What the Irish Media Have To Say About Last Night

[Rawhead]

HOw many matches do you think he would have got for the coat hanger if it had been an AFL game, ODN? Two maybe? Not the actions of the responsible captain of a young side. Compare Johnson's demeanour and actions with that of his co captain McLeod and it's easy to see that Chris was well out of line.

Joffaboy's not the one making the allegation of racial abuse. It's Rawhead who claims he can lip read.

Rawhead let's not forget that Johnson didn't use the excuse you just made up.

Johnson doesnt need to make excuses up.

The clumsy tackle was aside from the racial slurs, they are two totally seperate incidents which I have made no connection to.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Trust a Carlton supporter to make a statement like that.

Pfft, take everything out of context do you?

If anyone seemed to lose the plot on the night, it was Milburn who was involved in plenty of physical stuff but once again the camera didn't pick up what started it.

Fact: Milburn was involved in several incidents, most of which were off camera but called by the commentators, where Irish players went to ground. As I said though the cameras didn't pick up what started it. Based on the call you would think Milburn was going anyone who went near him but I prefer to think there was more to it. He charged at one bloke behind the play and I think there was something else that started it. I believe Milburn was provoked.

You can continue to attack the man, not the ball though if it makes you feel better.

 

[Toots Hibbert]

Yeah, but calling a clumsy tackle a premeditated assault purely motivated to badly hurt an opposition player is over the top and unwarranted, and based on nothing but opposition supporter spite. Consider this too, an Auzzie player wouldnt have gone down with the theatrics that the Irish lad did, and would have brought much less scruitiny. That might be too harsh though, maybe they just really cannot deal with the pysical aspects?!?

I can understand Irish supporters being up in arms about it, for a myriad of reasons, but the Australians here who profess to follow AFL dont have an excuses.

I just think it's lame.

I think your allegations of racism by the Irish are almost certainly rubbish.

The main thing I was asking you was do you think Johnson acted like the responsible captain of a young team which needed to remain focussed on the football? Compare his behaviour to that of Andrew McLeod.

 

[O Grobbecker]

...Based on the call you would think Milburn was going anyone who went near him but I prefer to think there was more to it. He charged at one bloke behind the play and I think there was something else that started it. I believe Milburn was provoked...

Why do you think he was provoked ? Isn't just as likely an explanation that he went head hunting ?

 

[ManWithNoName]

From the GAA article:

Australia - J Fletcher; C Johnson, B Delideo, M Lappin (10); A McLeod, N Eagleton (2), L Gilbee (2); B Harvey, L Hodge (1); D Canciracuso (4) S Grant (9), A Lovett (3); E Buchannan (4), N Davis (3), D Milburn (1). Interchange players; L Harte (does anyone have any idea who this is?), S Grant, R O'Keefe (14), T Croad (1), B Maloney, A Davey (5), J Waite (1), G Makepiece (3).

 

[jimmy35]

The Irish skills are offset in IR by the Aussies vigor. The rules for IR are in place and need to be adhered to. It is a composite game that needs to be respected for it to flourish , whether thats what the general populace want or not , and for one I don't mind watching it . It is fast and skillful and at no time do I mistake it for Australian Football and I enjoy it for what it is.
The Aussies did , at times , come across with a bully boy persona , 'because they could'.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

HOw many matches do you think he would have got for the coat hanger if it had been an AFL game, ODN? Two maybe? Not the actions of the responsible captain of a young side. Compare Johnson's demeanour and actions with that of his co captain McLeod and it's easy to see that Chris was well out of line.

You are right about the suspension however since when would a two week suspension in the AFL be worthy of such hysteria? I'm usually the most diplomatic of posters but I think some are turning their indignation meter up full blast to protect our relationship with the Irish.

I believe the concept should be scrapped now if it is supposed to be a combination of touch football and a feel good public relations circus. Let's not forget everybody got up and went on with the game after every incident, it wasn't quite the bloodbath it is being built up as. If those incidents happened to Carlton players I would be yelling at them to give some back, not looking to collect best oscar for best drama writing.

 

[Wojee]

Compare his behaviour to that of Andrew McLeod.

McLeod and Lappin were Australia's best players and neither resorted to the chest-beating that most of the rest of the team indulged in.

 

[O'Neill]

Why were my posts deleted, congratulating Australia? That was odd.

What I said was well done Australia - faster, fitter, stronger and more skilfull this year. It was our turn last year and we'll wait our turn next year. Well done again - the fighting etc didn't affect the result in the slightest.

As for clashoftheash - you are a complete moron who knows absolutely nothing about the game of gaelic football. Your player analysis yesterday was a complete joke and cringingly inaccurate, an embarrassment and you know that if that was posted on the gaaboard you'd be discredited completely. Please shut up.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I read the outraged comments last night and watched the replay expecting to see a malicious attempt by Johnson to knock somebody's head off. What I saw was a wrong footed Johnson stick out a stiff arm and clothesline someone. Had no time to line him up, certainly had an element of aggression to it (especially in slow motion) but quite simply it was a reflex action.

He was then set upon by a couple of Irishmen and wasnt about to cover himself up and let them do what they wanted like a guilty schoolboy. He was faced with a challenge and he stood up to it. Probably could have stood his ground instead of then getting on the front foot but when these things happen, you are conscious of people around you and wanting to get them away from you.

The Irish started many of these incidents but then covered themselves and played victim when the Aussies retaliated.

If anyone seemed to lose the plot on the night, it was Milburn who was involved in plenty of physical stuff but once again the camera didn't pick up what started it.

The Jarrad Waite sideline incident was interesting. Near the Irish bench, he is in a bit of push and shove with an Irish player, the Irish player delivered a couple of soft punches to Waite's midriff, Waite gets worked up and coach McGrath apparently has a bit of verbal towards Waite. Seems he was happy for his own player to deliver a couple in front of him but not for the Aussie to fight back.

Gerard Healy's half time performance was purely sucking up to the Irish and protecting the hospitality he will receive on the next tour of Ireland. He has no business trying to publicly embarrass a member of his team like that.

Quite simply the Aussies look like the only team resorting to the rough stuff out there because they can accommodate that sort of thing far better than the Irish. I don't condone deliberate cowardly attacks but I also don't like hysterical overreactions and all the blame being put on one side.

You must have been concentrating too hard on his arm and missed his facial expressions.

His facial expressions gave away his thought process at the tme.

He clenched his teeth as a man would trying to exert extra force into an action.

I mean if his intention was to try and lay some kind of tackle i doubt he could do that with a clenched fist.

To me there was only malice in his action.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Why do you think he was provoked ? Isn't just as likely an explanation that he went head hunting ?

Not just as likely but possible he went head hunting. Just as someone who observes human nature, the camera switched back just in time to see Milburn run a few metres with his teeth gritted and engage in a tussle with an Irishman way behind the play. That sort of uncontrolled frustration or anger is usually incited by something.

Are we seriously suggesting here the Irish did nothing wrong at all and the Australians constantly lost the plot for no reason, despite the fact they know they had the superior skill level, pace, fitness and had the series wrapped up?

Takes two to tango but the problem was that the Aussies were stronger and tougher and were not going about concede one single contest or clash of egos.

 

[Toots Hibbert]

You are right about the suspension however since when would a two week suspension in the AFL be worthy of such hysteria? I'm usually the most diplomatic of posters but I think some are turning their indignation meter up full blast to protect our relationship with the Irish.

I believe the concept should be scrapped now if it is supposed to be a combination of touch football and a feel good public relations circus. Let's not forget everybody got up and went on with the game after every incident, it wasn't quite the bloodbath it is being built up as. If those incidents happened to Carlton players I would be yelling at them to give some back, not looking to collect best oscar for best drama writing.

Agree with where your coming from and think the Irish are making a meal of it to cover for a thrashing at our hands. But Johnson's behaviour was about as far as you can get from what the captain of this young side should have done.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

You must have been concentrating too hard on his arm and missed his facial expressions.

His facial expressions gave away his thought process at the tme.

He clenched his teeth as a man would trying to exert extra force into an action.

I mean if his intention was to try and lay some kind of tackle i doubt he could do that with a clenched fist.

To me there was only malice in his action.

No I caught the clenched teeth in slow motion. In real time, he was plainly wrong footed. No doubt he entered the contest fiercely, no doubt he intended to make solid contact but those thoughts combined with being wrong footed caused the intended fierce contact to be too high. Reflex and Intent meet Circumstance and voila, we saw what we saw. Happens all the time in League actually, still get rubbed out for it but seldom to they intend to take someone's head off.

 

[tapestry]

I mean if his intention was to try and lay some kind of tackle i doubt he could do that with a clenched fist.

Or you could take it one step further and watch his face and his body position as contact was made and then as he fell as well to the ground. Infact if you go back and watch any number of Lions games you could see his body in the same position, mid air, fist clenched, and he was going the spoil. Yes it was reckless what happened, but malicious?? You lot have to be joking.

 

[O Grobbecker]

Are we seriously suggesting here the Irish did nothing wrong at all and the Australians constantly lost the plot for no reason, despite the fact they know they had the superior skill level, pace, fitness and had the series wrapped up?

Takes two to tango but the problem was that the Aussies were stronger and tougher and were not going about concede one single contest or clash of egos.

The Australians are always the aggressors. It happens in every series. The performance put on by Johnson, Hodge and Milburn happens in every series to some extent or another. In fact there were far worse displays in the ‘80’s. It has nothing to do with provocation. The Irish don’t know how to tackle, to bump, to protect themselves. It’s not part of their game. Their first instinct is to block, not tackle. They stood up for themselves last night but from what I saw from being there, from watching the tape and from what the commentators said, it was clear who the aggressors were. It’s the way the Australians believe they have to play and they are encouraged by the latitude the Umpire/Referee gives them. Why bother about trying to work out provocation ? The players and Sheedy don’t. That’s the way they play to win.

 

[MadRyan]

Justin Fletcher?

I hope there is someway to purchase an offical DVD for this game, it was awesome.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

This game is a joke. All it is achieving is causing international incidents of bad feeling between Australia and Ireland. It should be dispensed with and forgotten about.

I haven't watched either game, simply because I'm not the least bit interested, but I turned the TV on last night and saw 30 seconds of it. I saw an Irish player on the ground and the comment was that Milburn had mugged the Irish player. When they showed the replay, it clearly showed the Irish player taking on Milburn first, Milburn turned and pushed the Irish player in retaliation. The Irish player went down like he'd been shot by an elephant gun.

If the Irish don't like the pysical way in which Australia plays the game then don't participate. It's how we play the game.

This hybrid game is pathetic. As I've said, all it achieves is creating bad blood between the two nations. Either play Gaelic Football or Aussies Rules, or don't play at all.

 

[Rawhead]

No I caught the clenched teeth in slow motion. In real time, he was plainly wrong footed. No doubt he entered the contest fiercely, no doubt he intended to make solid contact but those thoughts combined with being wrong footed caused the intended fierce contact to be too high. Reflex and Intent meet Circumstance and voila, we saw what we saw. Happens all the time in League actually, still get rubbed out for it but seldom to they intend to take someone's head off.

You say it much better than I can.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

The Australians are always the aggressors.

I'm sorry, after this part all I heard was blah blah blah ... I'm a dirty tramp.

 

[O Grobbecker]

I'm sorry, after this part all I heard was blah blah blah ... I'm a dirty tramp.

That comes from having the naive belief that members of your team, in this case, Australia, are somehow morally superior to their opponents and are justified in their actions. Why bother torturing your mind searching for justification with must haves and clenched teeth ? The players don't. They just want to win.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

That comes from having the naive belief that members of your team, in this case, Australia, are somehow morally superior to their opponents and are justified in their actions. Why bother torturing your mind searching for justification with must haves and clenched teeth ? The players don't. They just want to win.

I don't think they are all justified but in some cases, they were merely responding.

As for not worrying about circumstances, intent and the like .... great idea. We should bring it in to the AFL next season. We won't need hearings, just assume that every player did it deliberately and maliciously and issue the appropriate penalty. The AFL will save buckets.

 

[O Grobbecker]

As for not worrying about circumstances, intent and the like .... great idea. We should bring it in to the AFL next season. We won't need hearings, just assume that every player did it deliberately and maliciously and issue the appropriate penalty. The AFL will save buckets.

Circumstances, intent and the like are issues for a tribunal which makes its decision on them from evidence. You don't have any. All you have is a vision of Johnson's clenched teeth and "must have". You are assuming that Johnson , Hodge and co were provoked. Ask yourself why you make that assumption and why you are trying to justify their actions. Even if you find provocation, is that provocation sufficient to justify striking to the head area ? Do the Irish provoke in every series ?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Circumstances, intent and the like are issues for a tribunal which makes its decision on them from evidence. You don't have any. All you have is a vision of Johnson's clenched teeth and "must have".

And I also have the experience of seeing numerous situations where a player is arm tackled high after being wrong footed. As I said before, happens all the time in League.

You are assuming that Johnson , Hodge and co were provoked.

I said that Hodge was provoked and body language lead me to believe that Milburn may have been.

Ask yourself why you make that assumption and why you are trying to justify their actions.

I did ask myself that and myself said not to ask silly questions because I had already given examples of provocation in Hodge's case earlier.

Even if you find provocation, is that provocation sufficient to justify striking to the head area ?

Getting thinner here. Where did I justify Johnson's contact? I merely said that he was wrong footed, that much is obvious. I also said that it would draw a couple of weeks suspension in the AFL. My motive is to temper the hysteria we are seeing here by reducing Johnson down slightly from attempted murder status.

Do the Irish provoke in every series ?

Yes and so do the Aussies and so does at least one member of every single AFL side in every single AFL game in every single season of its entire history. IMO at least one act of provocation takes place in every game, whether the opposing player(s) choose to react to it is a different matter altogether.

 

[OldLion]

What I said was well done Australia - faster, fitter, stronger and more skilfull this year. It was our turn last year and we'll wait our turn next year. Well done again - the fighting etc didn't affect the result in the slightest.

Well said .. bring it on.

 

[finders]

Exactly. The irish started as many fights as the aussies. johnson should be embarassed from what he did. But he is a Jacana boy so what do you expect (anyone who has played against Jacana would know what i'm talking about)

McLoed is a star i wish he didn't play Adelaide.

So what about the kick to the Aussie players nuts - was that nice and "sporting"?
The Irish are turning into worse whingers that the Poms when they lose anything.