I know I am a kiwi and Aussie bashing is a national sport for us but I though Friday night was terrible. I really enjoy the international rules matches and dont think we will have them for much longer.

Scarlett was ridiculously out of order and would have done no such thing in a regular match. Bickley is a champ at the cheap shot but was still ridiculous.

I was wondering if anyone else supports carrying suspensions from these matches into AFL matches.

Looks like you've found yet another sport you suck at.

Those Irishmen had it coming all night. Scarlett is a hero and should be applauded for services to the nation. Frankly, I admire his restraint.

If you made the suspensions carry over into the AFL season, then you wouldn't get to see any biffo.

Surely even a Kiwi recognises the need to smash the Irish with their cutesy-wutesy, "Oi'm a charming character me," Oirish ways.

Any nation which fancies the bejesus out of itself as a major cultural force while actually being little more than a souvenir stand deserves regular whacking.

(For the record, my maternal grandmother was a Murphy and my Irish phase was protracted and ran deep).

It's a once-a-year novelty bet and the fisticuffs are a chief part of the attraction. If it's so important being suspended from it should suffice as punishment.

Ot are you the kind of person who advocates taking away someone's licence when they can't pay their fines?

[Edited by Mission Man on 27-Oct-03 11:30]

Carrying over suspensions into the AFL season would probably make a ton of guys like Barry boycott the game. Why would they risk it?

I can't remember. Do reports from preseason games carry over into the premiership season?
They must do.

Same boat as injuries during non-premiership games.

I can't honestly believe that any fair minded sports lover could honestly condone Scarlett's actions on Friday. It went beyond a little bit of biffo as was indulged in by Crawford and his Irish mate and I'm glad to say that none of our Freo boys felt the need to indulge in this type of play. The only way to ensure the future of the game is to outlaw the type of offence committed by Scarlett by suspension in AFL games. Players would then be a bit more discreet and less extreme in their actions. Very disappointed in your condoning this action Shane.

Hey Gumnut, if there's one thing I've learnt about Shane in my time perusing Dockerland it's that he can be as sarcastic as Jako is stupid.

What I was most disappointed in with the game overall was that there were no louts or indeed lassies streaking and running all over the field of play, similar to the London game. It therefore lacked a bit of character as a spectacle. Indeed it was a bit too quiet and refined and e-girlish. Where was the passion ? Didn't any Docker supporters go ?

Yes there was Docker supporters at the game. I like most at the game can't afford to pay $10,000 to the WAFC. The fines still apply for these games!!!

Maybe they should drop the fine if you're an amateur streaker. Some of these streakers have to work the next day you know.

[Edited by shane on 28-Oct-03 13:47]

If you are well hung, the exposure may be enough to land further work, which will easily cover the 10k fine.

If you are like the Crows fan in London, you may want to give it a miss.

Helen Demeninko (hopefully spelt correct) is still get exposure from her streak many years ago.

The big flaw with the International Rules is the card system. Scarlett clocks a bloke and knows that he'll be sent off and be safe from any Irish reprisal. Send off the best player in the team and leave the one who infringed on, that way he'll think twice before doing it again (if he can remember anything). As it was, Scarlett got a free hit and the crowd were robbed of a good fight.

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=125469
Looking at the picture - it's obvious he's guilty.

Interesting they took evidence from allsorts on the boundary and none of this "he brushed by me and I fell to the ground looking for a free" carp we get at usual tribuanls.

I think a more appropriate punishment may have been forcing him to play the last game and share a room with Jako. The whole of the night being forced to play scrabble and trivial pursuit against him without any alcohol or chemical enhancement, no leaving the room until Jako gets all six wedges and completes the final question.

So much for the old line of "there was nothing in it" from witnesses in a footy game.

My latest well thought out conspiracy theory surrounds this very issue.

Although a bit of harmless fun, no-one actually wants to participate in this stupid "not quite AFL/not quite GAA" game.

So instead of the stigma of refusing to play, instead of feining injury, you play just the one game, clock someone in the schnoz, and get banned for the next few years.

The country thinks you're a hero for starting some biffo, the club is happy that there is no further injury risk to it's star player, and the player doesn't have to front up again and can actually enjoy his off season. Everyone's a winner.

go to any irish pub that actually has irish people in the bar and tell me you don't want to smash them repeatedly over the scone. they are one of the worlds most hitable race.

I think you are onto something there Allblack. I like the trivial pursuit angle. I believe in fact that this was offered as alternative punishment, but understandably Scarlett took the ban until 2005, knowing it would be the faster option.

I've just this morning read an email from my brother, who is on an extended holiday in Ireland (there's a girl involved, and he gets free accommodation from family so there's little incentive to come home. But I digress)

He tells me that the coverage in the local media has been completely negative, all about how nasty and vicious the Australians are and calling for blood from the tribunal. The commentary for local consumption is pretty nasty, apparently.

Last year was even worse. The Aussies played the day after the Bali bombing in atrocious weather (4 degrees and constant sleet) and showed a lot of heart. All the local media could do was rave on about how the Irish were robbed and the Aussie umpire was biased, etc etc. It's soured him on the entire concept.

Any Irish locals reading who want to confirm or deny this?

[Edited by carneagles on 30-Oct-03 09:39]

after 10 pints of the black i have trouble with my craic. does this make me irish?

The Irish press are hilarious. We are more objective and use only slightly less colourful language.

By "we" I mean us.

lemon, it doesn't necessarily make you Irish, but if your troubles are persistent enough, there's work decorating hotels in Rockingham. You can put "interior designer" on the cv.