INTERNATIONAL RULES: Australia V Ireland: Venue: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Throw-in: 9.45am On TV: Live on TG4, 9am:THIS MORNING'S first International Rules Test was launched with a low-key media conference in the Etihad Stadium yesterday. In the absence of any on-field action as material for questions, enquiries centred on any items of vague controversy.
Taking the opening question about how his side was settling, Ireland manager Anthony Tohill raised the fixtures congestion at home for probably one last time.
“Since we arrived it’s been okay but it’s been a bit of a soap opera getting here and getting players together. But we’re just relieved to be here and able to get the players together. We’d a number of players who had matches on the weekend we came out so our travel arrangements were disrupted but since we got here it’s been good. We’ve got everyone here together able to train as a squad.”
After that straightforward start, reporters from both sides began probing the other in an attempt to shake loose some nugget of contention. Firstly, an apparently innocent question about the unfamiliarity of the Australian panel – whose resolute obscurity has been an issue in some local media – prompted Tohill into playing the sort of straight bat which Australia captain, under-age cricket international Brad Green, would have envied.
Not at all! Au contraire!
“We probably know more now because the internet’s a wonderful creation. I never thought YouTube would be as useful as it’s been over the last few weeks but the world’s a very small place now and you can find out a lot about the Australian players. We probably know more about them than we would have in previous tours.”
AFL coach Rodney Eade was then invited to take offence on behalf of his low-key selection because of criticism levelled at them in advance of the match.
“I think it’s just come from one small section of the media here. I don’t think it’s been universal. I think it’s (the selection policy) backed up by Tadhg Kennelly the other day, who said it’s a squad that suits the game. A couple of big names are missing from the side that won last year’s series – Goodes and Fletcher – but otherwise the players are the equivalent of those who played last series.”
Etihad Stadium is a slightly controversial venue amongst AFL fans with some negative about its soullessness and lack of atmosphere. With driving rain promised for the Test, forecasts for the anticipated attendance were sliding into pessimistic territory – some as low as 20,000. On the plus side, the stadium roof would be closed.
Tohill clearly didn’t share any local misgivings about the venue, enthusing with impressive confidence before a competitive ball has been kicked: “It’s a carpet, an ideal arena. If you can’t play football on that forget about it.”
Hmmmm.
His one reservation concerned the retractable roof. “We would rather (it) was open and it was howling a gale and pissing out of the heavens, but you guys have taken those two variables out of the match but it’s a great place to play and it’s a new experience for our guys to play in the closed arena.”
On the subject of closed arenas, one of the travelling press corps decided it was time to air the topic of the non-speaking captain – Ireland vice-captain Ciarán McKeever attending the event in place of the silent Stephen Cluxton. A question was hazarded at Australia and Melbourne captain Green. Did he think it strange his counterpart wasn’t in attendance? Either Green’s an accomplished actor or he genuinely hadn’t given the matter any thought. “No, not really. Any press conference you do, sometimes you get different players turning up.”
Eade was game enough to indicate he was in on the joke: “I think he’s a very quiet man, isn’t he – Stephen?” interjected the Australian coach.
IRELAND: 1 S Cluxton (Dublin, captain), 18 C McKeever, (Armagh, vice-captain), 2 C Begley (Laois), 3 E Bolton (Kildare),4 E Cadogan (Cork), 5 E Callaghan (Kildare), 6 K Donaghy (Kerry), 7 L Glynn (Wicklow), 8 F Hanley (Galway), 9 P Hanley (Mayo/ Brisbane Lions), 11 D Hughes (Monaghan), 13 P Kelly (Cork), 14 T Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans), 16 S McDonnell (Armagh), 19 K McKernan (Down), 20 J McMahon (Tyrone), 21 N McGee (Donegal), 22 B Murphy (Carlow), 23 M Murphy (Donegal), 27 K Reilly (Meath), 28 Z Tuohy (Laois/Carlton), 30 A Walsh (Cork), 31 T Walsh (Kerry/ Sydney Swans).
AUSTRALIA:18 B Green (Melbourne, captain), 9 J Kelly (Geelong Cats, vice-captain), 4 A Swallow (North Melbourne, vice-captain), 2 Z Smith (Gold Coast Suns), 3 L Shiels (Hawthorn), 5 S Grigg (Richmond), 6 A Monfries (Essendon), 7 M Nicoski (West Coast), 8 J Frawley (Melbourne), 10 J Trengove (Melbourne), 11 M Robinson (Carlton), 13 T McKenzie (Gold Coast Suns), 14 C Ward (GWS Giants), 15 R Gray (Port Adelaide), 16 R Nahas (Richmond), 17 B Vince (Adelaide Crows), 21 B McGlynn (Sydney Swans), 26 R Douglas (Adelaide Crows), 28 J King (Richmond), 29 E Wood (Western Bulldogs), 31 M Suckling (Hawthorn), 40 D Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), 44 S Milne (St Kilda).
Rules of the Rules
The trophyis called the Cormac McAnallen Cup.
The fieldmeasures 145m x 90m and matches last 72 minutes, or four 18-minute quarters.
A goalis worth six points, an over (a point in Gaelic football) is worth three and a behind (between goal post and outer post) is worth one.
AFL umpireRay Chamberlain and GAA referee David Coldrick will officiate. There will also be an independent video match referee, South African lawyer Ian Curlewis.
Red cardsresult in a player being sent off. Yellow cards result in sin binning for 10 minutes.
A tackleconstitutes grabbing an opponent in possession of the football between the shoulders and thighs, using both arms. One-armed tackles are not permitted.
A markwill be awarded if a player catches the ball after it has been kicked at least 15m by another player.
A playermay not enter the small rectangle before the ball unless it has been kicked before he enters.
When runningwith the ball, players must bounce it on the ground every 10m (or six steps).
Shoulder chargesor bumps are allowed, provided neither player is airborne and the football is no more than 5m away.
Suspensionsshall apply during the AFL and NFL seasons.
Slinging, slamming or driving an opponent into the ground when tackling shall be deemed gross misconduct and will earn a red card.
Inter-change playerswill be allowed from the match panel of 24, 15 of whom will start but changes are restricted to 10 per quarter.
The goalkeeperwill be the only player permitted to take kick-outs from within the 13m rectangle.
Teams in possessionof the football shall not be allowed to make more than four consecutive hand-passes before disposing of the ball by foot.
