2011 International Rules

[Velour&Ruffles]

I think the larger contingent of players with AFL experience in the Irish team has helped them to match Australia in the fitness and physicality stakes, I know the IR series will always have its detractors but I still believe it is good for both codes. Australia got the balance terribly wrong in picking a very young squad and probably went too small, I don't know whether that has more to do with unavailability of players in the off-season though. But I think that overall for AFL players to experience playing for their country is beneficial.

On the other side, even though the GAA clubs might not be happy about losing players to AFL, the way I see it, with the Irish economy the way it is (Michael Lewis, the author of 'Moneyball', paints a fairly grim picture here -- the country is now full of abandoned construction sites and "ghost estates", where you can literally see the moment the money ran out and the building stopped) giving a handful of young Irish prospects each year the chance to make a living playing professional sport, albeit in a foreign land, is an opportunity that they might not otherwise have if they stayed home, and at least gives them something else to aspire to.

Nicely said.
And for all the pooh-poohing, I think International Rules is actually just an attractive code to watch. It draws on a wide range of skills, there is plenty of pace and movement and it is usually pretty close (last night excepted). I enjoy watching it as a gme for its own sake. I'd watch it voluntarily even if I didn't have any knowledge of anyone involved.

[Damien]

Hate seeing AFL Players playing with a round ball. Really hate it, but if we are going to do it, our best AFL players should play, not a team of players that are meant to be better at this hybrid code. I think the numbers last night probably spoke for the majority of AFL fans and the International Rules concept.

Saw enough of Walsh last night to know he can stand his ground, is mobile and knows where the goals are. Now a great preseason in the harbour city with the sherrin and see what he can deliver!

[707]

So THAT'S Tommy Walsh. Worth pick 36 every day of the week from what I saw, albeit with the round ball and different rules. You could just see that he's going to be a great pick up. No wonder my Saints friends are spewing they lost him.

I think we just need to have faith and play him, he could be the answer we're looking for up forward.

Really enjoyed the hybrid game, great skills on display and wasn't Tadgh excellent and the general of their team. Well deserved win to the Irish.

[sharp9]

Judd, Goodes, Cloke, Swan, Pendlebury....just to name a few who should be playing. I mean...Robinson, King, Wood, Shiels, Monfries.....these type of guys are not even in the top 100 AFL players. Very weird.

[Bas]

I mean...Robinson, King, Wood, Shiels, Monfries.....these type of guys are not even in the top 100 AFL players. Very weird.

Turned a serious game into an Irish Joke.

[stellation]

Judd, Goodes, Cloke, Swan, Pendlebury....just to name a few who should be playing. I mean...Robinson, King, Wood, Shiels, Monfries.....these type of guys are not even in the top 100 AFL players. Very weird.

After dominating last time around, I wonder what the odds were that Goodes was asked to play, told Rocket would coach and said "errrr, no"

[BeeEmmAre]

Rocket to be sacked from two coaching jobs in the same year?

[Damien]

Judd, Goodes, Cloke, Swan, Pendlebury....just to name a few who should be playing. I mean...Robinson, King, Wood, Shiels, Monfries.....these type of guys are not even in the top 100 AFL players. Very weird.

They play when a free tour of Ireland is on offer. They might as well play it in Ireland every 4 years and leave it at that.

[JudesaGun]

I'm on the bandwagon. Can't tell much from last night's game but he will be a physical presence and that's a start.

I will NOT NOT NOT miss that bloody channel 10 last 5 minute warning clock. Nor will I miss 10.

You will after one full weekend of coverage from those muppets at 7... trust me. We lose our one and only supporter amongst the commentating ranks, Tim Lane.