International Rules: The GAA and Australian Football League will play the annual International Rules series over the last two weekends of October in Perth and Melbourne. This is a similar format to the 2003 series, won by Australia, with the first Test again taking place in the 41,000-capacity Subiaco Oval on Friday, October 21st.
The second Test has been switched to the 54,000 Telstra Dome. It was played in the Melbourne Cricket Ground two years ago as the rugby World Cup match between Ireland and Australia was taking place in the Dome, which has a retractable roof.
Ireland are current holders of the Cormac McAnallen Cup after the two-Test whitewash at Croke Park last year when Galway's Padraic Joyce was captain and Pete McGrath manager.
"The series has gone from strength to strength in recent years and I am sure there will again be enormous interest among the Irish sporting public in the visits to Perth and Melbourne in October," said GAA president Seán Kelly.
The Irish interest will be significant but if the first Test is as one-sided as last year's encounters the Australian public may not be as receptive.
An indication of how serious Australia are to avenge the humiliation of Croke Park will be seen by who they chose to replace Garry Lyon as head coach. Whether the new coach is able to select from the top tier of players in the AFL will be another marker.
The Ó hAilpín brothers, Aisake and Setanta, at Carlton, and Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly of the Sydney Swans should be in contention for McGrath's squad. Kennelly has been a key figure in recent years but Setanta Ó hAilpín struggled to make an impact last year in contrast to his older brother, Seán Óg.
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