Loud and proud
The mane of hair is as thick as it was then, the flamboyant moustache flares out like the handlebars on a Harley. The overall effect is as 80s as a Rubik cube.
The Dipper was a cartoon ogre at the start of the international rules series 20 years ago but now, touring with the Australian International Rules party, he’s amiable and open. As the current Australian squad went through a well-organised routine in Killarney’s Fitzgerald Stadium, Dipierdomenico outlined the differences between touring now and touring in the 80s.
“Well, it was a lot more sociable then, no doubt about that!” he says.
If there’s anything that would contravene the official secrets act...
“There were no secrets, we went out to enjoy ourselves wherever we went, and every county we went to put a big party on us — Cork, Armagh, all over. We came over to new territory, if you like. We were here for three-and-a-half weeks and played six weeks, three provincial games and three Tests.
“When we played our first game — in Armagh, of all places — we went through the soldiers around the pitch, that was some experience. But because we played three Tests we got to see the country a little more, and that’s part of the reason we came to camp down here in Killarney before heading up to Galway — to see more of the country — and we got to know people.”
That they did. Footage of the 80s clashes is often viewed through fingers clamped over the eyes, but the memories bring only a chuckle from the big Australian. In fairness, Dipierdomenico was no flat-track bully: back in Australia he played a starring role with his club Hawthorn in the 1989 AFL Grand Final, despite breaking several ribs in a collision early on in the game. When he collapsed at the final whistle he was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
“It’s the friendships that you make that count. Bomber Liston, Jack O’Shea, Pat Spillane and Barney Rock ... you don’t see those boys for two, four, 10 years, and then you meet and it’s ‘how’re you going, Jack?’
“I remember at the time we didn’t know much about Jack O’Shea, but when we saw him on the field we knew we had to slow him down because he was the game-breaker.
“The boys we have here now are used to travel, they’re used to flying around Australia, but they’re very professional: there are a couple of social nights planned, but things have changed along the way. It’s a lot more serious now, and the two coaches are really desperate to win. Look at the score now — it’s seven games apiece and just seven points separate the two sides — that’s just amazing.”
As an evangelist for the hybrid game, Dipierdomenico is hard to beat. The groundsman in Pearse Stadium could run the floodlights at the Galway venue off the big man’s enthusiasm.
“This has become very exciting for young Australian players — as it is for young Irish players — to represent their country. A few of us who played in the 80s try to share our experiences with the younger ones. They’re very excited about being here, and it’s a great concept — it’s really taken off since the days when we knew nothing about the game, and neither did the Irish boys.
“I just think it’s a very exciting game — we’re creating something with our two countries, and nobody knows what we can do with it yet, this is a very young game. Take the crowds — some of these young boys haven’t experienced crowds of 100,000-odd people. Some have, playing in Grand Finals, but this is a different crowd — trumpets, cheering. Obviously it’ll be mostly Irish fans, but what we’ve found is that the Australians who visit Europe are coming over for the games. We’ve had so many e-mails from them, and players who’ve got friends who are travelling are hearing from all of them that they’re coming to Dublin for the game, which is fantastic.
“Galway’s sold out, and walking around all I’m hearing from people is that they’re disappointed they don’t have tickets for the game — but at least everyone is heading to Croke Park, and what a stadium that is, it’s really become an elite sports venue.
“As Kevin Sheedy told the boys the other day, they should be very proud of the fact that they are in a new venture between two countries, a brand new game. It’s not a dead game, it’s an exciting game — it’s not AFL football, it’s not Gaelic football, it’s something different.”
Just as Australia manager Kevin Sheedy name-checked Kerry man, Tadhg Kennelly, during the week, admitting the visitors will ‘tag’ or man-mark the Kerry man, Dipierdomenico is warm in his praise of the Sydney Swans star.
“Tadhg had a terrific series here two years ago and he has a few Swans’ team-mates here, young Nick Davis, Barry Hall, Adam Schneider and Ryan O’Keeffe. All I can say is Tadhg, don’t get in their way!
“But he’s a marvellous player for Ireland, just as Jim Stynes was for us. We’re delighted to have Jimmy here with our squad, along with his brother Brian, who’s come over to the dark side to help us out. He was once one of you and now he’s one of us.”
Mentioning the dark side conjures up some unfortunate images, most of them involving Chris Johnson in last year’s Test series in Melbourne. The five-game suspension Johnson incurred more or less ended his international rules career, but the furore almost ended the international rules series itself. Dipierdomenico takes a pragmatic view.
“What happened last year wasn’t planned, it was just one of those things. We have competitive people out on the park, and at the end of the day we all love it — the crowd loves it, and that’s why it’s a seller.
“If people didn’t want to come and see two sides be really competitive then there wouldn’t be 35,000 people going to Galway, there wouldn’t be 100,000-odd people to see the two Tests and this would be a dead game. “If it happens, well, that’s competitive sport, and it happens in all competitive sport... but don’t get in my way.”
No danger of a recall to the squad?
“The boys know if I have a smell of it I’ll be out there.”
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