Americans Watching The Footy
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© Ethan and Benjamin Kassel
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Their love of the footy born during the COVID pandemic, brothers Ethan and Benjamin Kassel combine to bring you their perspective on Australia's game from across the Pacific.
263 Episodes
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![2025 AFL Finals Week 1 Recap: "Don't Say the [CENSORED] Word"](https://s3.castbox.fm/1b/aa/8a/1889ff290a5eda491f168484393c49aa1d_scaled_v1_400.jpg "2025 AFL Finals Week 1 Recap: \"Don't Say the [CENSORED] Word\"")
Well, that was… fun? If you were a completely neutral party, I'd definitely say Saturday's eliminators were. However, given our respective interests, we hold reservations. Ethan also turned against a (former) favorite of his — learn who it was and more here!
We're back to multi-state rounds, back to byes, and back to a likely underwhelming Sunday slate… but at least the round starts off hot! We also hope Victorian audiences are as keen about the Saturday night twin fixtures as we are.
Sections
0:00:00 Intro
0:04:07 MEL v BRI
0:12:11 WB v ESS
0:18:08 GWS v STK
0:29:02 CAR v ADE
0:36:50 GC v HAW
0:43:56 PA v FRE
0:54:11 GEE v NM
1:00:45 WCE v RIC
1:11:12 Main Characters / Conclusion
The Lions reigned supreme, much to Ethan's chagrin and somewhat to Benjamin's surprise. We discuss our different Grand Final viewing experiences and tie up some season-long narratives.
Not sorry, says Ethan! The largest prelim crowd in 54 years saw Victoria's best rivalry (no, we're not biased, why?) go the Cats' way, with a healthy helping of Dangerfield. The next night, an all-feline Grand Final was confirmed. Keep listening for our postmortems of the prelim losers, as well as a healthy dose of Americana.
![2025 AFL Semi-Finals Recap: "We Got […] Before GTA VI"](https://s3.castbox.fm/46/05/c6/0364566bcedd6e4a22ef4d56b6d421550b_scaled_v1_400.jpg "2025 AFL Semi-Finals Recap: \"We Got […] Before GTA VI\"")
And then there were four. Drama decided to take a pass on the semi-finals, but we've still got plenty to break down. Plus, we look at other codes, marveling at the oddities in multiple forms of football.
With the home-and-away season done and dusted, it's time to look back at those clubs sitting on the sidelines in September. We begin to give the losers their due in this annual two-part event!
Yeah, a couple clubs did some obvious things to actively avoid victory here in the final round. Benjamin anticipated the Bulldogs' failures, while Ethan certainly didn't. We also go into some Australian connections in college football as that season gets going too!
With just one round to go, 10 teams are mathematically out of it… yet their headlines on and off the oval remain as entertaining as those of the finals contenders. We celebrate expected and unsung heroes alike across the league, and Benjamin crams as many references to one band as possible into one game breakdown.
We're back! …No, not just with a new episode. We're both back home! Ethan's returned from his pilgrimage, and Benjamin's started his new job. It's been a very dramatic week for both of us, and the footy definitely added to those feelings… even if Ethan didn't see much of the excitement in person.
Ethan did the thing. His first visit to Kardinia Park was the centerpiece of his whole footy pilgrimage, because of the interactions he had post-match. Round 21 spaced out its drama pretty well, though our older host only saw one of the big results in person. Listen for more of his takes on the live footy experience and various other Aussie experiences!
Ethan's footy pilgrimage is underway! He's already taken in 3 games in as many states, so listen in to hear all about his inaugural Australian experience. From back in California, Benjamin inquires and reflects on his own unique setting for watching the most insane ending of the year.Sections0:00:00 Intro / Ethan’s There!0:08:15 HAW v CAR0:13:45 ESS v WB0:20:05 GWS v SYD0:27:37 GC v BRI0:35:46 FRE v WCE0:42:21 NM v GEE0:49:21 ADE v PA0:55:46 RIC v COL1:00:13 STK v MEL1:12:01 Awards
As much as Benjamin's Eagles want redemption and escape, it's nowhere in sight. Thankfully, the other WA team can lift our collective mood. We also got some key results involving "Australia's Florida" to discuss in this extremely unique episode!
Ravioli, ravioli… yup, the Suns have a lot of things figured out. Elsewhere, we finally see a statement win we were hoping for, jinxing each other in the process. Our teams didn't provide the points, but at least Benjamin sees a few positives…Sections0:00:00 Intro0:05:47 CAR v BRI0:15:05 GC v COL0:25:46 WB v ADE0:37:23 GWS v GEE0:45:24 RIC v ESS0:55:07 FRE v HAW1:05:29 MEL v NM1:15:27 STK v SYD1:24:04 PA v WCE1:32:01 Awards
“Man down” — or really “men down” — is a common thread among at least two of the clubs who had byes in Round 16, if not more. Still, three are firmly in the finals picture! …and then there’s the fourth club, who are staring down 8,000 days without a finals win.
Graffiti suggests keeping one coach, while Benjamin demands another’s sacking. Round 16 might’ve actually been “Geezer Round,” with how so many older players shone through… though a valiant Eagles challenge and a flying Viking (who was somehow snubbed for Rising Star) probably did enough to cancel that out. …Oh, and fuck Tom Lynch.Sections0:00:00 Intro0:03:11 PA v CAR0:14:37 SYD v WB0:30:08 GC v MEL0:38:23 HAW v NM0:46:37 COL v WCE0:58:39 RIC v ADE1:13:34 FRE v STK1:25:15 Awards
Sometimes players just look like they're possessed against their former teams. Nobody represents that better than someone who had a bye in Round 15. Also: missing letters show up at last, and a eulogy for a should-be Hall of Famer.
It’s the third of our five batches of mid-season check-ins for teams on byes. One of the clubs off for Round 14 are already “fallen cold and dead,” and we can make the case for a second… but all four are among of the year’s bigger newsmakers.
Let me tell you something, brother. The Orange Team have shown us the future, and it's scary for everyone who dares to challenge their forward 50. We needed that excitement and high quality, because Round 14 was starving for it otherwise — especially after a Friday night flop.Sections0:00:00 Intro / MLC0:05:01 STK v WB0:14:02 HAW v ADE0:26:00 BRI v GWS0:38:24 ESS v GEE0:48:28 NM v FRE0:58:33 PA v MEL1:10:10 WCE v CAR1:15:05 Awards
Bye time means midseason check-ins, because every team deserves discussion time each week. Both the teams who rested in Round 13 have clear trouble winning when their couple top guys are down. We fold our annual aesthetic rankings into this progress report too.
We largely took in this round together, and on Eastern Time while in Ohio. That meant we got to se each other react to our favorite clubs, for better (Ethan) or worse (Benjamin). Round 13’s action meant we had reason to bring back our Indian food comparisons in full.Sections0:00:00 Intro0:03:14 WB v HAW0:14:32 ADE v BRI0:23:06 RIC v SYD0:27:14 GEE v GC0:38:10 GWS v PA0:46:45 NM v WCE0:56:05 CAR v ESS1:04:47 MEL v COL1:16:55 Awards
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Brilliant, informed, intelligent analysis from the septic tanks putting 90% of native footy talk to shame. This is a podcast for AFL Purists. Bravo.