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The AFL is giving the International Rules Series with Ireland one last big shot with a trip to America in the works, but Fremantle coach Ross Lyon only wanted to be involved if some guarantees were made.
The hybrid game featuring Australia and Ireland has been on its last legs both in terms of Australia’s competitiveness and the public’s interest in recent years, culminating in an embarrassing two-game defeat in Ireland last year with an All-Indigenous team.
However, the AFL is giving it one last crack with only All-Australian honours players from 2014 and previously eligible for this year’s one-off game in Perth on November 22.
With current captains Joel Selwood (Geelong), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) and Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) committed along with Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield, there is a chance the concept could again prosper.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans has his sights on more than just this year, providing it works as he hopes.
“I would hope that this proves to be the blueprint for the future in terms of collecting the best players and coaches,” Evans said in Perth on Wednesday.
“We think it’s important to collect the very best and participate together in some form, and International Rules is that at the moment but there’s quite some possibility that we might take a series to the United States in the next year or two.
“We would bring Ireland to the United States and play at Central Park in New York, and play in Boston and really create some excitement about collecting this group of people together.”
Lyon will be part of the Australian team as an assistant coach under Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson following Sydney’s John Longmire turning down the role.
The Fremantle coach only wanted to be involved if he was guaranteed it was to be taken seriously by the AFL and the star players.
“From a personal point of view, when Mark and Alastair approached me, I had a couple of questions around what support it had and how seriously it had been taken because obviously it was an Australian team,” Lyon said.
“But to get the opportunity to work with Alastair and be in an elite environment, when I put all that together and to get outside of clubland will be great for my personal growth, and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a unique experience.”
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