International Rules News: Seán Boylan has again delayed announcing the Irish panel for the International Rules series with Australia later this month. While Boylan has drawn up a list of players, the Irish manager was awaiting final confirmation from certain members before making that list public.
"I was caught up with work today and unfortunately didn't get the chance to confirm the entire list today as planned and who was in a position to travel to France," said Boylan, "but that should be done in the morning."
The Irish panel travel to Toulouse in France tomorrow for a four-day training weekend, returning on Monday, and Boylan suggested that further changes or additions could be made before the two tests on October 28th at Pearse Stadium in Galway, and the following Sunday, November 5th, in Croke Park.
For what it's worth, we know now exactly which Australians are coming. Their 24-man panel was announced yesterday by coach Kevin Sheedy, and boasts several players that are household names in Australia - yet mostly unknown on this side of the world.
Sheedy is regarded as arguably the most successful coach in Australian Football League history, and was brought in last year when it seemed Ireland had taken a grip on the compromised game. He orchestrated the convincing wins for Australia in Perth and Melbourne, the series marred by outbursts of ugly violence.
Not surprisingly, Sheedy admitted the squad's make-up was based on last year's successful model, with an emphasis on pace and youth, sprinkled with older players who had successfully played in earlier years.
"The ball will spend a lot of time on the ground and we showed last year that we can be very successful with a young, fast group, with a real emphasis on their ability to kick the ball and to chase and tackle well," he said.
"At least seven or eight of our squad possess absolutely elite-level pace, while we also have a good group of taller players with very good ability to get around the ground."
He also emphasised that the Australian selection panel of himself, Danny Frawley, Gerard Healy, Stephen Silvagni, Rod Austin and Dubliner Jim Stynes had received an outstanding response from the AFL player group and allowed them to tailor a team specifically for the demands of the game.
"Right up until the finals series we had between 60 or 70 players still wanting to seek selection, which is probably a huge turnaround and change in regard to this concept."
One of the talking points was the potential inclusion of recently retired Brisbane Lions player and triple premiership captain Michael Voss, who in the past has declined to get involved with the series. Sheedy conformed that one further player would be added to the Australian line-up.
"It could be Michael, it could be Brendan Fevola, it could be Kepler Bradley or it could be one or two other players that we will consider . . . we don't want to be taking any injured players to Ireland and some of the players are still overseas."
Eight players - Aaron Davey, Nick Davis, Dustin Fletcher, Lindsay Gilbee, Barry Hall, Matthew Lappin, Ryan O'Keefe and Nick Riewoldt - have previously played for Australia, with only Hall (2003) and Riewoldt (2004) not part of last year's team. The Australians are due to have their first practice session tomorrow, and will arrive in Ireland on Sunday, October 22nd.
Australian squad
Chance Bateman (Hawthorn), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Nick Davis (Sydney), Sam Fisher (St Kilda), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs), Brendon Goddard (St Kilda), Barry Hall (Sydney), Graham Johncock (Adelaide), Matthew Lappin (Carlton), James McDonald (Melbourne), David Mundy (Fremantle), Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney), Brett Peake (Fremantle), Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide), Andrew Raines (Richmond), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Adam Schneider (Sydney), Adam Selwood (West Coast), Justin Sherman (Brisbane Lions), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Brent Stanton (Essendon)
