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.

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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).

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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).

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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…

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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.

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Another big weekend gone. Loving being back home in Melbourne – a fantastic town for bands, art & culture. We’ll be staying put for a while (not touring), soaking up the city & letting the creativity find it’s way back to us for the next album. Started out the weekend on Friday night at the mighty Park Hotel, then the Corner in Richmond. Saturday afternoon at ACME for a Melbourne Writers Festival show featuring Ophira Eisenberg, key-note speaking on her latest book ‘Screw Everyone’. Saturday night – a pub crawl starting at The Park, IDGAFF next for a couple of local bands, quick stops at the Barleycorn & The Bendigo, landing finally at The Tote. Awesome. Topped off with Indian food at 3am in Victoria Street. Sunday – recovery.

Ophira Eisenberg at ACME – Melbourne Writers Festival 2013.

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Flew back last night from a great weekend up on the north coast of New South Wales. Went down to watch & film some grass-roots AFL footy at South Kempsey Oval on Sunday. My folks are involved in the Macleay Valley Eagles football club, coaching the kids & running the club’s administration. There’s some amazing talent being developed there. Suffice to say, the weather was beautiful, 25 degrees & blue skies (very unlike the weather 1200 kilometres south in Melbourne). All three Eagles teams (under 11’s, 13’s and 15’s) won their games easily, showing great courage & skill throughout. Sunday was the last game for each team before the finals next weekend. The under 15’s have been undefeated this year – a major achievement for the club.

Macleay Valley Eagles, Under 11’s at South Kempsey Oval, Sunday 1th August 2013.

After the game, we went to the beach-front pub at South West Rocks, met up with friends & watched a local indigenous band playing blues & Bob Marley tunes. Perfect Sunday arvo. Capped off the day back at my folks place, watching the Western Bulldogs win against Adelaide.

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