Aug 27

The Natives are Restless

Talking Balls Comments
Native Autralian in typical pose. He and his Irish cousins have much in common. Allegedly.
According to former Aussie Rules manager Kevin Sheedy, Irish people and ‘indigenous’ Australians (we mustn’t be allowed to call them Aborigines anymore) have a lot in common.

He made the comment when advocating the introduction of a third team to the International Rules series made up entirely from Aborigines.

“It would be fair to say that the two groups have a lot in common. Irish people and indigenous people have had a pretty tough life.”

Sheedy you will recall was in charge of the team of kangaroos who boxed, kicked and thumped their way through the 2006 series. Highlights of his time in charge included Graham Geraghty stretchered off the pitch in Croker and Philly Jordan clotheslined out in Oz.

So what exactly do the native Irish and the native Aborigines have in common? Well, probably a fondness for the drink; a history of being battered by white Australians; and a language and culture all of their own that has been systematically oppressed by the Brits. And the perennial problem of listening to patronising shite form the likes of Sheedy.

Talking Balls has a better idea, why don’t the regular Aussies, Sheedy and all feck off and let the natives get on with it without them. That sounds like a good international rule.