G'day, it's been a while and I have a whiff of the football in the air so I just wanted to say my two bob's worth (if it's good enough for [censored] Pratt then it's good enough for me).

We were the originators of the Irish Experiment bringing Sean Wight, Jimmy Stynes and a few others across from Ireland and, in a way, it helped to rejuvenate the club.

Why is it then, that the Irishmen playing in the AFL today are with the Swans, the Blues and the Lions and now I read in the paper that Collingwood has a real gun of a youngster from the Emerald Isle already playing in a praccy match?

Have we taken our eyes off the ball?

What rejuvenated the Club was the identification of talented players whether they be Irish of otherwise. Wight was good but Stynes was a gem though! As a front leader in this field we reaped early benefits which I dont think are there today.

The rules governing the Irish experiment have changed and the risks/costs of punting on an Irish lad are tougher relative to a locally grown player. An Irish player represents a draft choice....I think.

In addition, as shown in the recent Hybrid rules debacle (I mean competition), the professional / physical gap between the two sports has widened and thus the development required is significantly more.

Anyway for the all the recruits that have come from Ireland only Tadgh Kenneally with the Swans is any good. There are been a lot of ordinary ones in between.

Good post RR. I tell you what though, I've heard a lot about Colm Begley from the lions. Apparently he's a freak. If the rumours and gossip is true from my sources, he'll be a 250-gamer, and star.

Time will tell.

Good post RR. I tell you what though, I've heard a lot about Colm Begley from the lions. Apparently he's a freak. If the rumours and gossip is true from my sources, he'll be a 250-gamer, and star.

Time will tell.

Seems to me that Collingwood are pretty happy with the way their bloke played in his first practice game against the Swans up in Sydney last night.

Good post RR. I tell you what though, I've heard a lot about Colm Begley from the lions. Apparently he's a freak. If the rumours and gossip is true from my sources, he'll be a 250-gamer, and star.

Time will tell.

They also said that about Jarred Brennan. Good grief what a gumby man he turn out to be!

We've taken a few over the last 10 years and they turned out to be complete flops. Nicholas Walsh and Kevin Devine spring to mind.

They also said that about Jarred Brennan. Good grief what a gumby man he turn out to be!

This is true.

paddy was a highlight at aftermatch functions though!!!