Aussies put down a marker

AUSTRALIAN manager Gary Lyon vowed yesterday that his team will "play hard and tackle hard" in the Coca-Cola International Rules Series against Ireland in Croke Park.

Declaring an intention to play "within the rules", he denied that they had a policy of intimidation.

Lyon, in charge for his fourth and last series said it had been "a bit rich" for the Irish to highlight an incident in a practice game before the opening test in Adelaide last year as an example of the physicality of the game.

Stating that he had read about the incident in newspaper reports after the team arrived in Dublin at 9am yesterday (after a 27-hour journey from Melbourne), Lyon said that game had nothing to do with them.

"I guess the answer to that is when you guys are prepared to play with our footy (football), we'll give up the tackling," he commented.

"We look on the round ball and say, 'by jingo, that's a real big challenge'. The one thing we have got is we can tackle, and make no mistake, it's something I have drilled into the boys from the minute we have met.

"The physical pressure we can put on - that's correct and fair and reasonable within the rules of the game - will decide whether we win or not. If we don't do it we will lose."

Lyon repeated that they had never set out to rough up the opposition, even though on average the Irish always started the games better.

"We have never once said at quarter time, 'we're in trouble, let's go out and whack them'."

Australian captain James Hird - described by Lyon as one of the all-time greats of Rules football - said the physicality of the game had never been an issue for them.

"We don't think about it until we arrive here and get asked questions by you guys," he stated.

"This game hasn't got anywhere the physical level that (Australian) football has. A lot of the rules prevent you doing in the International Series what you do in football."

The squad includes just four of last year's panel and another four (including Hird) who have previous experience. A further six have come through the U-17 series.

"James Hird is 31 and when people question the series and say we haven't got our best players coming over, I laugh at it because of guys like him. If anyone deserves a break at the end of the season, he does.

"He had a great year for Essendon and for him to put his hand up and say he was desperate to come was a fantastic shot in the arm for the series and for our team."

Asked about the progress being made by Setanta Ó hAilpín, the Australian manager remarked that he had made a big impact in a short period of time.

"For a player to go over and inside four months make it on to a senior AFL list is unheard of. His progress was astounding.

"He's such a positive person, so willing to learn and compete. And I notice his brother has joined the squad. If he hasn't played football for a few years he must be a natural!"

He was even more glowing in his assessment of Tadhg Kennelly, describing him as a "bona fide" star of AFL football and reminding the media that he had been "more than a handful" for the Australians two years ago.

While the visitors are in line for a record three-in-a-row, Lyon said he was more concerned with the new challenge that his team faced.

"We hadn't won on home soil previously, so we were able to do that last year. To come back now, as it's my last year, I'd love to go out with a victory.

"Everything that this group does and these players involve themselves in is about being the best and ultimately having a win.

"They're pretty hell-bent on doing that again."

* The game will have a 2.10pm start to facilitate coverage on Channel 9, the main network in Australia (for which both the manager and captain work, incidentally).

Lyon also presents a breakfast sports show five mornings a week and says that since the end of the AFL season, the main focus has been on the international series.

"There is enormous interest back home," he said.

The International Rules warm-up game between Australia and a Dublin selection will be held in Parnell Park today at 4pm and not tomorrow.

The game is being organised by Cumann na mBunscoil as a fundraising exercise and will be sponsored by Cuisine de France. Special family tickets costing €10 for two adults and two children have been issued to primary schools.

Cash will be taken at stiles and single adult admission will be €8.