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**trimster** · 22-10-2010, 23:32

International Rules 2010

I could be very cynical and say that these "international rules" games between Australia and Ireland are pretty farcical, and are only arranged so that the AFL can give itself the illusion that they are involved with international football (or perhaps so that they can get a look at any Irish talent that could be lured to Melbourne...)

The greater skill of the Irish is usually nullified by the stronger physical presence of the Australians, and the games have often ended in unpleasantness.

I reckon the series would be more interesting if Australia sent a team of semi-professional Aussie Rules players who have also had some soccer playing experience... the sight of AFL players attempting to soccer the ball when it is on the ground is usually embarassing...

**Guest** · 23-10-2010, 02:36

International Rules 2010

trimster wrote:

I could be very cynical and say that these "international rules" games between Australia and Ireland are pretty farcical, and are only arranged so that the AFL can give itself the illusion that they are involved with international football

And yet, funnily enough, these games consistently attract bigger crowds than the Socceroos.

I reckon the series would be more interesting if Australia sent a team of semi-professional Aussie Rules players who have also had some soccer playing experience... the sight of AFL players attempting to soccer the ball when it is on the ground is usually embarassing...

There are dozens of AFL players with a soccer background and several in the squad in Ireland. Brad Green was offered a contract with Walsall after training with Manchester United; Leigh Montagna, Eddie Betts and Adam Goodes were talented junior soccer players; and Jack Riewoldt was rated one of the best young soccer players in Tasmania before the success of his cousin Nick in the AFL convinced him to give up the round ball game.

**trimster** · 23-10-2010, 03:58

International Rules 2010

Hope you are right about this year's team having some "soccer skills", MA...

I've never seen much evidence of it in previous years!

As for its popularity here, are you talking about actual attendances, or TV viewing? Have they ever had an 80k crowd at the MCG for international rules? I know they have had good crowds at Subiaco a couple of times. I think last time they played in Adelaide, they had 30k at AAMI Stadium.

**Diable Rouge** · 23-10-2010, 12:54

International Rules 2010

Throw-in at 7 p.m. Irish time tonight, so about 5 a.m. in Melbourne. Do the Australian public take these matches seriously - here, we've never been sure what attitude to take, getting gung-ho when we win a test, and moaning about the physicality if we're after getting a drubbing. Personally, I've always thought the rules were overly-based on Gaelic, but perhaps that's the only way our guys could be remotely competitive against pros.

**Diable Rouge** · 23-10-2010, 20:10

International Rules 2010

You can very proud of the Aussies tonight, full-time score was 47-40 to Australia, but that was extremely flattering to Ireland, we trailed by 20 points well into the 4th quarter, and only a late score flurry made the final gap respectable. Three Kerry players - Donaghy, Cooper and Galvin were controversially omitted, but the Aussies had by far the more clinical kicking and ball-handling, with Goods man of the match.

**Guest** · 24-10-2010, 02:18

International Rules 2010

The second lowest winning score in the history of the series with Australia kicking with surprising accuracy.

Goodes was excellent - 6'4", fast, strong and highly skilled - he's a remarkable athlete. Montagna and Betts, two others with a soccer background, played well. For the Irish, I was impressed with Colm Begley (1 game for St Kilda in 2009) and Tommy Walsh was ok.

**trimster** · 25-10-2010, 04:20

International Rules 2010

I've just watched some of this on TV... and the Australians' ball handling is so good they don't really need soccer skills!

The ball rarely seems to be loose on the ground...and when it was the Irish "soccer skills" didn't really give them a greater advantage. On one occaision an Irish player nutmegged an Australian, soccer style, but the Aussie simpply turned around and picked the ball up before the Irishman could reach it!

The all around skills of the Aussies seem better than I remember them from previous years, and it looked like they were barely putting a foot wrong. Have the rules changed slightly?

**Guest** · 31-10-2010, 01:19

International Rules 2010

Ireland needed an 8 point win in the second test to win the series which didn't look likely at half time with Australia 11 points ahead. However, Ireland took control in the second half and, in a dominant final quarter, were 4 points ahead with 6 minutes to go, Australia not having scored even a point.

Australia recovered, though, to win by 3 and 10 on aggregate in front of nearly 62,000 in Dublin.

Collingwood's Dane Swan won the Jim Stynes medal as best Australian of the series while Colm Begley was adjudged best Irish player.

**trimster** · 31-10-2010, 22:22

International Rules 2010

Australia just scraped home in the last match- in which Ireland used "soccer skills" to kick a major goal, something Australia failed to do in both matches.

However, they didn't need soccer skills- they were just that much better at getting the ball and belting it high and over, and their overall teamwork was slightly better than the Irish.

I enjoyed this series more than in previous years- Australia under Mick Malthouse seemed more disciplined and organised than in the past, and I didn't see too many unpleasant fights or flareups.

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