Earley braced for strong Aussie challenge

It has been ignored, ridiculed, blamed for the departure of every Irish player to the AFL, castigated for occasional outbreaks of violence and, more than once, even shelved. However, the International Rules Series is back. Again.

Two years after its last airing, the concept will resurface at Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni Park on October 19 before taking to Croke Park a week later and, wouldn’t you know it, the whole thing is already raising eyebrows.

The AFL’s decision to send an indigenous side to face Ireland this time around has been debated ad nauseam Down Under.

Whatever the plusses or minuses, that automatically shrinks the available playing pool and lowers the potential quality.

“Look, that’s a decision they’ve made,” said Irish manager Paul Earley.

“I went on the record earlier on in the season to say you always want to put your best team out and play against the best that Australia can offer. They’ve made a decision to send an indigenous team this year. That’s their decision.

“I think it’ll be very strong, interestingly enough.”

Coach Michael O’Loughlin is a hugely respected former AFL player with the Sydney Swans and on his side has former teammate Tadhg Kennelly and Andrew McCloud, who won Premierships with Adelaide. And the team itself?

Lance Franklin is coming off the back of his Premiership success with Hawthorn and a AUS$10m contract with Sydney reputed to be the largest in the game while the Swans’ Adam Goodes ranks among the top half-dozen players in the country.

As with the Irish, it remains to be seen who ultimately plays but the Australians are already in camp some three weeks prior to the first test which in itself is a positive sign ahead of what desperately needs to be a competitive series.

Meanwhile, Earley believes Daniel Flynn has what it takes to eke out a professional career in the AFL after confirmation that the Kildare player has been announced as Port Adelaide’s first ever international recruit.

Yet, the Irish manager knows how hard it can be to make it in ‘footy‘ having blazed a trail back in the 1980s when he joined Melbourne before returning to Ireland and a playing career with Roscommon.

“There are very few Irish players who have made it over there and played long-term. It is difficult, it is a professional game and it is really, really difficult.

“When I went there it was semi-professional but now the guys are expected to do an awful lot. Both physically and mentally it is a very challenging game to make it in.”