The AFL should do the humane thing and put International Rules out of its misery after the second and final test tonight on the Gold Coast.
This mongrel breed of Australian Rules and Gaelic Football has finally lost its novelty value after thirteen years.
It’s like the houseguest who long outstays their welcome: good value at first but after a while they become annoying as hell. Eventually, it gets to the point where you just want them to rack off and never come back.
Only 22,976 fans rocked up to Etihad Stadium in Melbourne for the first test last Friday night to see see an under-strength Ireland smash an under-strength Australia by 44 points.
Two records were set that night: the lowest International Rules crowd on Australian soil and the biggest winning margin between the two countries.
Not that anybody cares: not the clubs, not the players, not the fans.
Dejavu perhaps? You bet. Between 1984-1990, Australia and Ireland played several three match test series of the hybrid code, which was killed off by poor crowds and a general lack of interest before being revived in 1998 just as the last rites were being read to AFL State-of-Origin footy.
International Rules was seen as a chance to reward players chosen in the annual All-Australian team, a ceremonial team that never played a game.
Those early Australian teams boasted genuine superstars and premiership players along with All-Australians. But it soon became clear that the high-octane game suited a certain type of player. There was no room for big units like ruckmen and key-position players.
Kamikaze pinball demanded fast, mobile and highly-skilled footballers and, after losing three of the four series upon the resumption of play, Australia changed tack, stacking its squads with midfielders to match Ireland’s mosquito fleet.
That’s okay when you’ve got the likes of Nathan Buckley, Andrew McLeod and Mark Ricciuto pulling on the green and gold (and navy blue) guernsey.
But it’s definitely not okay when you’ve got a second-rate squad that includes an 18 year-old rookie from the wooden-spooners among a list of no-names you’ve probably never heard of.
No wonder John Q. Citizen stayed away.
International Rules is now just an expensive recruitment drive by the AFL to entice young Irish lads to try their luck with the Sherrin.
The money wasted on the series would be better spent on junior development, that’s if the AFL first didn’t blow it all on ambitious expansion plans that include far-flung places like New Zealand, South Africa, China, and Mars.
Republican
Guest
Una Is that from the latin meaning one or the gaelic 'Oonagh' meaning lamb? We are well versed in being sore loosers, we probably learnt a great deal from the Irish who have had heaps of practice - at losing i.e. especially v perfidious Albion. This may well have something to do with a third of our nation boasting Irish heritage, including myself I may add. 'Erin Gobrath' Una.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
I wouldn't call a bit of push and shove "going the knuckle". The Irish boys can look after themselves, stop being so condescending.
Republican
Guest
I reckon that the Netball is worthy of Test status given it's international standing, whereas this commercially engineered farce is a long way off establishing a modicum of identity.
Republican
Guest
SP What is worth preserving is the Irish game and our code, rather than introducing another, especially since the Australian game is already the most supported of all brands domestically. This smacks of reverse cringe when you consider it exists only to appease those of both persuasions who are dissatisfied with the domestic status of respective indigenous brands and It's an absolute insult to the historical cultural legacy of both in my opinion.
oikee
Guest
I was just repeating what the Author wrote, calling it a mongrel breed hybrid. As for free-flowing, mate aussie rules is free-flowing, Gaelic football is free-flowing, if every code becomes free-flowing we all would get bored. So this hybrid is just another free-flowing game, is this what your saying, played with a soccer ball. AFL little holiday to Ireland is what the player told reporters. Is the push into China another holiday destination. ? I could nearly go as far to say that the only code that never takes a holiday when playing tests would be RL. Playing in Englands north is no picnic, and they go their and mean business. Not to visit a nite club, :) Same as our PNG visits, not for the faint hearted those games. You want to see phyical, Slater broke his collarbone and Mckendry broke his jaw, 2 England players could not return in the second half with back problems, that is Physical my friend.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
that's right, over 190 nations of the world can't match Zimbabwe at cricket, the oldest team sport in the world, some nations, including many first world nations, don't have a good breadth of sporting competitiveness, choosing to specialise in one or two sports
Sportfreak
Guest
I tell you what though - if the AFL and Irish bodies make money out of thi series then I doff my cap. Poor TV rating and crowds may have made this a challenge - anyone know if the games were profitable?
Sportz
Guest
The Australian and New Zealand netball teams just played a "test series". I can't believe someone still thinks that it is a term only used in Cricket.
Bondy
Guest
Thats the saddest thing i've ever read here .
stabpass
Guest
Very ironic a RL fan accusing other games of being mongrel breeds. If this game was played as it has been usually in Perth, it would have attracted up to 40k of fans. It is up to the AFL and AFL players to get serious otherwise the concept is dead. A few rules need to be tweaked, it is extremely entertaining, IMO impartial observers, (meaning no RL, soccer, RU, AF code war bias) would love this game, properly played, no other game comes close for end to end free flowing action, with enough phsicality thrown in as well.
oikee
Guest
The Irish are yet to realise nobody cares. Someone stomp on that mongrel breed, put the damm thing out of it's misery please. You dont know who to feel more sorry for, the Irish, or those 12,500 ex-pats trying to keep this mongrel breed alive.
karlos
Guest
Either take the game seriously or get rid of it. Embarrassing for all and particularly Australians. It is used at the moment as an outlet for the hooligan element in the afl to show off thier lack of sportsmanship.
Kasey
Guest
You're right BigAl, one team plays a proper internationally recognized and loved sport and one just doesn't. The public vote with their feet as AFL zealots are fond of pointing out ad infinitum ;)
BigAl
Guest
Hardly comparing apples with apples though Kase !
Derm
Roar Guru
The IR series is evidently more popular in Ireland than Australia. The average attendance up to the conclusion of the 2010 series was 47,160. The 2006 series in Ireland had a combined crowd of 112,000 over the two matches, with the second test selling out Croke Park at over 82,000. Interestingly that was the famous match where there was a few stoushes, some broken limbs, and a guy knocked unconscious. The IR test series has faltered before when Australian crowds dwindled. 7,000 just turned up in Bruce Stadium in 1990. Looks like that may happen again. Pity.
Bobby Dazzler
Guest
12,545. Aussie 'hard men' go the knuckle. Embarrassing.
Kasey
Guest
Perhaps you're unaware, but Australia averages over 20,000 when the international football extravaganza that is the Socceroos hits town.
Our Game
Guest
12,500. A poor turn up. Would have been a great soccer crowd though
Kasey
Guest
Time to ask the question the other codes often take great delight in asking football. Aust v Ireland @GC...What was the crowd?
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Una we've seen this movie before: the players lose interest, the fans lose interest, everyone loses interest...