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Monfries' International Rules diary
Friday, 4 November 2011
Staff writers for essendonfc.com.au
Page 1 of 1
Bomber fans can follow star forward Angus Monfries as he blogs about the experiences of playing for Australia against Ireland in the upcoming International Rules Series.
Follow Monfries’ diary over the course of the series.
Saturday: Beach Recovery
It was a welcome change to get out of a cold Melbourne and up to the much warmer Gold Coast on Saturday.
After a solid skills session and some additional running we headed straight for the beach. Although it was a bit overcast, there was a dangerous rip, and a 40-knot wind was blowing, the boys had fun paddling around in the shallows and trying to bodysurf on a few waves.
Wednesday: Jet Boating
Wednesday was a beautiful day, and to break things up the group went on some activities. Half of us did a hot lap in a V8 and the other half went jet boating around the canals and inlets of the Gold Coast.
Having chosen to go jet boating, I sat in the front row of the boat alongside Brad Green and Andrew Swallow. That turned out to be a great decision, because those who sat towards the back of the boat, including our coach Rodney "Rocket" Eade, got absolutely drenched.
Our driver, Scott, was a great bloke. He showed off his skills with some daring manoeuvres, navigating his way around poles, trees and fallen logs as well as spinning the boat at high speeds. All the boys had a great time and enjoyed the experience.
Bus Rides
When travelling as a team, getting from A to B usually depends on a bus. I have usually found that where someone sits on a bus tells a lot about his personality.
A general rule of thumb: extroverts up the back more introverted and quieter guys up the front. So it's been no surprise, and has proven my theory correct, that Mitch Robinson and Stephen Milne have been a constant feature at the back of the bus."
Follow Monfries’ diary over the course of the series.
Friday: Post Game
"After a very disappointing start to the series, the boys were already looking forward to getting up to the Gold Coast for another crack at the Irish as they got changed and packed up their bags at Etihad Stadium.
A change room post-game can be such a different place depending on how a result goes.
When you win, every man and his dog are down in the rooms. People are patting you on the back, the boys are up and about doing recovery, and icing the sore spots doesn't seem a chore.
But when you lose, it's almost like an old western movie where you see tumbleweed bouncing across the floor. The rooms are empty and quiet.
"After a very disappointing start to the series, the boys were already looking forward to getting up to the Gold Coast for another crack at the Irish as they got changed and packed up their bags at Etihad Stadium.
A change room post-game can be such a different place depending on how a result goes.
When you win, every man and his dog are down in the rooms. People are patting you on the back, the boys are up and about doing recovery, and icing the sore spots doesn't seem a chore.
But when you lose, it's almost like an old western movie where you see tumbleweed bouncing across the floor. The rooms are empty and quiet.
Saturday: Beach Recovery
It was a welcome change to get out of a cold Melbourne and up to the much warmer Gold Coast on Saturday.
After a solid skills session and some additional running we headed straight for the beach. Although it was a bit overcast, there was a dangerous rip, and a 40-knot wind was blowing, the boys had fun paddling around in the shallows and trying to bodysurf on a few waves.
Wednesday: Jet Boating
Wednesday was a beautiful day, and to break things up the group went on some activities. Half of us did a hot lap in a V8 and the other half went jet boating around the canals and inlets of the Gold Coast.
Having chosen to go jet boating, I sat in the front row of the boat alongside Brad Green and Andrew Swallow. That turned out to be a great decision, because those who sat towards the back of the boat, including our coach Rodney "Rocket" Eade, got absolutely drenched.
Our driver, Scott, was a great bloke. He showed off his skills with some daring manoeuvres, navigating his way around poles, trees and fallen logs as well as spinning the boat at high speeds. All the boys had a great time and enjoyed the experience.
Bus Rides
When travelling as a team, getting from A to B usually depends on a bus. I have usually found that where someone sits on a bus tells a lot about his personality.
A general rule of thumb: extroverts up the back more introverted and quieter guys up the front. So it's been no surprise, and has proven my theory correct, that Mitch Robinson and Stephen Milne have been a constant feature at the back of the bus."
2011 International Rules Series
Second Test – November 4, 7.45pm
Metricon Stadium
Second Test – November 4, 7.45pm
Metricon Stadium
The Second Test will be aired tonight on Channel Ten from 8.00pm AEDT.
Click here to purchase last minute tickets to Metricon Stadium for tonight's final clash against Ireland.
Click here to purchase last minute tickets to Metricon Stadium for tonight's final clash against Ireland.
- PLAYER PROFILE: Angus Monfries
Your comments
Showing of 32 comments. Show more
Angus, getting between A&B may not be so simple these days. Imagine yourself sitting next to Schrödinger's cat on that bus. On the intoverted days when it is alive, you can discuss the human bias for causation between A&B based on spatial separation and how players can be geometrically connected and surf collapsing waves of probability density, taking advantage quantum entanglement and local hidden variables. On the other extroverted days...well, maybe you could help us trade Alan Joyce to the Irish and toss him onto their bus.
- Thomas Faunce (posted 4/11/2011 2:36:19 PM) 
Is that photo Angus Monfries or the Incredible Hulk? Sure looks like he has been working hard already. Well done Gussy!
- Nicole Watson (posted 4/11/2011 3:58:32 PM)
Someone,anyone,please,tell me what Tommy said. :).
- Bill Carbis (posted 4/11/2011 6:44:20 PM)
Settle,Nicole.. :-)
I'm waiting for Huskie or Kris to reply Bill... in the meantime,just taken a coupla Aspro Clear,think I'll get my ukulele out and tune it up for a session.. :-)
- Noel Shields (posted 4/11/2011 8:10:13 PM)
Would love you too tell us about the bus situation when all the bombers players get on a bus.. Gussy for the new blogger?
- Rhedyn Milecki (posted 5/11/2011 12:44:04 AM)
Angus, I think what you describe as 'rule of thumb' was more 'rule of weight distribution' and 'oxygen conservation'. Carlton cement head at the rear to stop any potential fishtails and St. Kilda bigmouth there to allow everyone else a lease on life.
- Kris Bayne (posted 5/11/2011 1:49:35 AM)
Hi Bill... Noel... umm... I believe what Tommy said was, "See me, feel me. Touch me, heal me."
- Kris Bayne (posted 5/11/2011 1:59:15 AM)
Just love reading these comments. what a great bunch of supporters we have. luv you guys. Hey Angus, sorry to see you yellow carded when you were only attempting to break up the scurmish. Appears the Irish have skills with that ball we never use. Still I love watching this game, lets keep it "clean" & full of skills. Then it's great to watch & important for both countries to participate in. Great watching you Angus.fantastic experience for you. Hope you have another guernsey,as the Australian jumper looked fabulous. noticed you got Walsh's
- Gail Taylor (posted 5/11/2011 11:29:54 AM)
Bill. It used to be thought that if you wanted to get a sherrin between CHB (point A) and the goal (point B) you could take space/time between those points for granted. Now quantum physics reveals that the act of observing that interaction (by fans/the team/coaches) may actually collapse or curve space/time and the midfield (for example) may be resonating in 13 or more dimensions. Bohr, Dirac, Heisenberg would have come upon these insights might sooner if they hadn't been hampered by growing up habituated to the limited dimensions of the round ball code. Noel, George Harrison loved the ukelele...imagine each string is segment of the team from FB to FF...then you have 'sherrin theory'...the next stage on from 'string theory'.
- Thomas Faunce (posted 5/11/2011 11:30:50 AM)
Someone,anyone,please tell me what Tommy said (again),David,I'm begging you. Kris,.I need more than that. Noel,I've got my mouth organ out and ready to join you. :-)
- Bill Carbis (posted 5/11/2011 8:00:10 PM)
"There is no spoon!"
- David Husk (posted 6/11/2011 5:28:23 PM)
Sorry Bill, that's out of my realm. I should have said 'There is no Sherrin'!
- David Husk (posted 6/11/2011 7:15:42 PM)
Magnificent...You weren't with the Horrie Dargie Quintet Bill at all ?! :-)
- Noel Shields (posted 6/11/2011 8:03:57 PM)
No Noel, Smacka Fitzgibbon was my go.David,thanks anyway
- Bill Carbis (posted 7/11/2011 11:23:32 AM)
I JUST WANT TO SEE THE YOUTH GET A GO THEY LOOK READY. GREAT WORK THOMAS I GOT A PICTURE OF YOU IN MY HEAD REELING THEM IN LIKE PAUL KEATING DID WITH A LAUGH
- Stefanos Yannoukas (posted 7/11/2011 5:07:49 PM)
A-one,A-two..."it seems we've stood and talked like this before.." Sorry Bill,one uke string slightly off...(tuning) "those darn fleas".. right sounds better now..A-one..A-two... Great Bill,if I close my eyes you sound like Larry Adler.. :-) :-) (first posted 6/11/2011 7: 55pm) ps…Graham "Smacka" Fitzgibbon,what a talent..taken too soon...His Mum Minnie could play that piano!!
- Noel Shields (posted 7/11/2011 5:22:44 PM)
Bill,collecting the Herald/3DB (12 recorded) VFL Club
theme songs from c67/68 that Smacka did with Frank Traynor..before the Fable Singers ones came out in 72/73..
If you want the Essendon one (4 tracks)let Diane Know,and Di can email/sms me so I can on-forward a copy of it for you. Cheers Noel :-)
- Noel Shields (posted 7/11/2011 5:47:35 PM)
The smile you're smiling you were smiling then,but I can't remember where or when.Yes Noel,they were great together at their restaurant/club in North melbourne.
- Bill Carbis (posted 7/11/2011 6:31:58 PM)
Bill and Noel when ever you decide to jam please let me know so that I can be part of the cheering crowd. David can join in on his drums too! Play the off-season blues!
- Alan De Menezes (posted 7/11/2011 10:38:47 PM)
You are most welcome Alan and perhaps Stefanos could do the vocals,maybe his version of "Gone Fishing"
- Bill Carbis (posted 8/11/2011 9:39:03 AM)
Dont know who you are all talking about as far as Smacka goes,but will give you the info Noel.This would be all so much easier if the Hanger was working.Diane
- Diane Trask (posted 8/11/2011 10:43:08 AM)
as some of the chaps seem to have gone off track. Bill - "Schrödinger's cat" is a Big Bang Theory reference. i suggest google. too much to explain on here. Kris - love you "rule of thumb" theory. how would that translate to our boys ???
- Samantha Whitelaw (posted 8/11/2011 11:23:00 AM)
Thanks Samantha,tried google and I am non the wiser.The day I turned 14 I had to leave school (Collingwood Tech) and get a job,I knew it would come back and bite me on the bum one day,oh well, they say ignorance is bliss.
- Bill Carbis (posted 8/11/2011 12:10:36 PM)
Part 1…The beauty of “The Forum” Bill is that thinking, though it is a haphazard venture, is actually going on. If we ‘look’ into or enquire into the ‘thoughts’ of others we demonstrate that knowledge continues to be built upon prior knowledge. Every tradition has a paradigm or rules about the appropriate methods or theories of inquiry and subsequently, evidence that constitute the actual practices of our tradition.
- David Husk (posted 8/11/2011 6:01:16 PM)
Part 2…Tom’s ‘sherrin theory’ is one such paradigm; a not-so-simple theory of how the sherrin moves through time/space/dimensions. If you watch last year’s Geelong game, where the sherrin was moved from one end of the ground to Melksham’s goal, then you might be able to visualise ‘sherrin theory’ in action.
- David Husk (posted 8/11/2011 6:01:31 PM)
don't feel bad Bill I have a science degree and I don't understand Schrödinger's cat. And I'm sure you are more knowledgeable than a lot of kids who finish year 12. No disrespect to anyone! I think Thomas is just too smart for all of us :)
- Samantha Whitelaw (posted 8/11/2011 6:48:34 PM)
But Bill, if no one is around on the bus to see Schrödinger's cat, is the cat really on the bus?
- David Husk (posted 8/11/2011 9:34:08 PM)
Dave, is there really a bus?? But for those wondering what Schrödinger's cat or the alleged bus LOOKS like (best give up on what it means) try , and I hope that our route from CHB to the goals is UNlike some bus routes I know, or we really will be up Schrödinger scat creek.
- Kris Bayne (posted 9/11/2011 10:53:38 AM)
Thanks David,the only Sherrin theory I ever had was "go get Sherrin" and "dispose of Sherrin to team mate". I remember there was once a Geelong player,( a cat) who missed the bus,but his name was'nt Schrodinger
- Bill Carbis (posted 9/11/2011 11:14:24 AM)
Yes Dave,because it got scared of seeing Margarobert,and ran onto the bus all by itself.. :-)
- Noel Shields (posted 9/11/2011 12:45:27 PM)
I just remembered the cats name,Gary Sidebottom, and he became a Saint, hmmmmm,is there a connection Thomas???
- Bill Carbis (posted 9/11/2011 4:49:09 PM)
Is Schrodinger's cat related to Pavlov's dog?
- Martin Gol (posted 9/11/2011 8:37:44 PM)
Showing of 32 comments. Show more
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