In the 2005 International Rules series, Johnson was named co-captain along with Andrew McLeod . Johnson started a brawl by close line tackling one of the Irish team. After this he was seen to search around for other players to strike. During the course of the brawl he floored 4 Irish players. He was suspended for 5 matches after pleading guilty to striking, ruling him out until the second Test in 2008.

You’re dead right, and I’m completely wrong there, apologies. What I should have said is that the International Rules officials are really lax towards violence, and the players know they can get away with things because there is no incentive for them to keep it clean.

“Although it is a more physical game in some senses they aren’t the thugs everyone keeps saying they are.”

Watch the video linked above. Watch it again. And keep watching it until you realise that statement is completely wrong.

“Can i remind you of the Tyrone vs Dublin game?”

That was a disgrace. The match official on the day, and later the GAA, failed to deal with it properly. There’s a great parallel here to what’s happened in the International Series.

Tyrone went out that day with the intention of playing at the limit of the laws, and went overboard when the referee didn’t stop them. Dublin retaliated quite nastily. Both teams were called up but the punishments were a joke and didn’t even identify the correct players.

Australia went out with the intention of playing at the limit of the laws, and went overboard when the referee didn’t stop them. Ireland retaliated quite pathetically. Nobody was called up over it, the punishments are non-existant and the GAA rakes in the cash and hopes that people forget about it before the next series happens.

Also why should of the Australian players have had to withstand the racist abuse received in the first test?

Bullshit. What unbelievable bullshit.

“I can categorically tell you it is completely untrue that our players have suffered any racial abuse”

Demetriou, the AFL’s chief executive, who is in Ireland with the Australian team, yesterday said the allegation of racial abuse was untrue, insulting to the Irish and an indication that Fevola was “looking for excuses” for his unacceptable behaviour.

They are far harsher may i add then the ones GAA players receive when commiting violence such as the player who hit a referee. 2 months ban, now that is comical. Why isn’t he banned for life??

Although it is a more physical game in some senses they aren’t the thugs everyone keeps saying they are.

‘Rules are more lax about fighting, and violence is tolerated if not encouraged outright.’ -Thats an interesting statement considering I’ve never seen anything like last saturday in the AFL. Can i remind you of the Tyrone vs Dublin game??

Also why should of the Australian players have had to withstand the racist abuse received in the first test? Just because the Irish GAA players are too cowardly to play hard out-right they have to hide they sly fouls and knees to the back elbowing… the list goes on!

Geraghty was deliberately targetted to be taken out, and was. Your comment that “the ground did it” doesn’t wash. The Irish did not give as good as they got, they’re footballers, not boxers.

AFL is a much harder game physically than GAA. Rules are more lax about fighting, and violence is tolerated if not encouraged outright. AFL fans are vocal in their admiration of the hard-man style of play, example CJ above.

The Australians know this, and capitalised on this difference to bully the Irish and smack them around the park. They established their physical superiority illegally (although sanctioned by these wet-towel referees).

What we could do next year is field a team of hard-men. Give them months of boxing experience along with their football practice. Put them on an even par with the violence loving Aussies.

Go out with the explicit plan to retaliate, preferably with overwhelming force (shock and awe strategy). Put 3-5 Australians in stretchers unconscious, with broken limbs or other serious but preferably non-life threatening injuries. Of course the Aussies wouldn’t be standing still while all this is going on, so it’s important they’re skilled in self-defence.

Then after establishing an overwhelming physical dominance, it should be pretty easy to run in some goals. After all, Aussie managed it this year, right?