seal a win but the first official draw of the season was the result.

Adelaide 131-44 Brisbane
Something tells me there is an outside chance for the flag and that team is not from WA or Victoria.

North Melbourne 94-83 Fremantle.
Jeeeeeeeeeeeezusss, you'd have heard me guldering at the TV during this final quarter of this game.  Fekkin disaster.  How the folk Freo gave up in the final quarter really pisses me off and reminds me of the horror days pre-2013.  Suddenly the Top position is slipping away to, ahem, themmuns down the road.  Horror of horrors, no less.

Carlton 78-55 Melbourne
Dung.

Themmuns 162-85 Western Bulldogs.
Sweet jaysus as if Freo throwing away the game against North Melbourne wasn't bad enough, we now have to contend with themmuns for the top spot.  And the meeeeejya are in overdrive here in WA now, salivating at the thought of a WA Grand Final.  Won't happen.   

So that is the end of that round.  Freo are STILL top of the league, yes still top of the league.  Themmuns are two points behind followed by Hawthorn. 
Am I nervous about next week?  Bloody oath as themmuns have a chance to steal our top spot. 

Round 20 (Groan)

Sydney 87-76 Collingwood
A decent game to watch made all the more enjoyable by the fact that Collingwood actually made a real go of it and could've won.  Another week without Buddy but still the Swans are floating around the Top 4.  However, finals footy is all but over for the pies now.

Adelaide 171-59 Essendon
And to think I tipped Essendon for this game.  Sweet mother of mercy what was I thinking?  And the coach, James Hird, was sacked two days later.  The WADA  drug findings are not long away either.  Hmmmm...

North Melbourne 120-83 St. Kilda
North just keep on winning and are sitting nicely in the top 8.  Brent Harvey has just resigned for the 2016 season potentially making him the competition's games played record holder.

Port Adelaide 111-90 Greater Western Sydney
Port are not giving up without a fight to play finals footy this season.  Not the most comprehensive win of their season but they are still in with a mathematical chance of getting to the finals.  GWS, however, will be struggling.

Hawthorn 121-85 Geelong.
Yep, it was that good.    Some unit is the Hawks.  Great game to watch with some great play.  And did I mention Cyril Rioli before?  The man's a magician.

Brisbane 131-67 Carlton
Yep, that is just how pathetic Carlton are right now.  And both teams have players wanting to leave...wonder why.

Richmond 138-55 Gold Coast Suns
A comprehensive win for the Tigers who will play finals footy if they keep on playing like this, and who knows, maybe take a big scalp with them.

Western Bulldogs 153-55 Melbourne
There is a reason why the doggies are in the top 4.  A mauling of the demons is putting it politely.

Themmuns 104-80 Fremantle.
Not happy, Not happy at all.  All over us in the first quarter and kicked 7 to 1 and we were playing catch up after that.  But the game will be remembered for two unsavoury incidences.  Firstly, I say it again that I am against any type of thuggery on any sports pitch.  So, onto the incidents.
Firstly, Alex Silvagni's strike to the head of the Eagles player was wrong, just wrong and he got a 4 week suspension for it.  Deserved, in my opinion.
However...

Secondly, Chris Masten biting a player's arm and then only getting two weeks and having the gall to say the player was lying is just typical of that trash organisation and the reason why it is so hated by other clubs in the AFL.  The WA media was pointing the finger at the Freo player saying he shouldn't have complained to the ref; the Eastern States media had other opinions which sadly don't reflect those of the Tribunal who only gave out two weeks suspension.    This has created much bad blood in WA and it will be interesting to see how things pan out as the season progresses especially if both teams meet in the final.  Now that will be fun.

Still, Freo sit atop the ladder six points clear. 

It has been a couple of weeks for various reasons, none less than the fekkers who invaded my laptop.  Be gone satan.  Anyhow, it has been a massive two weeks and as we near the end of the regular season nothing is confirmed regarding which team will finish where.  Except Carlton and Brisbane.  Both shite and both bottom of the heap.

Round 19

Adelaide 88-52 Richmond.
Only a week before, we were lauding and cheering as the Tigers beat the Hawks comprehensively in a great game of Friday Night Footy.  Fast forward a week and the Tigers fans must have been ropeable.  Another great game of footy for the neutral.

Collingwood 107-87 Carlton
Yep, Carlton lose again.  They were in it up to three-quarter time but then Collingwood pulled away.  Both teams can't wait for the end of the season, I bet.

Western Bulldogs 128-64 Port Adelaide
The battle of the most improved versus the biggest flops for this season.  Score says it all I suppose.  I didn't watch the game and I believe I didn't miss much.

Gold Coast 114-100 Brisbane.
Nearly as bad as the pies-blues game for boredom.  Both teams are light years behind the top 5 teams in the league.

Geelong 95-63 Sydney
A magnificent effort from the Cats keeping their finals chances alive while Sydney get knocked out of the top 4 after this loss being replaced by Western Bulldogs.  Credit, too, to the Cats fans showing respect and dignity towards Adam Goodes on his first game back after the racism he was shown by themmuns' "fans".

Hawthorn 88-74 Themmuns
This was a great game to watch especially the last 17 minutes when the Hawks staged a late comeback to win.  Cyril Rioli, what a player.  Cue the gurning and whinging from the themmuns-biased WA media. 

North Melbourne 127-92 Melbourne
Not a bad effort from the demons who weren't expected to put up any show against the roos.  North are plodding along nicely and are surely going to make the top 8 this season.

Greater Western Sydney 93-61 Essendon
Oh dear, oh dear oh dear oh dear.  Drivvel. 

Fremantle 96-59 St. Kilda
A good solid win for the Dockers scoring at will in the first half, including 7 goals from their first 7 entries into the Saints' 50. 

So at the end of the round, Freo are 10 clear of themmuns and 12 ahead of Hawthorn.

Round 18

Well....

Richmond 71-53 Hawthorn
The result the nation did not anticipate, unless of course you are a Tigers fan and even then only the most optimistic, surely, must've thought they'd win.  It was a great win in many ways.  A great effort by the Tigers and great for other teams in the Top 4.  Perhaps the unstoppable juggernaut is not as fallible as anticipated.

Geelong 113-57 Brisbane.
You've got to feel for Pearce.  Another shite performance.

Melbourne 91-54 Collingwood
Can the season get much worse for the Pies?  The second of the shocks for the round.  Many anticipated a Collingwood win to keep their final's chances alive but the Demons just wanted to win more.

Sydney 117-65 Adelaide
Now we're talking.   This was a game steeped in significance.  The fans came out in support of their stalwart, Adam Goodes, the victim of some awful racist discrimination in the past few weeks culminating in the disgraceful performance of the other WA team's fans last Sunday.  Goodes decided not to play to get away from the hassle and Jetta acknowledged his mentor with an indigenous dance to celebrate his first goal.

North Melbourne 118-54 Carlton
Yet more shite.

Gold Coast 83-83 Themmuns.
A goal with four seconds remaining drove 50% of Western Australia into elated joy and the rest into agony.  The former being Freo fans supporting the Suns (me included) the latter being, well, themmuns.  A hugely significant result for the table as a result would've put the eagles on top again.  Not to be.  Hark is that the sound of gnashing teeth I hear?

Port Adelaide 112-49
Nuff said.

Western Bulldogs 127 - 47 Essendon
The agony compounds itself I thind.

Fremantle 84-63 Greater Western Sydney
Not the most impressive win, but I'll take a win. 

It's based in Coleraine.  Of course there'll be a staunch Rangers-bias.    What else do you expect?

Never had any intention of coming here.  Too fekkin hot for my viking skin.

15 years later and I'm still here (with excellent commission from Suncream companies).

Mini-me is now 14 (and Jim Stynes, 5'5" or so, size 9 feet, and has just been selected for the Perth Demons WAFL u-14 development squad).

Perth is really very, very expensive and despite the mooting of a downturn in the mining industry, will remain so by the looks of things.

As with any country/culture (and I've lived in a few) it is what you make of it.  I am so glad I didn't get sucked into the "Irish scene" but if you are only intending to stay a short while that will be ok.  I took myself off and got to see and experience parts of this and that many Aussies don't know exist.

I went to Japan exactly 20 years ago today with the intention of staying only a year to shire ma heed and then I was going to come back home.  How things changed.  I ended up staying almost 6 years and what a time and experience it was. 

I could not speak any of the language and so that was a major challenge, but languages are an interest of mine and so I began to study Japanese and with the help of those around me I picked it up to a reasonable level to the point that I could hold a decent conversation.  I also learned to read and write the language and whilst those elements of the language have waned somewhat, I still have the chance to speak to Japanese here in Australia and that helps immensely.

The thing I found about the language is that you almost have to adopt the mindset of a child, that being someone who is not afraid to repeat what they hear and not afraid to make a mistake.  I made lots of mistakes and learned from them. 

I learned French, German and Irish at school, continuing the latter two to A-level and university level.  That gave me a superb grounding in the understanding of Japanese grammar, and I still think that Japanese grammar is actually easier.  Past historic modal verbs don't exist in Japanese!

So my advice is to try and get language books that follow a read and write format so that you are actually "seeing" what you are saying, and in that way you are duplicating the learning process.  I find the "Teach yourself" book series a bit too muddled up and not structured properly.  I believe the best language books I have ever used are the "Japanese For Busy People" books as their structure and format are superb, with a great mix of grammar, writing and reading.

Round 17

Hawthorn 173-35 Carlton
Yes, you read that correctly.  The biggest loss in Carlton's history.  And finally the AFL has conceded it got it very wrong by setting up the fixtures so that Carlton would have the most Friday night games this season, (traditionally the slot with the largest TV viewership).  Well I, for one, didn't watch it.  Mini-me's school volleyball match and birthday bbq were more pressing concerns.  And we had further cause to celebrate as he has been selected for the Perth Demons U-14 Development squad (equivalent to playing County level in the GAA).  This auld boy is a tad happy about that.

Geelong 69-42 Greater Western Sydney
You cannot let a man like Tom Hawkins kick five goals and expect to win.  The GWS inconsistency continues and many, like me, tipped them to win this game but there is more than one life in this season's cats.  Both teams sit outside the Top 8 on the slenderest of percentages.  It's going to be scrappy from here on in for both.

Adelaide 125-80 Gold Coast Suns
And there we were, all looking forward to watching the rest of the season with Ablett back in the team, then, BANG!  A season-ending knee injury to the superstar.  The AFL is a tough business and even the best are not immune to the rigours of Aussie Rules.  Sad to see this and just hope he is right for next season.  I want my son to watch Ablett play in the flesh as he is fantastic to watch.  I only watched the highlights of the game and other than Ablett's injury there was nothing of real note.

Fremantle 82-78 Richmond
Where do I start?  Six weeks ago the Tigers skelped our arses in Perth and that defeat began a bit of a drop in form for Freo, whilst sparking a bit of a resurgence in Tiger forturnes.  The game on Saturday was seen by many as the making or breaking of both teams' top 4 ambitions for the season, and Freo's top 2.  Well, guess who didn't watch the game, at all?!  No, I had to work night shift and so dozed off around 2pm, then woke at 6 expecting the Doomsday Cult to have overtaken my phone with SMS's from gleeful Themmuns fans (yes, I have a few WCE-supporting friends).  The silence was deafening.  I knew something was wrong, or right as it were.
Freo only led on two occasions through the whole game, the second minute of the first quarter (I predicted a Tigers demise from that point onwards, last week) and the twelfth minute of the second quarter.  In between the Tigers were dominant but couldn't score goals, instead kicking points and hitting posts. 12.10 to 10.18 says it all.  Then with three minutes left, the brilliant Pavlich took a mark out on the wing and centred the ball to young Tom Sheridan who was only about 30m out, almost directly in front of goal.  It would win the game, surely.  Oh no, he missed and suddenly Tigers had a get out of jail card in the shape of a 2-point lead with only little over a minute to play.  Houli took the kick in but sent it straight up the middle to a waiting Ibbotson of Freo who spotted David Mundy practically in front of the goals.  Suddenly there was hope for Freo and the mercurial Mundy didn't disappoint slotting a 50m set shot to send Freo into the lead with 30 seconds left, a lead they hung on to.  Deadly stuff.  Probably a good decision I didn't watch.  Just goes to show that goals win games and it isn't over till it's, well, over I suppose.   

Port Adelaide 129-116 Essendon
A very high-scoring game with lots of exciting play throughout and Chad Wingard almost pulled off the mark of the year with an incredible effort only to lose his balance at the last second.  He is such a brilliant player to watch.  Patrick Ryder, the former Essendon ruckman, got booed incessantly by the bombers fans but he answered them by kicking goals at crucial times.  The season just keeps getting worse for the drug cheats.  Just rewards.

North Melbourne 110-38 Brisbane
Nothing of note other than Brett Harvey playing his 400th. AFL  game.  Some feat.

Western Bulldogs 104-86 Collingwood
A significant win for the Dogs and a significant loss for the Pies.  The former cements its place in the top 8, the latter drops down the ladder and the reality of no finals footy is starting to dawn on the club.  As I predicted.  I only watched the highlights.

Saint Kilda 83-46 Melbourne.
Yeah well, this was average at best.  I haven't even bothered to watch the highlights.

WCE 103-51 Sydney Swans.
"Australia is not a racist country, but it is full of racists", is something I was told prior to arriving on these shores over fifteen years ago.  Yesterday I saw that blatant, disgusting racism for myself.  Now, before Alrite Horse has a cheap dig at me for going to a Themmuns game, I must point out that I was only there because the lady had two free tickets and I wanted to go and see if Themmuns were as good as the WA media makes them out to be.  What I did see was a considerably weakened Swans team minus four first team players through injury and suspension dominated by a good midfield.
However, my abiding memory of the "experience" will be the shocking, incessant booing of one of the greats of the modern game, and a player who has won it all and even received the highest accolade - Australian Of The Year - Adam Goodes.  Any time he was near the play or got the ball, the racism that still tarnishes this land came to the fore.  I have no desire to support Sydney but when he scored their first goal, Goodes was met by a wave of booing.  And to have the media describe it as "a few" is bollix.  There were thousands booing, including parents of young children seated near me.  So I stood up and cheered for him.  The glares I got, said it all.  Thereafter, any time he was involved in play he was jeered, to the point that when Lewis Jetta scored a goal in the fourth quarter he turned to the Eagles fans and performed an aboriginal war dance.  That, too, was booed and jeered at.
What a sad memory for myself and others in the crowd who wanted to see a champion man and player on the field for probably the last time.  Shame on you, Eagles "fans".

So there you have it, another round and still Freo sits atop the table.  Themmuns is next followed by Hawthorn and Sydney.