Roos and Kirk - See ya later

Except for the first quarter the Bulldogs never looked like they were in the hunt. Like Labor, in our still undecided election, they were smashed. Poetic really because Julia Gillard PM is the number one ticket holder for the Bulldogs. More likely though the reason the doggies were belted was because this was Brett Kirk and Paul Roos' last game at the SCG. Both will be heading into retirement at the end of the season and the team gave them the send off they deserved.

Every time Captain Kirk went near the ball the crowd rose to their feet. It was a typical Kirky performance. Not so typically he ended up with two goals himself. The last one coming a few minutes before the end that brought a roar from the crowd that would have lifted the roof of the SCG if it had one.

Roosy was the coach that finally snagged a premiership for the Swans for the first time in 72 years and Kirky has been the spiritual leader of the Swans on the ground for the last 10 years. I, for one, will miss Roosy and Kirky but coaches and players come and go and they've both left a legacy for the club that will pay dividends over the coming years. We hope.

The season isn't over yet though and who knows whether Roos and Kirk will be holding up the Premiership cup come that last Saturday in September? At this stage the Swans are set up to at least give a couple of the other finalist a fright during the finals. Pity their record against Collingwood and Geelong is so abysmal. Then again we're due for a win.

SMH match report

I got a Brett Kirk souvenir face mask.

As we were about to leave after the game former Swan and living legend Micky O'Loughlin bounded down the stairs near us so I asked him for a picture.

Leigh Colbert the former North Melbourne and Geelong champ and current boundary rider for Fox Sport.

Before the match the latest bronze statue to honour former footy and cricketing greats was unveiled in front of the SCG. This one, being hugged by Wolverine, is form Swan's legend Paul Kelly.

Footy, rain, beer and chips

Ah the joys of the footy in the rain. Who cares about a torrential downpour if your team wins though. The Swans beat the Bombers by 8 points in the end after 19 changes of lead during the game and margins no greater than 7 points until right at the end. A good close hard fought game. After the footy it was time to dry off at the pub (The Bat And Ball Hotel) for a couple of beers and a bowl of chips. Thanks Davo.

Where would we be without plastic ponchos? Up until half time it had been a glorious sunny winter's day. After half time it pissed down.

The presentation of the Marngrook Trophy awarded to the winner of this annual indigenous honouring game between Essendon and Sydney.

Swannies indigenous and recently retired legend Micky O'Loughlin carries off the trophy he presented the winning Swans.

Beer O'clock at the Bat And Ball.

Peter Garrett wasn't the only VIP at the footy...

There's the usual footy commentators doing their pre-match spiel before the game. Below we have Jason "The Chief" Dunstall and Alastair Lynch.

And of course one of the German branch of the family (hey Ben) visiting for a couple of weeks and here to get a footy fix before going back to Deutschland for that funny round ball game.

Peter Garrett

Former Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett was at the footy (Swans v Dockers at the SCG) to toss the coin. So I had to get my photo taken with him. I asked if I could get a photo and he suggested that I should jump in too. I managed to stuff up the settings with the camera so the first picture taken was a total fail. This is the result for the retake which Peter was very obliging to re-pose for.

Tall isn't he. I'm 180cm (around 6 foot) and I felt like a tubby little Oompa-Loompa next to Pete. Peter is a friendly guy in a not too patronising way that some politicians are too. Hopefully being a government minister these days doesn't totally ruin the man.

I am a total Oils fan boy from way back. The first time I saw Midnight Oil live was in 1982 and sadly the last was WaveAid in 2005. Hopefully I managed not to make a complete arse of myself today.

Thanks Leo, Jarrod and Mick

BRISBANE 3.5 10.8 13.9 15.10 (100)
SYDNEY 3.4 6.6 11.7 14.8 (92)
Match report from The Sydney Morning Herald here. More about the farewell to the boys here and here and here.

Adam Goodes

A bit of wind and Jarrod gets treatment

3 quarter time

Absolutely

Last game for the year

Bobby Skilton.

Jason Dunstall from Fox Footy

The former hawk legend, the Chief, loves the fans enough that he'll even smile for some mug leaning over the fence with a camera.

11pm update: The Swans end up going down to the Saints by one lousy point. That is 18 wins in a row for the Saints so it wasn't too bad going down to the best team in the comp.
SMH Realfooty match report here.

Lou on the bench

Kick to kick

Win! Phew

SYDNEY SWANS 3.4 7.6 11.7 15.10 (100)
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.3 8.5 10.6 13.7 (85)
Realfooty match report here.

Bugger, they won't point the camera in my direction

Reserves coach Brett Alison being interviewed at half time in the main game

Swans down by 5 points.

Rohan Smith taking a break from boundary riding for Foxtel

Lou and pop at the footy

Kick to kick after the game