Australia will field an all-indigenous line-up for their International Rules Series (IRS) tour of Ireland in October, the AFL’s deputy chief Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday.
With a side expected to boast Hawthorn forwards Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli and Sydney’s dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, Australia will tackle Ireland in two Tests in late October.
McLachlan described the AFL’s decision as a significant announcement.
“To the best of our knowledge, the all-stars representing the AFL in this IRS series will be the first all-indigenous team to represent a sporting code at senior level overseas since that first cricket team toured England in 1868,” McLachlan said.
Former Sydney Swans forward Michael O’Loughlin will coach the side, assisted by his former coach at the Swans Rodney Eade, who’s currently an assistant at Collingwood.
Eade coached the Australian side in the 2011 series.
Adelaide and Australian IRS great Andrew McLeod and ex-Brisbane defender Chris Johnson will also be on O’Loughlin’s coaching panel.
Ireland are current champions following their series win in 2011.
McLachlan said the concept gained momentum following the indigenous all-stars’ game during the 2013 pre-season.
“This series has needed reinvigoration,” McLachlan said.
“The fact that senior indigenous players like Adam Goodes, ‘Buddy’ Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne and others have said ‘we want to play representing the indigenous all-stars’ … was exciting for us.
“That commitment carries a lot of weight.”
Asked if there could be a backlash from non-indigenous players complaining they’d been robbed of an opportunity to play for Australia, McLachlan pointed to previous problems getting big names on the park.
“The players have had plenty of chances historically to represent Australia in International Rules Series and haven’t been available,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s any disguising the fact that in 2011 there weren’t many of our senior players available to play in that series.
Irish officials have also given the concept their support, McLachlan said.
O’Loughlin said his side would be loaded with skilful players.
“Ireland are a great team and we know we’ll have our work cut out. But certainly (Australia want) a quick play-on and get that ball moving fairly quickly to our dangerous players,” he said.
The AFL’s leading indigenous stars had all committed to play in the series, O’Loughlin says.
“We’ll be putting the acid on them but we wouldn’t have to twist their arm too much,” he said.
mark
Guest
No.one is sure what your point is mike, that is why i pointed out all your so called FACTS, in an attempt to understand you !!. Good luck on your crusade. LOL.
Mike
Guest
Not sure what your point is Mark - but if your ever in NZ good luck trying to find 30,000 AFL players - you might want to have a crack at the Lock Ness Monster and Bigfoot as well.
mark
Guest
Listen to yourself Mike, and i quote ...... "this bloke McLachlan is becoming a serial fabricator" "30,000 AFL players in NZ – outright lie" "are ‘exposed’ to the game through no active initiative of their own" "In no way do they actually ‘play’ the game or pursue it as a sport of choice" "In fact most don’t even know what they are doing or regard it as a sport" LOL, Mike all these FACTS you somehow know. I think we know who the serial fabricator is !!.
Mike
Guest
You must come from one of the captive AFL states Mark - you need to look behind the spin and ask a few questions when people like McLachan make statements instead of nodding gently in agreement.
mark
Guest
Wrong !!, but what i expected, there is plenty of participation outside school and school hours at community centers and schools, these need to be payed for. Going by your " there about 500 people in NZ who actually play the game in the real sense" , is ridiculous, i guess we can knock out most of the kids playing 4 a side soccer, milo cricket, try rugby and mod/mini league. Sounds like someone has issues to me !!
Mike
Guest
As shown by Marks thread there about 500 people in NZ who actually play the game in the real sense. The rest are young school kids who get visited by AFL developement officers whilst at school and are 'exposed' to the game through no active initiative of their own. In no way do they actually 'play' the game or pursue it as a sport of choice. In fact most don't even know what they are doing or regard it as a sport
Stavros
Guest
So how many AFL players are in NZ?
mark
Guest
http://static.tab.co.nz/control/data/nzrb-media-releases/TAB_Sport_kicking_AFL_full_forward_in_New_Zealand.pdf Looks like 30,000 to me.
Mike
Guest
Well said Karlos - this bloke McLachlan is becoming a serial fabricator. Earlier in the year he said there were 30,000 AFL players in NZ - outright lie. At some stage the AFL must recognise they are not only talking to their captives in Vic, SA & WA who will dutifully nod when spoken to - but also the 52% of other Australians who are discerning enough to actually check the facts.
karlos
Guest
Great idea, but as usual the afl are blowing their trumpet without having done any homework. An all Aboriginal rugby league team toured nz in 1973 representing a national sporting code at a senior level having played 9 games in 10 days winning 7. Please stop trying to create myths afl. It shows the afl has a total disregard for Aborginal sport as a whole and are just clutching at straws again by trying to rewrite history. Discraceful.
holty
Guest
We all know the NZRU are absurd. So your point it would seem is redundant.
mark
Guest
Don;t think the AFL have spent any significant amounts of money O/S at all, most is sponsorship. And we are yet to see what happens in a couple of years at GWS, witness GC increasing good form and popularity, particuarly on FOX footy where the ratings have been excellent. As usual people go early, give them some time.
Australian Rules
Guest
What about the NRL and the NZRU? Are they in the dark ages too?
South Dublin Swan
Guest
A recent President of The GAA, Jack Boothman was a Protestant. Only in Northern Ireland might Protestants be worried about playing GAA.
Pat
Guest
You must be joking Mark - it would be like the AFL playing the VFL and getting beaten - embarrassing. And while I'm on it - why dosent the AFL fund a professional Aussie rules comp in Ireland? They spend hundreds of millions of dollars in Sydney and Gold Coast and NZ and PNG and SA whilst Ireland has a similar game with ready made players ripe for the picking. I reckon it would a better investment than a lame duck GWS.
A Mans Not A Camel
Guest
you are still not getting it. yes, it may be a frankenstein game, built from both AFL and Gaelic Football - but, it's still the one and only opportunity that AFL players have to represent their country - no other form exists. Just because YOU personally do not see it as a genuine international sporting contest, does not make it so. As per Brad's comment below - by doing this, the AFL are drawing a highlighted line between black and white Australia, with both sides wanting to play. So why have the AFL made it about race? On a personal note, I love watching the matches, I think it's generally always a great contest and an interesting format. Everyone will have their own opinion on it, but just because you say it doesn't have any importance, does not make it so.
fishes
Guest
Good point Franko. "Could you imagine the NBA sending out an all-white or all-black team here? The MLB sending out an all-hispanic team? What if instead of Man Utd & Liverpool touring, they send a combined ‘All-Spanish’ team?" The AFL is in the dark ages.
Scottie
Guest
Brad your so right on this one and i agree with You. I don't understand these teams being picked because of there race/ethnicity, yet it's promoting 'multiculturalism.. Err what
mark
Guest
Could not disagree anymore with you, the Irish may be amatuer, but amatuer in name only, they train like professionals, they live and breath their game like professionals, they may receive no money, but they get great job offers, and get oppurtunities that normal people may not, they may also get jobs with the GAA doing clinics etc. The Australians use a round Gaelic ball, far from the Sherrin and Burleys they grow up kicking, play with a Australian Football and the results would be so far one way, it would not be funny.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
I'm with Ben of PP, its OK by me. Not sure about Ronan's flogging prediction either. The Irish team will be unfairly advantaged as usual with the ball & the scoring system, but an AFL indigenous line up will show them something they've never seen before.