Depends on the game really, like much sport. But a good game of AFL is a good watch IMO. I dont watch rugby much but many rave about that, horses for courses.
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end of an era. Probably the best ruckman to have ever played the game, but his injuries and longevity wouldnt have him as the greatest ruckman to have ever played. Unstoppable at his best, when he’d come out of the centre bounce with the ball and shrug off tackles, or his tap outs to a running player, utterly dominant.
This lad is supposed to be unreal. Big loss to Kilmoyley Hurling & Ardfert Football. Was on the fast track to the Kerry senior footballers as well, and is a midfielder and they crying out for one.
Great opportunity for him.
It’s on!
The Blues beat the Demons 73-71 with a goal with 56 seconds left in front of 96,000 people.
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Is Setanta Halpin still lining out for Carlton?
40 year old Setanta retired about 10 years ago chief. He stayed out there and played in the bush leagues and did quite well
The AFL’s equivalent of the MK Dons, the GWS Giants, along with their 22 supporters are advancing to a 2019 preliminary final (semi-final) rematch with Collingwood.
They have a now unassailable 27 point lead over Port Adelaide in the semi-final (which is actually a quarter-final).
So are Carlton in the final?
I watched the highlights of their win v Melbourne who kicked it away.
Preliminary finals are:
Brisbane v Carlton
Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney
A Carlton v Collingwood Grand Final would be the biggest sporting event in the world this year, maybe ever.
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What are Irish connections if any in those 4
When did Carlton last win it?
Collingwood & Carlton are the two biggest teams?
Irish connections:
Brisbane - @Little_Lord_Fauntleroy supports them in the same way he supports the Irish rugby team. Conor McKenna plays for them and Darragh Joyce is passing up a promising inter-county football career with Kilkenny to sit on a bench for them and from what I can make out one of the two James Maddens from Ballyboden St. Enda’s is doing similar.
Carlton - former TFK poster @Sidney once attended an AFL match where Carlton were playing and bought a Carlton beanie cap. Ardfert’s Rob Monahan is sitting on a bench for them.
Collingwood - traditionally the team of Melbourne’s Irish Catholic bogan class - they have lads named Kelly, Murphy, Ryan and McStay playing for them.
Greater Western Sydney - a nouveau franchise who it was once speculated would be called the “Sydney Celtics” as a gimmick to attract Irish supporters before the AFL decided they would wear orange instead. Former Londonderry minor and under-20 GAA player Callum Brown plays for them.
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He was playing for Brendan’s board last night so the jet lag will be a killer
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Carlton last won in 1995. I did not have to Google that. They’re one of the traditional powerhouses but have reached the finals (play-offs) maybe once or twice in the last 20 years or so and have become a massive underachiever in that time. Essendon would be similar in that regard though they remain languishing.
Melbourne AFL teams would probably be ranked in the following order in terms of “bigness”:
Collingwood
Carlton
Essendon
Richmond
Hawthorn
Footscray
St. Kilda
North Melbourne
Melbourne
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Carlton have an extra motivating factor as club legend Ron Barassi died overnight. Mind you he was an even bigger club legend for Melbourne and Carlton beat Melbourne yesterday. I knew of Ron Barassi’s name from an early age as he was the captain of the first Aussie team to play an Irish team in the 1960s. They stuffed the Irish lads at Gaelic football.
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He’ll have to hotfoot it back to Australia as fast as Ardfert Mick if he wants to get picked for the Grand Final.
They might have something to say about that in the ‘Footy’ hotbed of the Western Sydney suburbs.
They love their footy in the Western Sydney suburbs but it’s mainly of the Rugby League variety, with the round ball game making serious inroads too.
GWS could be a dark horse this year and will fancy their chances against the Magpies, especially having beaten them at the same stage in 2019. They’re a form team having won 11 of their last 13. However Collingwood will conversely realise the full threat of Western Sydney this time having drastically underestimated them in 2019 and will have over 90,000 fanatical supporters barracking for them at the G. GWS however are the only team who sport a “G” on their guernsey.