Saturday’s weather was cold, wet and windy – not ideal conditions for football. That said, 100,007 people crammed into the ‘G’ for a much anticipated Grand Final between Hawthorn and Fremantle. The rest of us hit our local pubs, lounge-rooms & anywhere else with a working TV. 2:30pm & the game kicked off to a very shaky start, both sides battling nerves, Freo particularly overwhelmed by the occasion. Goals were hard to come by, champion players like Mathew Pavlich missing easy shots he’d normally kick any day of the week. The standard lifted in the 2nd half. The Dockers threw everything at it, but alas remained hapless in front of goal. The Hawks kept their cool & methodically ran out winners by 15 points. Not a spectacular Grand Final for mine, more a war of errors.

And that’s it for 5 months (unless you’re into Rugby – their Grand Final happens this weekend). Cricket begins shortly, spring racing carnival next month, tennis and all that summer stuff. But for those of us who are dyed-in-the-wool footy-junkies, March 2014 can’t come fast enough.

Fires out.
PS – still writing new songs for the next album.

This is it. AFL Grand Final weekend about to begin. Hawthorn vs Freemantle in pitch battle tomorrow at the MCG playing for footy’s holy grail. We’re told the half time entertainment will be an all-Australian affair (AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was heard to say during the week, “We’re still recovering from Meatloaf…”). This year it’ll be Hunters and Collectors & Birds of Tokyo.

Birds of Tokyo, half time entertainment – AFL Grand Final 2013.

Is it just me or was last night’s footy show the best indication yet that homo-erotica and a more-than-curious fascination with cross dressing has reached a coming-of-age in AFL football? For those who didn’t see it (or don’t watch it) channel nine’s footy show reaches a crescendo each year on Thursday night before the Grand Final, with a monster live show at Rod Laver Arena. Every year they close the show with the infamous ‘players review’ – a bunch of current & ex-footballers strutting their stuff live on stage to backing tracks. We’ve gotta give it to ex-Melbourne player David Rodan – that man can really dance. Other acts included Sam Newman as Elton John, miming ‘Tiny Dancer’ to a ‘little person’ in drag atop a grand piano, Garry Lyon costumed as fish-net stockinged Sher straddling a giant cannon, and a current player thoroughly revelling in being a very skimpily-clad Miley Cyrus for the night. And so it went.

Hey, I’m not complaining – just an observation.

Don’t know who to pick for tomorrow. I’m thinking Hawthorn… but they will definitely have their work cut out for them.

Fires out.

Another great weekend of AFL final-series football, starting Friday night with a drop-dead thriller at the MCG. Hawthorn narrowly defeated Geelong for a spot in this weekend’s Grand Final. What a game it was. Geelong looked like they had it at 3-quarter-time. But the Hawks clawed their way back into the lead with just minutes to go. It was an epic final – and one you’d expect from these two great sides. The game was there for either team to win right to the last, Geelong’s Travis Varcoe shooting dead in front and missing with about 30 seconds left on the clock, everybody at the Park Hotel on the edge of their seats (or leaping into the air at fever-pitch). In the end, the Hawks by 5 points. Highlights below –

Saturday night, Fremantle defeated Sydney to take their place in Saturday’s Grand Final. The game was a bit disappointing – a scrappy affair in the first quarter, both teams battling finals-footy nerves. The game was pretty much over by half time, Freo 39 points up & Sydney not looking good. The Swans had a late rally in the dying moments but fell 25 points short at the final siren.

So it’s a Hawthorn/Fremantle Grand Final for 2013 – not a match many would have picked.

Fires out.

Finals fever gripping Melbourne. Tonight, heading down to the Park Hotel to watch the first weekend blockbuster preliminary final between Geelong & Hawthorn. Most people picking the Hawks against a depleted & injured Geelong. I don’t know which way to go. Deep down I’m thinking the Hawks will kill it. But Geelong are renowned for their toughness & discipline. The Hawks have also not beaten Geelong for 5 years… (highlights from last weekend’s semi final, Sydney v Carlton below)

Tomorrow night, off to the Barkers with house-mate Scotty for the Sydney v Freo game live from Perth. The Bakers on Victoria Street Abbotsford is always an experience to behold. It gets pretty crazy in there – and not necessarily in a good way.

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Great day yesterday. Sun was out, beautiful Melbourne spring day spent listening to Dandy Warhols, Interpol & early Floyd. Got down to the infamous Bakers Arms on Saturday night with housemate Scotty to watch the Swans defeat Carlton in the 2nd semi-final. Only one person thrown out of the pub for the whole night – not bad. Friday night we went down to the mighty Park Hotel for the 1st semi – Geelong & Port. A thriller, Geelong coming away with a fairly narrow win.

This coming weekend, it’s big. Hawthorn plays Geelong in a total blockbuster at the G on Friday night, followed by Freo & the Swans, Saturday night in Perth. Strange not having footy on a Sunday as we near the end of yet another fantastic AFL season. Milking it for all it’s worth (before cricket begins).

Fires out.

Writing new songs this week. Buried in it. More news soon. Good weekend of footy coming up. Geelong & Port Adelaide tonight, Sydney & Carlton tomorrow. Highlights from last week’s finals clash between Collingwood & Port…

Ahhhhhhh the footy.
Listening to Biggsy on Triple R Radio (Melbourne) at the moment. What an awesome show (Friday mornings 9-12).

Fires out.

Nice way to cap off a great weekend. Went down to the Brunswick hotel last night to see Chapter Ray & Veludo. Pretty good crowd for a Sunday night. Excellent sound at the Brunswick these days – crystal-clear, thumping PA. Chapter Ray hitting their stride with plenty of shows under their belt. Love watching the guys smash it out.

Chapter Ray, Brunswick Hotel Sunday 8th September 2013.

Opening band, Veludo were a surprise. A rock show delivered with powerful vocals, their material a little Floyd-ish, with The Strokes & U2 in the mix. Check em out if you can.

Veludo, Brunswick Hotel Sunday 8th September 2013.

Feeling pretty good this fine Monday morning, learning to pace oneself a little better – especially on a Sunday…

Fires out.

The On Fires are proud sponsors of Macleay Valley Eagles AFL football club. I was at their home ground on the NSW north coast last month to film their last game before the finals series. Last weekend the under 13’s were premiership victors & the under 15’s were narrowly beaten in their grand final.

This week, 5 young Eagles players (in the pic below) were selected to go Albury in 2 weeks to play in the State Zone Trails over 4 days – where AFL scouts will be in attendance looking for new talent. My folks (Dad’s the Coach & his partner Ronda the club secretary) have been taking the boys to Coffs Harbour every Monday night for training in the Swans Academy. Ronda sent me this pic in an email this morning, saying “To see these smiling faces makes it all worth while.”

Go Eagles!

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Stepanov’s Starlings latest video – great song guys…

Stepanov’s Starlings (Скворцы Степанова… by BlankTV

We played the same festival in Poland with Stepanov’s a few years ago. Really nice guys. Still keeping in touch. We’ll catch em again one day…

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Made an impromptu appearance on stage at The Vagrants’ show on Saturday night at Whole Lotta Love bar in Brunswick. It was a great night. The guys had 6 different acts jumping up on stage with em, and between their sets – we jumped up for a couple of songs, including a new one set to be on the next album.

Whole Lotta Love, Brunswick East, Saturday night – Photo thanks to Mal Bowker.

We’ve got big news coming. Stay tuned for the coming week or so.

Fires out.