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Australian coach Mick Malthouse has called on his forward line to polish up its act before Saturday night’s second and final International Rules match in Dublin.
The tourists put themselves in line to regain the Cormac McAnallen trophy by registering a seven-point victory over Ireland in the opening match at the Gaelic Grounds.
Captain Adam Goodes led the tourists with four overs in Saturday night’s 0.14.5 (47) to 1.8.10 (40) victory in Limerick but did not have much support from the other main tall target in Jack Riewoldt.
This year’s Coleman Medallist was sluggish at times and struggled to come to grips with the round ball with one set shot from 30m failing to even make the distance.
“I think our forward line in general can play better,” Malthouse said.
“The score was enough to win and I am not sure how it goes with other scorelines.”
The Australians have the chance to further sharpen their skills with the unfamiliar ball in their three training sessions before the Croke Park encounter.
Ireland manager Anthony Tohill has problems of his own with his side losing despite having the same number of scoring shots on the night.
“For them to be more accurate than us in front of goals with our ball is something for us to look at in terms of own shooting,” he said.
“But you have to admire the way Australia used the round ball.”
Tohill was very much seeing the glass half full following his side’s late flurry after trailing by 18 points midway through the final quarter.
His men were sparked by Bernard Brogan’s running goal that he drilled past goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher, the only six-pointer of the match.
“It might just have saved the series,” Tohill said of Brogan’s goal.
“We were in a pretty bad position, we were 20 points down at the time and not playing the way we wanted to play to put it mildly.
“The goal brought us into it and it brought the crowd into it and a bit of a strong run at the end to leave the series alive.
“We have come out of a big hole … we played quite poorly and it sets us up nicely for the second Test.”
If tied up at 1-1, the International Rules series winner will be decided on points for and against.
Dane Swan, one of Australia’s best in Limerick just three weeks after winning the AFL premiership with Collingwood, felt his side had plenty of room for improvement.
“Absolutely, this was our second game together and we have bonded well over the past week and we are only going to get better,” he said.
Australia are hopeful that Geelong speedsters David Wojcinski and Travis Varcoe will be fit to play in Dublin after sitting on the bench in Limerick.
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