The Roar
The Roar

AFL
Advertisement

Nat Fyfe out of International Rules with injury

18th November, 2014
1

Australia’s desire to instil prestige in the International Rules series has hit a hurdle with Nat Fyfe ruled out of Saturday’s match in Perth.

Fyfe withdrew from the one-off Test against Ireland after the Fremantle midfielder suffered a shoulder injury during a practice match in Sydney on Tuesday.

He went down after diving for a mark in the closing moments of the game against a NSW Gaelic Athletic Association team.

No further details were provided on Fyfe’s injury and he will be assessed by Fremantle doctors in the coming days.

“I’ve loved the experience over the last few days and meeting players from across the competition, and it’s incredibly disappointing to miss out,” Fyfe said.

“I dived for a mark and simply landed the wrong way and it didn’t feel right.”

Fyfe’s withdrawal from the 24-man squad will remove one selection headache for coach Alastair Clarkson.

The match day squad will require only 23 players and one player was to be held back as a non-playing reserve.

Advertisement

However with Fyfe’s withdrawal, the rest of the squad will all take the field at Patersons Stadium.

The blow came on the same day new Australian captain Joel Selwood said the team was out to restore prominence to the concept after recent contests were marred by indifference.

An all-indigenous Australian team was routed in a series whitewash in Ireland in 2013 while previous incarnations of the tournament have struggled to attract top-level AFL stars in recent years.

But in 2014, the AFL is determined to revive the hybrid competition, recruiting a star-studded side for the match in Perth on Saturday.

The squad made up entirely of All-Australians will look to snap a two-series losing streak dating back to 2011.

Selwood said while there was some initial hesitation within the Australian ranks, once a couple of big-name players got on board, others jumped at the opportunity.

“There was a lot of us that were non-believers at the start that didn’t think the series could get to where it is right now,” Selwood said.

Advertisement

“I wouldn’t say we haven’t taken it seriously in the past but I would say it’s the best group of players that we’ve been able to put together for a long time.

“The players have been a little bit disrespectful to the opportunity of representing your country so we’re really proud as a group to get together and making sure we can put a great show.”

Geelong skipper Selwood won out over six other AFL captains to get the nod as Australian skipper at a team ceremony at Sydney Opera House on Monday night.

Luke Hodge, Nick Riewoldt and Jarrad McVeigh round out the leadership group.

close