It takes pioneering spirit to push for a sporting concept to get off the ground.
Most know the basic history of Australian rules football and how Tom Wills promoted the game as a way of keeping cricketers fit in the off season.
Less is known about how an Irish team came to play Australia in the first unofficial international rules contest 50 years ago.
The remarkable history of the first ever Australian team to head overseas is covered in a brand new documentary – titled The Galahs.
After witnessing the All-Ireland Gaelic final in 1966, former umpire, media personality and promoter Harry Beitzel sent a message via a telex machine that an Australian team would love to challenge the All-Ireland champions, Meath.
Not only would they challenge but they were confident of winning and even offered to play by predominantly Gaelic rules – including the use of the round ball.
Before the days of social media, news of the tour spread, especially due to unique Australian uniform – featuring Diggers’ slouch hats, which caused quite a stir.
The Australian team known as The Galahs had some of the most well-known VFL players in history.
Captained by Ron Barassi – the team also included Bob Skilton, Alex Jesaulenko, Barry Davis, Royce Hart, John Nicholls, Hassa Mann, John Dugdale and Ken Fraser.
Despite having limited time to master kicking the soccer ball, the Australian team won comfortably in the cauldron of Croke Park in 1967.
It shocked the Irish that the Galahs could beat them at their own game. The next year another Aussie side toured again and went undefeated.
Many of the players who represented Australia believed it was their greatest achievement in football outside of winning a premiership.
Despite the initial success of those tours it took 16 years for the concept to resurface.
The first official international rules series was in 1984. This time it was Australia vs Ireland.
Since then international rules has come and gone and come back again. It had an eight-year hiatus in the 90s and it was canceled in 2007 after violence had overshadowed previous encounters.
It’s a real shame that despite all the history the Australia-Ireland fixtures have never truly taken off.
In modern times, part of that is down to the fact that Gaelic football remains strictly amateur. That doesn’t compute with the professional world that we’re used to.
It’s also hard for the AFL players to completely change their tackling style to stay within the rules of the game.
It can leave Australian fans frustrated that it’s too Gaelic focussed but it has to be for those obvious reasons. The amateur Irish boys just aren’t built to withstand heavy bumps.
The matches have to be played outside of the respective seasons and that doesn’t help. This year Australia will host Ireland in November for a two-Test series. The venues are still yet to be determined.
Despite all these factors, I’m convinced international rules could have been massive if it was handled better through the years and wasn’t allowed to drift in and out of the public’s consciousness.
The whole professional vs amateur angle is unique in itself. The way AFL players have to adapt to the round ball, the different tactics and kicking at an actual football goal is fascinating. It’s also intriguing to witness how the Irish players deal with the physicality that they’re not used to.
As the AFL pumps money into promoting Port Adelaide’s historic Chinese fixture against Gold Coast, more should be done to promote this year’s international rules as well.
It may be a hybrid game, but it’s a game where an Aussie rules footballer gets the chance to represent their country. As the 1967 Galahs would tell you, that’s a concept worth getting around.
Penster
Roar Guru
Brilliant stuff thanks Tony, harks right back to the olden days that some of us still remember. Harry Beitzel is in ill health so it's good to see this come out.
Ants32
Roar Rookie
Nice article, Benjamin. Thanks for the info regarding the Galahs. I had no idea. I always thought the games I attended in 1984 at Footy Park (West Lakes, Adelaide) were the first games. I will hunt down the doco and watch it with interest. Ignore the naysayers, mate. You're right International rules is (and always has been) a great concept. Pity people can't get behind it, just because it's something a little different. :/
Ants32
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the doco, Tony. I will watch it with great interest. :)
duecer
Guest
This is an interesting question and one that is hard to get figures on. Would the total playing stock today actually be greater than the 'golden period' in the '50's and 60's when each of the top 5 sides, on a good day, could beat each other. The two most populous nations have seen large falls in playing numbers, especially France and Wales, although small, would not have greater numbers now. Has the increased number of smaller nations playing now made up for these faucets? No one seems to came up with any facts, usually getting side tracked on other subjects. Sport Lover - even the visually challenged can see that soccer participation rates are increasing and the Rugbies are decreasing.
Aaron
Guest
I'd doubt you'd find many AFL footballers who care two cents about the international rules games. They already play enough and the clubs pump enough money into them to not have to worry about them getting injured in a non-event game. Representative Aussie Rules as we knew it is dead, sorry EJ, but it is. We have state representative football every week, it's just at club level.
Sport lover
Guest
That would be your perspective as a known fat Samoan tr0!!. Unfortunately it is, like most of your assessments, completely wrong. Enjoy the Samoa test this weekend.
clipper
Guest
There's no doubt NZ are stronger - even if the players play in Australia - but England and especially France are not.
Agent11
Guest
no mention that NZ are by far the strongest they have ever been in League. They are closer to the Kangaroos than the Wallabies are to the All Blacks. The Kiwi's would beat NSW at the moment. England have a strong team with some of the worlds best players also - Burgess, Graham, Hodgson, Widdop... International League isn't as bad as some make out.
mikeT
Guest
A more realistic and relevant neutral crowd illustrating the size of international league was the two games Aussie played in the last world cup in Ireland and wales. The world champions failed to draw more than 5k.
me too
Roar Rookie
In the end those promoting it can't escape the fact that it's a very watered down hybrid to allow amateurs to compete with professionals. In essence we're seeing neither play the game that they're best at, and playing a game that no one else does.
Sport lover
Guest
Refer below
Wally
Guest
not worth watching..just don't care, might be a nice jolly outing for the selected players but that is all
Sport lover
Guest
Thanks for the concession you have no idea what you are talking about, clip. You make a good pair with 'Cameron'.
clipper
Guest
A one off event does not disguise the fact that it hardly happens now as compared to 30-50 years ago.
Dan the Man
Guest
Let's stop pretending AFL and International Rules is bigger than what it is. Gotta laugh when you hear AFL fanatics saying - AFL is being introduced into US and China - it's gonna be big!. pfftt...
Tony Wilson
Guest
Thanks for the writing the article. We directed and produced The Galahs doco,. and whatever your thoughts about international rules, I'd urge you to watch a fantastic sporting story - and an entrepreneurial story too. They thought they were taking footy to the world. Search the galahs in itunes, or go to thegalahs,com. Thanks Roar!
Sport lover
Guest
Any comment on why 2013 is regarded by you as aeons ago? lol You missed that bit.
clipper
Guest
It's hard to get an accurate number (no good using what the NRL or AFL put out, an independent source is a must), but good on you for picking it was the Roy Morgan poll. Many similar have correlating declines. No mention of England or France - are you saying it's increasing there? Everyone now knows Sydney is an all code city, even though league may be the most popular sport for now, but well done for spotting so many people pointing it out, unfortunately I haven't seen your moniker before, so don't know your views.
Sport lover
Guest
Your figures are pretty rubbery on participation too (that's what relying on 2 dodgy reports will do re- ABS and Roy Morgan) and this has next to nothing to do with spectator interest in a sport. Stick to claiming Sydney isn't a rugby league city. "All codes, all codes, all codes..." lol
Sport lover
Guest
Yeah 2013 was so long ago. lol Try again.