New boss expects Aussies to up the ante

Ireland’s new International Rules manager Paul Earley admits that the series has lost some of its sparkle because the Australian have curbed the physical aspect of their play — but he expects a tougher challenge this time around.

Earley, who yesterday announced Derry’s Tony Scullion, former Tipperary manager Seamus McCarthy and former Dublin midfielder Ciarán Whelan as his selectors, agrees Mick Malthouse and Rodney Eade’s side have been on good behaviour since the violence-marred 2006 series.

“I think the last Series in particular, maybe the squad they had wasn’t very strong anyway, the Irish squad was much stronger.