The AFL has announced a major push to revitalise the ailing international rules concept, with a one-off Test against Ireland announced for November.
Australia will play Ireland on November 22 at Patersons Stadium in Perth and only AFL players who have achieved All-Australian selection will be eligible.
Hawthorn’s reigning premiership coach Alastair Clarkson will head the Australian team and high-profile Collingwood president Eddie McGuire will have the new role as Australian chef de mission.
McGuire’s job will be to spruik the international rules concept, which is struggling for popularity and relevance, and to ensure there is enough prestige surrounding AFL national selection.
An Australian indigenous team toured Ireland late last year and it failed to attract great interest.
The AFL has also canvassed 10 star players, including club captains such as Scott Pendlebury, Nick Riewoldt and Luke Hodge, for their thoughts on the international series.
The AFL and the Irish GAA have moved the date of the series from October to November, when most Australian players are ending their annual leave.
The two bodies are also looking at rule changes so AFL key position players can have more involvement in the game format.
We are determined to restore the prestige and popularity of the international rules series (IRS),” AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said.
The AFL and GAA continue to believe the IRS is an important opportunity for players from both codes to be recognised for their elite talent by receiving the honour of representing their country.
Robbie
Guest
That's your definition of fair go? A sport invented by Victoria for Victorians??? So self involved.
Midfielder
Guest
It appears AFL senior management feel a need to at a minimum say they are growing AFL internationally .... wonders aloud why the increasing desire...could it be as simple as we have so much money lets see if we can make it work ,,, or something deeper like a study into a 20 year time frame indicates a code will need an international presence ...
TW
Guest
The article below features some comments by the boss of AFLNZ Rob VanStam. The ideas put forward are reasonable and will be achievable in the medium term. There is a growing possibility that with the increased number of NZ players playing in Australia in the AFL and State comps a fixture of this nature will be a goer. The actual numbers ATM are very small so we have to wait. Rob is generally very conservative with his comments so if he reports "growing interest" something which is hard to define he must see something positive happening. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/new-zealand-afl-ceo-rob-vanstam-says-there-is-growing-interest-in-the-game-across-the-tasman/story-fni5f4q3-1226895240928 The crowd at last nights Wellington game was down on estimates at 13,000 odd although I predicted 15,000 which I thought would be reasonable. According to some reports it was a pro St Kilda crowd which would give encouragement to the Saints management. The match itself had a tight finish which helps. Another Melbourne Club needs to front up to St Kilda for the "big one" next year- Preferably one of the Big Five- Ideally Hawthorn because of its NZ recruiting and sponsoring.
Michael from NZ
Guest
Agreed Aussie Rules is such an inward sport, played in an inward country. Australians need to get out more.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
That was for Bruce, and his keen insight.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
What utter rubbish!!
One Born Every Minute
Guest
Out of curiosity, what are the dimensions of a Gaelic football pitch?
fiver
Guest
International Rules is an embarrassment. It's like getting the Australian cricket team to play baseball for a few games. I believe the AFL needs a representative fixture and should revisit the state of origin concept. A VIC, SA and WA tri series to start with and then if NSW and QLD ever become strong enough then they can be included.
Tad
Roar Rookie
You probably confuse a basketball with a baseball with a cricket ball.
Tad
Roar Rookie
I bet he played for the left right outs.
Bill
Guest
Stop trying to make it better!!! It is what it is!!! It may not be the most attractive game to watch or the most exciting or have the best atmosphere but it has history and tradition in Victoria and strong roots in the community. Sure the game has its detractors and many supporters are being turned off by the way the AFL and certain clubs are treating loyal grassroots supporters (like mugs) but there is a bucketload of goodwill in the bank to exhaust before Melbounians feel a need to look elsewhere for their primary sporting fix.
Bill
Guest
Is talent that scarce on the ground in Australia that we have to hold an "international rules" contest with a different code to make up numbers for our teams?! I suspect not - I have come to the conclusion that this is just a hit-and-giggle, end of season junket to New York for the AFL big wigs, used as an excuse to live it up on the AFL purse - not to be taken with an ounce of seriousness.
Titus
Guest
I just like to fight the power, Tad. I'm like that rapper guy.
Tad
Roar Rookie
So unattractive he has made multiple comments, i guess the sport he supports is perfect and far any form of criticism, justifiable or not. I would say he is hurting big time.
Tad
Roar Rookie
LOL, says he who won troll of the year from Roar management, bet you wear that crown proudly as well. What a guy !.
Titus
Guest
You guys don't really do banter very well do you? You would think you had never met fans of other codes in Victoria......wait, you have met fans of other codes haven't you?
Pat
Guest
TW, the problem with this 40000 figure is that it comes straight from the top. Last year Gil McLachlan said the game in NZ was tracking well as they had 40000 'players'. This meant they immediately had more players in NZ than RL and were tracking well when compared to RU, problem is it was pure BS and spin. A little scrutiny shows that the figure is really a fully AFL funded Kiwikick program in schools or as others have said a fully funded child care service with dubious accounting procedures. The real figure of registered AFL players playing season long weekend competitions is in the hundreds not thousands. The AFL must show some respect in NZ not chest thumping BS.
Bruce
Guest
Of course the captive Melbourne and desert state markets will turn out - I mean what else is there to do in those places? But I'm serious about trialling a round ball, the game was not meant to be a 20 man continual rabble with heads down and the ball on the ground. Something fundamental in the game has to change - maybe an offside rule like Soccer as well as the round ball would make the game more clinical, athletic and better to watch.
me, I like football
Guest
exactly, smell the fear
me, I like football
Guest
Correct, this prove that The International rules is nothing to do with promotion or trying to internationalise the game. because if the AFL wanted to do that then the International cup is the place to start but the AFL pretty much gives it verry little