In our third edition of What's the Craic? Daniel Flynn gets paid a visit by his parents Tony and Emily and talks about the road to finals.

AFTER overcoming a minor injury niggle in the bye week at the end of July, Daniel Flynn returned to the fray with a handful of big games against Central, South, Norwood and Glenelg to round out his first home-and-away season of Australian Football.

With his parents Tony and Emily Flynn visiting South Australia at the end of August, Flynny was on his best behaviour as he showed them around his home away from home and gave them their first live look of Australian Football in action.

Flynny is now preparing for his first finals campaign for the mighty black-and-white, which starts on Saturday afternoon at the Adelaide Oval at 5:40pm against the Redlegs.

Entry to the Port Adelaide v Norwood second semi final costs just $15 for adults, $10 concession, $4 for juniors, $30 for families and Essential Power members admitted free.

Matthew Agius: So Tony and Emily, how have you seen Daniel’s transition from Ireland to Australia from after over the previous 9 to 12 months. Is it hard to keep tabs on him?

Tony Flynn: Well we could never keep tabs on him anyway!

Emily Flynn: We use Skype or Viber to keep in touch with him, and he’s a good kid, keeps in touch at least once a week, and I think he's settled in well since coming back here.

MA: You’ve visited a couple of times, but I’d imagine this has been your longest stay over?

TF: This is my second time here – I was over here in February – and it’s grand, very lovely, just here in Adelaide … and then we went to Melbourne a couple of days to hang out there for a while and see the city.

EF: Adelaide’s lovely, what I find great is the chance to put faces to the names who we speak to all the time like Peter [Rohde] and Marcus [Drum] who are the main points of contact for us with the club.

MA: And have you visited the players’ den, where Daniel lives with Chad Wingard and Ollie Wines?

EF: We didn’t actually get to meet the boys because they were playing away the weekend we were here. So we’ll have to track them down another time.

MA: Daniel’s obviously playing for the Magpies at the moment, did you get the opportunity to see him play any SANFL games?

EF: We saw him play three games – against Central up at Elizabeth, Norwood at home and then Glenelg.

MA: And how did you find the atmosphere of Australian football? Particularly perhaps, that big game between Port and Norwood at Alberton?


TF: It was a good atmosphere, probably quite similar to a big Gaelic game back home, but when you don’t understand the rules and the game that well it becomes hard to follow.

MA: Do you get much coverage of Australian Football back home in Ireland?

TF: It’s very limited ….

Daniel Flynn: Do you want me to send some over?

EF: Actually Marcus sends Daniel’s tapes over for us to watch so we do get to see him play that way. I think we’re up to game nine or ten.

MA: Did he get in trouble when you saw the clip he gave an Eagles player that led to his suspension earlier this year?

EF: No! My brother showed me the clip on the club website, so we could see what he was trying to do, which was just to shoulder him out over the line, I think he’s probably learnt from it.

MA: The club is playing finals, finished top, and Daniel’s been part of that journey this year as a running defender. Can you tell us how you’ve seen his athletic progression from afar this year? I’m sure you must be proud to know that he’s development is coming on well over here in Australia.


EF: I think it’s great that Port Adelaide is playing finals, we already know it’s the first time since 2008 it’s happened, so we think it’s fantastic. But the thing, as you say, is to see in each game on the DVDs Marcus sends us that there’s progress. It’s been great to come out here and see him play.

MA: Flynny, it’s your turn now. How did you find the last couple of weeks since your return from a niggle?

DF: It’s all been the same as before, training hard and playing as well as I can. I’m looking forward to going home for the break after the season, but I want to play really well in the finals before that. I’m really looking forward to them, actually. I played full back for a few games against South and Centrals and then further up the field against Norwood and Glenelg, so the new experience has been good.

MA: What’s the vibe around the group been heading into the finals campaign?

DF: It’s been really good. We were happy to win against Norwood in Round 17 but really disappointed with the way we played in the last game. We’re up-and-about now and looking forward to Saturday.

MA: And having your parents in town for a few weeks, I'm sure it's been an enjoyable experience which had you on your best behaviour?

DF: Yeah it's been grand. Mum and Dad stayed in O’Connell Street, we introduced them to some koalas and kangaroos (and the O’Connell Street bakery), I’ll see them after the season’s over before pre-season starts again.

MA: Just lastly, Port plays Norwood this weekend – it’ll be great to see you all out there in the black and white, you’d be hoping for a big crowd?

DF: Yeah definitely, we’ve had a good turnout at a few games this year and we’re keen to play well for them this Saturday arvo.