Round ball ‘here to stay for series’

IRELAND can forget about experimenting with the oval ball in any future test in the International Rules series, according to Australian captain James Hird.

In simple terms, he reckons it would be “no contest,” repeating what AFL officials have always maintained in the past. “The round ball is here to stay,” said Hird, who admitted that he was unsure about being involved in next year’s series in Perth and Melbourne.

GAA president Seán Kelly agrees that it would not make sense to change, commenting: “it’s one thing to turn from an oval to a round ball, but to try to do it in reverse would be extremely difficult.”

Hird pointed out that Australian players are brought up with the oval ball.