Aussies take steps for revenge
Tuesday, 4 October 2005 16:36The AFL have taken significant steps in their attempt to reclaim the Cormac McAnallen Cup after Ireland's two Test and 50 point aggregate win in Croke Park last year.
Australia previously won both the 2003 and 2002 Series by 7 point aggregates.
Current Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy takes charge of the Australian team for the two Test Series in Perth and Melbourne after Garry Lyon completed a four year term last year.
Sheedy is joined by Danny Frawley, a former Richmond coach, who also represented Australia in the 1987 and 1990 International Rules Series.
Dublin native and AFL legend Jim Stynes is also a member of the Australian back room team, which has been given greater powers than ever in attempting to put a Series winning side together.
Where previously selection for the All Australian side - the AFL version of the All-Stars - automatically secured a player's position on the Series squad, the current selection committee have been given free reign to approach the players they feel are best suited to the hybrid game.
The Australian squad will shortly attend pre-series training at a camp in Western Australia in the build up to the first test at the Subiaco Oval, Perth on 21 October.
Meanwhile the Irish Squad will continue their preparation in Dublin this weekend before flying to Perth on Saturday 15th October.
Since the International Rules Series resumed after a seven-year break in 1998 the Irish lead 4-3 in Series wins.
2004 (In Ireland) Ireland win 2-0
1st Test: Ireland 77 - Australia 41
2nd Test: Ireland 55 - Australia 41
2003 (In Australia) Australia win (101-94)
1st Test: Australia 56 - Ireland 46
2nd Test: Ireland 48 - Australia 45
2002 (In Ireland) Australia win (107-100)
1st Test: Australia 65 - Ireland 58
2nd Test: Ireland 42 - Australia 42
2001 (In Australia) Ireland win 2-0
1st Test: Ireland 59 - Australia 53
2nd Test: Ireland 71 - Australia 52
2000 (In Ireland) Australia win 2-0
1st Test: Australia 55 - Ireland 47
2nd Test: Australia 68 - Ireland 51
1999 (In Australia) Ireland win (122-114)
1st Test: Ireland 70 - Australia 62
2nd Test: Australia 52 - Ireland 52
1998 (In Ireland) Ireland win (128-118)
1st Test: Australia 62 - Ireland 61
2nd Test: Ireland 67 - Australia 56
