CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | Contact

John Grant, publican at The Lord Kidman Hotel in Betoota, says he can’t believe the rise in petty-assaults he has seen in his small-town pub. He says most of it has to do with intense arguments over American television series.

“It all comes down to those bloody televisions mate,” says Mr Grant as he scours clean the hotel’s pool-table.

“People round here used to fight about real things like women and money. Now it’s all about little fellas and dragons”

Last night, Mr Grant’s century-old hotel played host to a sickening scenes of violence. Mr Grant says the one-punch assault “was pretty crook, even by Dubbo standards”

A local unemployed boilermaker, Ken Cranney, remains in hospital today after being severely concussed by a coward-punch from a 70-year-old regular by the name of Ted.

The Advocate caught up with Ted today to ask why he decided t0 punch Ken without warning, from behind. “It was all about that bloody Game Of Thrones finale” says Ted.

“I told him I hadn’t seen it yet. I said ‘I don’t wanna fucken hear it’ – He didn’t listen”

Game Of Thrones, the popular television series, based on the novels by George R.R. Martin, aired it’s season five finale yesterday. Many Australian’s were able to torrent the episode and watch it before lunchtime, however many decided to wait until after work.

“This fucking prick had watched it at home in the morning, I’m 70 years-old and still working, so I was waiting until I got home to watch it. My grandson was gonna drop a copy over and that was that,”

“I went from work to the pub for a feed, and was about to head home and watch it until I heard this fucking foghorn telling everyone how the fuckin’ thing ended”

Ted says with one swift blow, he punched Mr Cranney from behind. Less than half and hour later, the 26-year-old was in hospital.

“Yeah the ambos reckon he’s gonna be alright. He just needs to sleep it off. It was a shit of a thing for him to do,” says Ted.

“I don’t think he’ll do it again, [laughter] that’s if he can even remember the bloody thing”