The second test of this year's International Rules series takes place in Perth this Saturday with Ireland gunning to claw back a ten-point deficit.
Joe Kernan has added to his squad after Pearce Hanley suffered a wrist injury last weekend. Monaghan’s Darren Hughes, a seasoned International rules player, has flown out to join the Irish group. Hughes was initially unavailable due to commitments to his club, Scotstown.
Also added to the squad this week was Cork’s Ciarán Sheehan. Sheehan moved to Melbourne in 2013 after receiving an offer from AFL side Carlton, although he was delisted earlier this year. Niall Murphy and Enda Smith missed the first leg due to illness but could return to play a part this weekend.
The game throws in at 8:45am tomorrow morning, a much more palatable time than last weekend's 5:10am start.
While a ten-point lead may seem big it must be taken in the context that a goal and an over brings Ireland right back into it. In reality, such a deficit is minor given the scoring rules.
Bring on game two 👊 #VirginIRS #AUSvIRE pic.twitter.com/lx2LDqshXe
— AFL (@AFL) November 17, 2017
Tactically the Irish have a wide berth for improvement. The tackle is a situation they naturally are unfamiliar with and it told last week as Australia were not hit with the intensity permitted. In attack Ireland squandered several goal chances which are crucial given the six points they secure.
Speaking to the Australian press this week Aussie goalkeeper Brendon Goddard said Ireland’s tactical naivety gave his side a considerable edge:
When we actually won the ball, there was very little pressure from their forwards that we're accustomed too. I was hesitant to switch the ball and look to the other side (thinking) their forwards would be involved in defence but it's not at the front of their mind and it's not natural to them in their game.
We were able to move the ball out of their back half.
He also felt his tactic of operating as in the ‘sweeper-keeper’ role was something that Ireland did not deal with.
I think that caught them a bit off-guard because I think they're so used to staying back in goal like you saw their goalie. They thought I would be on the line waiting for them.
While a return to the violence of 2006 is totally undesired, Ireland will realise they need a significant increase in physicality if they are to limit their opposition and hinder build-up. Unaccustomed to the round ball, forcing the Australian players to kick long when under pressure could reap dividends. That is not to say they can't kick a score though.
When you have $20 on a kick #VirginIRS pic.twitter.com/U1OfeFYMF6
— AFL (@AFL) November 17, 2017
Australian coach Chris Scott will have to manage his squad delicately having lost Scott Pendlebury and Patrick Ryder to injury. Their absence means Australia will have fewer players on the bench than Ireland will, an advantage Ireland can hopefully exploit in the final quarter.
A week is a long time in sport and in Ireland's case a welcome chance to shake the bout of illness that struck the squad prior to the first leg, get accustomed to the time zone and further reinforce their rapport as a group.
A crowd of over 30,000 is encouragingly expected as it is the last game at the Subiaco Oval before a move to a new 60,000-seater Perth Stadium.
Whilst entertaining to watch GAA stars unite as one team, watching the Australian game plan is also a worthwhile exercise. AFL is more structured than many GAA fans realise and the unique running patterns, fielding challenges and hand pass technique are all aspects worthy of attention.
