Coach says Aussies don’t deserve to take all the flak

AUSTRALIAN coach Garry Lyon yesterday pleaded with the Irish media and public to lay off his under-fire squad.

The Aussies have suffered a barrage of abuse since last Sunday's International Rules test opener at Croke Park that left several players battered and bruised.

The touring Aussies have taken all the flak even though some Irish players were just as guilty and Lyon for one has had enough.

Big forward David Neitz has been identified in particular as the guilty party after meeting out a beefy shoulder that left Armagh's Paul McGrane with blood streaming from his face.

Lyon yesterday took the opportunity at their final press conference at Croke Park before the game to stand up for his player.

Former Melbourne star Lyon contested: "I didn't think the events last Sunday were as dramatic and as drastic as has been painted in the media.

"In Australia David Neitz's tackle would have been perfectly legal. Where we come from that type of strong shoulder would actually be encouraged and applauded.

"David has been playing like that since he was eight years old. That tackle was a split second reaction to the situation he was in and it would be naive to think that a couple of times in a game guys aren't going to act out of instinct."

Lyon and his opposite number John O'Keeffe expressed disappointment the thrilling test opener would now be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Ireland manager O'Keeffe said: "There has been no talk of rough play or over physical play by any of the Irish squad members.

"The lads are just focussed on getting the job done on Sunday and pegging back the Aussies' seven point lead."

Kerry selector O'Keeffe, who was on the losing side at Croke Park when Armagh rocked the Kingom in last month's All-Ireland football final too, spelt out where it all went wrong this time.

He added: "The Irish lads had been banging in goals all year but couldn't do it last week and that was a major disappointment. We had a chat and worked a little bit on it between then and now however. To Australia's credit it has to be said that they gave us very little time on the ball.

"Their backs were superb and there were one or two occasions when our forwards were outnumbered by 3-1 on the ball. That was always going to make it harder for us to win the game."

O'Keeffe heaped praise on Aussie keeper Andrew Kellaway who left his opposite number, Mayo's Peter Burke, looking like the real stand in goalkeeper on the day.

O'Keeffe, who called up Dublin's Stephen Cluxton to replace Mayo man Burke midweek, added: "Where Kellaway learnt to keep goal like that I'd love to know. He was magnificent and we're still trying to figure out how to beat him.

"The stats showed that the Aussies collected more than we did from kick-outs. That's part of the compromise for us. In GAA a goalkeeper puts his kick-out out to the middle of the field and leaves it up for grabs. It's 50/50 and he's not necessarily aiming at any one person.

"But the Australians would be familiar with making sure their kick-outs find a man and that's something we fell down on. You can't blame Peter for it too much because GAA players are not bred to play like that. It's something we hope we've rectified though."

Like O'Keeffe, Australian skipper Shane Crawford was keen to get the focus back on total football.

The Hawthorn hard man kept his nose clean last weekend but explained why some were dragged into the rough stuff.

"It's a pity that when you're playing for you're country the honour of it is sidetracked by all the talk of violence," he said. "The truth of it is that guys get frustrated and they take that out on the field.

"I'm sure if the players involved had their time again they would do things different but that's sport, you never have that time again and you just get on with it."

Despite the bad press that followed on from the game Crawford admitted he had been completely won over by the hybrid game and the Irish crowd. He also admitted there was an extra spring in his step since it was announced that 70,000 tickets have been snapped up for tomorrow's decider.

He added: "Despite what people say we don't believe we have mastered the round ball yet but we're trying every chance we get. I for one completely love the game and I know the rest of the lads do too.

"It means a lot for us to represent our country. Some lads have never played in a grand final back home in the AFL. So playing in front of 44,000 fans last weekend was a wonderful feeling.

"If the place is nearly full for the second game then I think it will be even better."