McDonnell and Tohill claim lessons learned as ‘soccer’ tactics backfire badly
The tackle, or more specifically getting caught in possession, has been a huge problem for the Ireland teams over the years.
As a result the hosts opted to play the ball along the ground in an effort to negate one to the biggest assets the Australians bring to the concept.
The reasoning behind the tactic employed by Anthony Tohill was correct but its implementation left a lot to be desired as it led to a game more akin to soccer than the best of Aussie Rules or gaelic football.
He said: “We were very jittery and nervous at times and the ball was spilling a lot on the ground. A lot of it had to do with the conditions – it was a very slippy surface and a lot of our ball-handling was not as good as what it should have been.
“We’re more comfortable with the ball in our hands and we’d be hoping that next weekend, that is the way we play. “Certainly, while some of our players have played soccer in the past, this game is not all about soccer.
“You can use the soccer skills at certain times of the game and maybe at times tonight we over-elaborated on that and we didn’t play the ball in our hands as often as we should.”
Australian Mick Malthouse admitted he was not surprised by the Irish approach.
“We anticipated that. A round ball was always going to be used (in a soccer style) because it’s a counter against tackling. You saw it Saturday night – I don’t know what the tackle count was, but it was pretty even.
Soccer-style or not, however, with four 18-minute quarters, no time outs or injury stoppages, this was still a stamina-sapping game.
It was almost as physically demanding as an Aussie Rules match (4 x 20-minute quarters), reckoned midfielder Dane Swan:
“It’s a lot more free-flowing because there’s a lot more stoppages in our game – when the ball goes out of bounds there are throw-ins and ball-ups so you get a few seconds rest, whereas here it’s just pretty much up and down the ground.
“It’s not as much body-contact. You’re a bit sore in the legs but you’re not as sore physically, so it’s a bit similar but a bit different if you know what I mean.
Tired, but proud, and every reason to be after a performance – personal and team – that now puts the visitors in the driving-seat into the second game.
Still though, it should have been more and would have been more but for Bernard Brogan’s 67th minute goal.
But the gracious Mr Malthouse heaped praise on the home outfit.
“They’re a class side. I always maintain that there’s only one quarter you worry about and that’s the last one.
“The teams in between and the sides in between will play as well as they can and they’ll have ups and downs and some good passages and some bad passages.
“Once the under (goal) was scored the crowd got involved. But I still thought we had enough control of the ball where we could win the game.
“Am I disappointed? No, not at all.
“That’s just an idiosyncrasy of the game.
” I thought the boys, as young as they are and inexperienced as they are at this game, settled very well.”
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