The AFL is interested in taking the International Rules series to the United States.
A star-studded Australian outfit will take on Ireland in a one-off Test match at Perth’s Patersons Stadium on Saturday but the future of the hybrid game series is under a cloud.
The Irish comprehensively outplayed the Australians in the past two series in 2011 and 2013 – winning all four Tests, including a 79-point drubbing in last year’s second game.
Earlier this year the Gaelic Athletic Association expressed doubt about International Rules’ future.
While the future of the concept appears to be on the wane, AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said the two countries should be embracing expansion and use it to showcase the game overseas.
“If this (match) is successful, and our players and our staff across the league are prepared to commit to it, then we’d like to make it a showcase event,” Evans said ahead of talks this week with the GAA.
“The timeframe might be every second year, every third year or every year if there’s enough support.
“We think there’s an opportunity to take the game to the United States, maybe play in Central Park in New York, on our way towards Ireland.
“We’ll talk to the Irish during their time in Australia.”
The Australians were well-beaten in recent series, prompting them to limit selection this year to players who had earned All-Australian honours.
Australian coach Alastair Clarkson has also added former Sydney Swans defender and Irish representative Tadhg Kennelly to his staff.
“(Kennelly) is going to be perfect for us, I’ve had a few kicks with him throughout the break and getting used to the styles that they use, the way the Irish play and ways we can counter that,” Sydney captain Jarrad McVeigh said.
While previous Australian sides had been affected by player unavailability, Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak said all squad members had shown enthusiasm for the match.
“Everyone’s really excited to be here,” Boak said.
“As soon as we had a chat about the best players in the comp playing and being involved, then everyone put their hand up and just wanted to be a part of it.”
Mal
Guest
I hope you don't work in marketing conchie - with logic like that you'll be out of work soon. A few scratch teams driven by expats does not make a market in a country of 320 million people.
conchie
Roar Rookie
About 175 Gaelic sports clubs in the US combined with around 40 AF clubs says there is a market. New York Gaelic Senior Football league has 32 senior teams in it, it's a fair size, it also has Junior and intermediate leagues.
Bruce
Guest
G,day Conch, Great analysis mate......I heard from some bloke down at the pub say that GAA was big in the good ol' U.S of A also.....I think you're on the money. Then another bloke said he heard of some mad Yank who saw a game of AFL on you tube and all of a sudden it was huge in ol' Tank Town......everywhere....kabooom...lets get it on !!!!!!!!!!!!! First we take New York....then we take Berlin....lol....
conchie
Roar Rookie
20 metres at least bigger than a soccer field in length.
doubledutch
Roar Pro
I think the international rules is played on a GA size pitch, which is similar to a soccer field. I would imagine there would be plenty of those around in the States.
conchie
Roar Rookie
GAA games is quite big at both senior and junior level in some parts of the US, OZ football has 40 or 50 cubs of varying sizes across the country. I have heard of worse ideas. It is possible we may identify another Mason Cox.
AR
Guest
"I bet the AFL will throw money at nothing,as usual." Actually, the AFL has a record of providing virtually no money to overseas competitions or ventures. Which, to be honest, is the right way to go about it in my view. Spend the money in Australia (Sydney's west for eg) rather than overseas somewhere.
Axle an the Guru
Guest
I bet the Irish agree to do it as long as the AFL pay for it in some way shape or form,and I bet the AFL will throw money at nothing,as usual.
Knoxy
Guest
I'm pretty sure they have sent clubs over there to play in the past. There's also an Australian rules football competition in the US which has been running for some time. I'm not sure what the facilities they use are like though.
Shouts Chen
Guest
Silly decision made from the AFL to move this International Rules to the USA. Why not stick to Australia and Ireland? Or even have a neutral ground to be played in New Zealand?
Lazza
Guest
Where would you find a Cricket oval to play the game?
Bill C.
Guest
Ludicrous idea. Take Hawthorn and Sydney, or any of the 16 teams in the comp and showcase AFL, not this rubbish. I don't get what they're trying to achieve, other than embarass AFL fans..
AR
Guest
It's odd that the AFL persists with this token concept. It inspires mild curiosity from onlookers, but certainly no passion from either side of the fence. I think taking this frankenstein exhibition to the US would only cause confusion. I don't see the net benefit for the AFL.
Martin
Guest
I agree, well said Knoxy.
Knoxy
Guest
This farce of a concept should've been scrapped ten years ago. Hardly anyone in Australia cares about it. What makes them think that anyone in the US will be interested? If they want to promote the AFL, send two clubs over and play an actual game of Australian football, not some hybrid rubbish that doesn't even exist.
Penster
Guest
Players with no more than a mouth guard will be a novelty in the USA.
slane
Guest
There hasn't been much fighting since the early 90's. Basically when the AFL removed the 'Biff' from its own code it disappeared from the hybrid code.
Kenjac
Guest
Why would the AFL think something like this would be a good showcase for their sport. Please correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this a mash up between 2 the codes that usually devolves into a bunch of fights? I can understand why they want the Irish to come along because that would get the "Irish" in America to possibly buy tickets but what would they actually be showcasing? This would be a match that really isn't AFL to an American public that likely would be confused by what they are seeing to begin with. Besides it might result in the game being known for the wrong reasons.While people in the US won't mind the fighting I don't think that this kind of spectacle would be good for the AFL.