The tension in Perth was unbelievable, I spent my day in Subiaco at the VIC Hotel, unusual start to the day with showers it was a day I had no idea who would win knowing the Eagles v Swans battles which are destined to become as famous as the great Hawthorn v Essendon battles in the 80's.

Unusually I was so wanting the Eagles to win, the passion that had escaped me beforehand was coming back...this was more then just Eagles this was getting back the holy grail to Western Australia. Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia had reached the pinnacle and I wanted the cup back in sandgroper hands.

I was a nervous wreck the whole day and the scenes in Perth where unbelievable...nobody was on the road at all in Subiaco after the game it was deserted, the mayhem inside the pub was nothing short of world class culture for a bunch of chardonnay sipping pricks.

On every other day of the year I would feel different, but this was different...we hugged every goal in the last half, screamed every goal, and shared the agony of the tight contest...Western Australians used their typical optimism and thought they had won it at half time, but I was nervous throughout the game.

Once it got to 30mins into the last quarter, the pub was cheering every handpass that got to another player, swearing at misskick and then alll hell broke loose.

The VIC Hotel had scenes of people screaming and hugging anyone they could see...this is the unifying aspect, we had defeated the Eastern States, the cities pinnacle and most loved child had reached the holy grail and despite the bravado prior to kick off, most Eagles supporters knew it would be a tough game and where in shock that we had beaten the swans.

When the final siren went I jumped and hugged so many people, Sam got evicted for flying into the bloke with a hug that pummelled this bloke to the ground...but this was not a day where anyone was to be agro.

I then met up with Irish Welsh Boyo, Peterss and Sathc at the Irish Club, where a domestic was happening between a couple who supported different teams...one for the swans and the other the eagles, I went inside and you had individuals just repeating the eagles song time after time.

But the real party is about to come, what has been most noticeable is how deserted the city was, 500 seats where spare at the Wildcats due to the Grand Final and everyone in Melbourne and the pubs in and around the city where decidely less full with the commercial networks estimating 30,000 had travelled across to Melbourne.

But the real thing, was the closing of the chapter, the team I had adored and would literally stop my world at a youngster had finally reached the Premiership glory, I shed tears seeing the team and remembering how much passion I had for this team at one point of time, it came back for about 2 mins, I then realised I am a different person to the one who adored only the Eagles.

But the Premiership victory was just as sweet...and I had no qualms about being at this magical day in Perth rather then the MCG.

When we get our supporters back, to see the Grand Final Parade and them presenting the Premiership Cup.

Well it will be a day to saviour.

I am just hoping the feeling I had today is not done to death by the constant media attention for the next 6 months, I NEED to have a break to be excited about the following AFL season...took me about 11 weeks to actually get hyped up about AFL.

Anyways I will stop my rant now, what a day.

Commiserations to JF and all Swans supporters, I know how it feels to lose a cliffhanger and to lose by a point will be sitting bad in their stomach for a while...

I think both songs are equal in thier mediocrity.

Glad the eagles won.

Wow Egan - tell us how the Dockers supporting half of you feels.

I was working yesterday so I caught most of the game on the run from my boss hiding in Harvey Norman, Bing Lee or whichever other place at work had a TV. At the end of it, around 20 shoppers and staff gathered at Bing Lee as it was the only store with its TV on after 5:00pm. The AFL is doing a good job promoting itself in Sydney but has a way to go. This is what I heard around me in the final term.

"Brisbane just kicked another goal to lead by 7 again."

"Yes!!!!"
"What happened?"
"Sydney just got a penalty."

Anger at foul words
01 October 2006 Sunday Herald Sun
Chris Tinkler

FAMILIES watching Channel 10's coverage of yesterday's Grand Final have seen red over a series of four-letter outbursts by celebrating Eagles stars.

Asked how he felt after the final siren, forward Quinten Lynch blurted out: ``It's f---ing a boy's dream, this is, to play in a Grand Final and to get up by one point.

``We're just rapt to get away with a win. It's f---ing awesome.''

Minutes later Dean Cox said: ``To the boys' credit, ah f---, we fought deep.''

Mike Martin, watching at home with his family, said it was a disgrace that left a sour taste after such a great contest.

``Channel 10 and the West Coast Eagles should have a lot to answer for, for allowing that to go to air,'' he said.

Collingwood fan Paul Baker said: ``It was rude and uncouth ... there is absolute no excuse for repeatedly using that language in front of millions of kids.''

But Channel 10 was unapologetic last night.

A spokeswoman said: ``It's a live broadcast, so we have to take what's there. We can't stop them swearing.''

The West Coast administration could not be reached.

Eagles supporters are loving it...

Jeffles - Go hide in a cave

It was about supporting the WA team, I would feel the same way for the Dockers, but a different feeling because I had no history.

Anyways, I have one of my teams as Premiers of the AFL

Forza WA.

Pretty sure it's on.

Cousins f**k off. You arent the captain. You were the captain and blew that because you are an idoit. Don't get up there and pretend you are. Oh, I forgot, he has always been a c***.

I was under the impression that Goodes was from Edenhope which is pretty close to the SA border.

The other favourite son of that town, Phil Carmen gravitated to SA rather than Vic by going to Collingwood via Sturt instead of straight to the Magpies (although that was Essendon's zone borderline Richmond) so maybe Goodes did something similar? But then that wouldn't explain why he was with Bendio Pioneers.

Compare the dignity and grace of Judd on the victory dias to the wankishness of Cousins. I said to a mate of mine after the game Cousins could be the next Claremont serial killer and the Perth coppers would say, "Don't worry about it Ben, it's ok. Just win back-to back" such as the manner he could get away with anything at the moment.

Also how smug did Cousins look when he was interviewed by 'Bird Man' Gossage. Speaking of propeller head, he was out there fellating all the Eagles players and celebrating as if he won the premiership.

Congrats to West Coast. Awesome game and well deserved.






Footnote: I happened to watch the match with the Sydney supporter groups of Collingwood, Richmond and Hawthorn and the Richmond President is trying to recruit me back to the fold. Good luck!

The result of a 'same old, same old' GF.......a HUGE loss in Sydney, but quite a jump in Perth, no doubt the bandwagoners boosted the figure after hearing the score, not too bad in Melbourne, and a good result in Brisbane aswell, only lost 11k, and after their poor Finals ratings its pretty good.

The NRL GF will certainly beat the AFL GF, with two interstate teams the NRL would be cheering....it would be interesting to see the figures for the AFL GF if it were played at night (in primetime)....

Today

Subiaco Oval - 30,000 people
Airport -1500 people

Was so funny hearing Punda, so bloody drunk at 4:00pm the next day, couldn't get his hands off the cup

- ROFL ROFL ROFL...I think I am going to be sick of this hype noobia in a few days.

Sorry Mr. Handel but I need a new signature.

Channel 10 has a special program on the premiership win this friday night...

I am wondering when the media are going to get over this...