Aussies commit to next Series

THE International Series has provisionally been given the go-ahead for 2013 and 2014 after the GAA and AFL’s chiefs met in the Gold Coast yesterday.

GAA Director General Páraic Duffy confirmed he met with AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou where they discussed the difficulties faced by the series this year. In a post-match dinner speech last night, Demetriou vowed: “No matter what anybody says, we are committed to the long term future of the series”.

Demetriou’s statement goes against strong sentiments among his colleagues and last night’s dismal 12,545 attendance will only back up their argument about the series failing to grab the attention of the Australian public.

Duffy revealed Demetriou admitted the AFL made mistakes with their staging of the series this year, including hosting the first Test in Melbourne and not the Gold Coast and too few star Australian Rules players being made available.

“He (Demetriou) said there season was longer than usual this year,” explained Duffy. “He said there was a certain element of fatigue due to their games. They put it back a week, and that didn’t help.

“They should have played the first Test here (Gold Coast) and the second game in Melbourne. With the Rugby World Cup and the Melbourne Cup they found it very hard to get their voices heard (in terms of media exposure). They spent the same amount on promotion as they did in previous years.

“He accepted that the team didn’t have enough star names. That was a factor.

“That was the biggest factor in terms of the crowd but they are absolutely committed to the Series.

“He said the players do want to play in it. We have agreed that they we going to play it on a two-year cycle again. He says they are absolutely committed to it and I would accept his word on that. It is going to go ahead. We need to get Central Council approval on that but we will get that.”

Duffy is convinced the issues encountered in Australia won’t be repeated in 2014 when Ireland are next expected to head Down Under.

“For us the series has to work on a two-year cycle but people at home won’t come if they feel that we are not playing a full team when we go to Australia.

“I am certain of the commitment he gave us and I am certain that the next time we come here we will not have the same problems.

“I do not believe that what happened this year, in terms of the disparity between the teams, will happen again. We discussed different ways of developing it and I’m happy enough.”

The meeting between the GAA and the AFL proposed for Brisbane today has been cancelled.