The AFL is giving the International Rules Series with Ireland one last big shot with a trip to America in the works, but Fremantle coach Ross Lyon only wanted to be involved if some guarantees were made.
The hybrid game featuring Australia and Ireland has been on its last legs both in terms of Australia’s competitiveness and the public’s interest in recent years, culminating in an embarrassing two-game defeat in Ireland last year with an All-Indigenous team.
However, the AFL is giving it one last crack with only All-Australian honours players from 2014 and previously eligible for this year’s one-off game in Perth on November 22.
With current captains Joel Selwood (Geelong), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) and Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) committed along with Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield, there is a chance the concept could again prosper.
AFL football operations manager Mark Evans has his sights on more than just this year, providing it works as he hopes.
“I would hope that this proves to be the blueprint for the future in terms of collecting the best players and coaches,” Evans said in Perth on Wednesday.
“We think it’s important to collect the very best and participate together in some form, and International Rules is that at the moment but there’s quite some possibility that we might take a series to the United States in the next year or two.
“We would bring Ireland to the United States and play at Central Park in New York, and play in Boston and really create some excitement about collecting this group of people together.”
Lyon will be part of the Australian team as an assistant coach under Hawthorn’s Alastair Clarkson following Sydney’s John Longmire turning down the role.
The Fremantle coach only wanted to be involved if he was guaranteed it was to be taken seriously by the AFL and the star players.
“From a personal point of view, when Mark and Alastair approached me, I had a couple of questions around what support it had and how seriously it had been taken because obviously it was an Australian team,” Lyon said.
“But to get the opportunity to work with Alastair and be in an elite environment, when I put all that together and to get outside of clubland will be great for my personal growth, and a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a unique experience.”
Leonardo
Roar Guru
How can you accuse anyone of anything Flick, when you don't even live in Manly or anywhere in Sydney, yet you try and con us into thinking that. You are a part-time employee of the AFL Marketing Department, right?
Leonardo
Roar Guru
What about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? http://aflfeeds.com/article/the_teenage_mutant_ninja_turtles_edition We love a great game of AFL.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Under the heading, ''Western Sydney - The Reality versus Perception Gap'', the report's author, David Lawson, notes: ''The reality is that junior club maturity and participation numbers appear to have stalled. There are 6 per cent less junior/youth AFL players in 2013 than in 2009. The perception, however, is that the game is growing well. This perception is supported by masking low junior club numbers with Auskick numbers (Club, School and Community Auskick) and school program numbers. This optimistic, bullish perception is needed to market the game, however this perception urgently needs to be underpinned by the truth about committed junior club participants.'' Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/study-slams-afls-takeup-figures-in-west-20121023-283jn.html#ixzz386mPn Or give it the Flick
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Liar, liar, AFL pants on fire! http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/afl-drop-birchgrove-bid-after-uproar-over-player-figures-20120724-22ntw.html
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Lyer, lyer, AFL pants on fire! http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/study-slams-afls-takeup-figures-in-west-20121023-283jn.html
Flick
Roar Rookie
Poor Bruce, Bogdan is actually making some points, not asking questions, and whether he is wrong or right he is actually having a go. Alternatively your just a sad sack who offers nothing. Poor Bruce.
Kevin dustby
Guest
I think it is you, flick that is embarrassing themselves
Kevin dustby
Guest
Great name, you an old Doug mulray fan?
Bruce
Guest
Flicka old mate......I'm off the canvas where you left me last night....beaten and battered...lol...lol. But.....but.....I'm back for more....can you answer some of Bogdans questions? Sock it to me again mate.....I need a good battering for the good of the game that "made Australia"....lol.....lol...where are ya Flicka......anyone seen Flicka..??
Bogdan the turnip boy
Roar Rookie
Flick In order for AFL to be established in Sydney as a legitimate sport it has to do a few things. 1) Engage with the community in a meaningful way. This means spending money on established clubs with dedicated ovals. Don't worry that the council will still own the buildings, they won't kick the clubs out. This will enable the clubs to get a liquor licence and provide a social environment on Friday nights and week ends. Nothing beats letting the mrs have a glass of white wine watching the kids run around. This also means the club has to pay for a few RSA tickets for new adults or parents, but it has to be done. 2) Don't let another North Rocks Suns occur. ( One of the early expansion junior clubs that folded ) This left a very bitter taste in the mouth of the people that left Pennant Hills to help out. 3) Whilst the AFL management people are pretty good some of the supporters come across as overly pushy. Acting like members of a cult puts people off. It's just a game that gets the kids out of the house and lets them blow off steam. 4) Stop being fixated with numbers, the AFL's quoted numbers are no longer believable and no one regards them as such. It's better to have 12 strong clubs travelling all over that 24 weak clubs struggling for numbers. 5) Get the Dads running around in an over 35's comp at their home grounds. Even if only once or thrice a year it builds a family atmosphere. Don't keep score in these games, every game ends in a draw. If this means strong clubs have to swap players with weak clubs do it. 6) Don't worry if the game is regarded a second sport, lots of kids play 2 or more sports in each season. Kids doing the HSC should not be told that training is compulsory or you won't get a start, let them play making sure that everyone gets equal game time where possible. 7) Come up with a better story about abandoning the U16 comp this year, too many people know that last year there were only five U15 teams in Sydney. It's better to say that AFL has to consolidate numbers than have some story about transition to seniors from 19's is easier than 18's. If they are not doing it in Melbourne it is not a believable story. 8) Finally, stop using the Jack brothers as examples of how AFL is taking over RL in it's home town. Garry Jack is best known in Sydney not as a former ARL test player, he is best known as the bloke that sledged the only openly gay league player with a homophobic taunt and got the living tripe punched out him.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
ahh EWK it's all coming back to me, that's tops
Bruce
Guest
No Papa......no GF's.....by the early 20's went and played RL.....had quite a few nights out with Greg Smith when he was at EWK though before he went Melbourne.... big, big, nights.....he could play....he could party.....lol......
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Indeed they were Bruce, Didn't know that about Kelly. Coincidentially I also played 19s for Wagga Tigers, Kell's club but before his time. I was a pretty ordinary footballer but I did take the greatest mark never seen one morning at Robertson Oval. Happy times. Greg Smith was the Ardlethan gun when I was a boy, went on to play for SM and Collingwood. Did you manage to play in any of Ard/APM's grand finals?
Bruce
Guest
I can't take anymore Flicka - please - someone call off the fight - I'm cut to ribbons - I'm a shadow of the man I never was!! Please tell me another story Flicka - the one about Auskick 'numbers' in Sydney - you,ve got me against the wall - finish me off !! Lol ...lol...lol...
Bruce
Guest
Those were the days il Papa - pretty sure Paul Kellys dad played for the Stars.
Pope Paul vii
Guest
Tops Brucey, Riverina standard. I played for Ardlethan as a lad when they were the Stars (lol) and APM were the enemy but it was GGGM I couldn't stand.
Flick
Roar Rookie
We all realised what you were quite a while ago Brucey. Sad, feeling insignificant and unable to mount any semblance of a decent argument. Poor Brucey.
Bruce
Guest
You got me Flicka......I'm done.....beaten to a pulp .....I can't take any more......someone raise that mans's hand......you're Muhammad Ali to my Chuck Wepner Flicka.....lol....lol....lol.....
Flick
Roar Rookie
All part of a pathetic exit strategy, he is not funny at all. Shown up completely.
Flick
Roar Rookie
Nope, he knows he is not funny, all part of his pathetic exit strategy, he has trapped himself into a actual discussion that requires some factual information and he has none. He has completely embarrassed himself and been shown up for the fool he is.