International Rules: Australia have announced their 27-man squad for the upcoming International Rules series against Ireland at Croke Park. Included are several names familiar from previous series, most notably Jason Akermanis who was suspended for last year's series after incidents with Peter Canavan two years ago.
All players selected on the 2002 AFL All-Australian team (the equivalent to the GAA's All Stars) were automatically included in the squad, though a number of them were unavailable to tour for various reasons - including All-Australian captain Michael Voss, and previous series member Justin Leppitsch.
A final check on the fitness of players will be made after Sunday's AFL Grand Final between the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood. Four squad members are due to play in that game. The team will gather in Melbourne the following Saturday, October 5th, for three days training before departing for Dublin, with the two series Tests to be played on October 13th and October 20th.
Australian manager Garry Lyon has already stated his belief that it is easier for the travelling team to win than the one playing at home. Australia have never won on home soil and with the exception of 1998 when Colm O'Rourke led Ireland to a home win, the visiting side has always come out on top.
In Australia last year Ireland won by a record combined score with two Test wins (59-53 and 71-52) under then manager Brian McEniff. That result reversed a similarly comfortable victory for Australia in the Croke Park Tests in 2000.
Current Ireland manager John O'Keeffe of Kerry will finalise his squad after a training session this weekend. Kildare's Dermot Earley has become O'Keeffe's latest injury concern after breaking a bone in his foot at the weekend while playing for his club Sarsfields.
O'Keeffe has already lost the services of Michael Donnellan (injured), Cormac Sullivan and Ciarán Whelan (both unavailable) and Anthony Tohill, who retired from the international scene after captaining Ireland to success last year. Kerry's Tadgh Kennelly, back in Ireland after his AFL season with the Sydney Swans, is once again expected to play a major role in Ireland's chances.
The re-inclusion of Akermanis is just one of many players familiar from previous series. Former captain Nathan Buckley is also back in the squad after missing the last two series with injury, with the likes of Shane Crawford, Adam Yze, David Neitz and Warren Tredrea also previous members.
Akermanis is involved in Sunday's Grand Final with the Lions, and his tough marking traits that led to the altercation with Canavan is sure to feature prominently in the series.
Interestingly, squad member Chris Judd of West Coast, recent runner-up in the AFL's top 10 rookies, becomes the first player to have graduated from the under-17 International Rules series.
Australia have also included smaller, more mobile players like Stephen Milne and Paul Licuria geared to match Ireland's typically superior pace.
"We got touched up by the Irish last year and in particular their nippy little blokes," said Lyon.
A Dublin club selection is also to be drawn up to play Australia in a warm-up International Rules match on October 9th.
Meanwhile, the President, Mary McAleese, will be among an Irish contingent heading to Phuket in Thailand this weekend for the annual Asian Gaelic Games. The three-day event has grown into the largest Irish sporting event in Asia and will include teams representing China, Dubai, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan.
GAA president designate Seán Kelly will also travel to examine the potential for further expansion of Gaelic games in the area.
