Irish ‘don’t defend well’, says Stynes

He may be Ireland's greatest Aussie Rules exponent, but Jim Stynes has his feet firmly planted in the Australian camp for Friday's first International Rules Test in Perth.

The former 'ruckman' reckons Ireland's defence - or lack of it - will help Sheedy's side on their way to regaining the Cormac McAnallen Cup.

"I think our speed will help us, but our competitiveness will be the key," Stynes told afl.com.au.

"We should be able to win more of the 50/50 balls because we are professional athletes and we are attacking as well as defensive.

"A lot of the Irish players they don't defend very well, they are all burst players and I am hoping that will give us an edge," he added, handing the Irish rearguard no amount of motivational fodder for the Perth opener.

An All-Ireland minor medal winner with Dublin in 1984, Stynes played an AFL record of 263 consecutive games Down Under for the Melbourne Demons and also won the Brownlow Medal - Aussie Rules' player of the year honour - in 1991.

The 39-year-old, who is assistant coach to Australian supremo Kevin Sheedy for the 2005 Series, is well-judged to comment on the impending two Test match-up between Pete McGrath's Ireland and the Aussies.

Stynes played in the 1987 Series for Australia, and three years later, switched allegiances to line out for the country of his birth, helping Ireland to victory.

Stynes, whose brother Brian, an All-Ireland winner with Dublin in 1995, is a specialist coach for Australia this year, feels the home squad's evident lack of experience of the hybrid game could stand to them.

"We have got a brand new team and the Irish don't know who they will be playing against," he added.

"They are going to come out and say "who is that" and say "who's he" and that's a definite advantage for us."