In depth Grand Final analysis

So the AFL Grand Final is today; the Blood-stained Angels versus the West Coast Coolers. I don't have a great emotional investment in the game, but I hope the Swannies win, for one very good reason - I've only ever met one Coolers supporter and the world would have been a better place if he had been shot into a sock.

Funny place, W.A. Very friendly place generally, the only city I'd ever live in again, but xenophobic. I lived there in the eighties and the only way I could get past the initial interview phase when I was job searching was to lie and tell them I grew up in Perth (Hi to all my old classmates at Mt. Lawley High, whoever you are). When it comes to sport, Sandgropers are nearly as parochial as Queenslanders. In 1986 or 1987, when I was living there, there was a State of Origin Game between W.A. and Victoria. For weeks beforehand the front and back pages of the West Australian and the Daily News were devoted to stories explaining how W.A. was going to spank the Vics. There was never any doubt that it was going to happen, just a bit of conjecture about how the outcome was going to be reached. I was at Subiaco Oval when the Vics showed the Sandgropers how to play the game.

You had to go three pages in from the back of the West Australian the next day to read about it - Idon't think the Daily News covered it at all.