View from Australia: The AFL and the GAA. It's strictly business

If I was advising the GAA on the AFL’s scouting of talent, three things come to mind.

HAMMER BLOW: Mayo rising prospect Kobe McDonald has signed for St Kilda's in Melbourne while Kerry's Ben Murphy has joined the Brisbane Lions. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

The Australian sporting year is organised in two windows. From April to September, it is “footy” – AFL and rugby league. From November, it’s cricket. This year, a 40,000 strong “Barmy Army” are apparently on their way for the Ashes.

Personally, I prefer a novice chase at Leopardstown on a gloomy St Stephen’s Day than the St Stephen's Day Test but to be fair the first ball of that Test against England in front of 90,000 on a warm summer’s morning at the MCG is one of sport’s great spectacles. And then the batter blocks out the bowler for the next 35 balls and it’s like watching a play by Beckett – nothing happens, twice.