The International Rules series looks set for a return to Irish shores, for next year at least, after getting an initial thumbs up by GAA and AFL officials in Melbourne earlier today. GAA president Nickey Brennan confirmed the two matches have been pencilled in for Ocotber 24th and November 1st.
Brennan and director general Paraic Duffy met with their Australian counterparts today to discuss the long-term future of the hybrid code. And while next year's dates have already been set, Brennan maintained that any recurrence of the violence that blighted the 2005 and 2006 matches would force a rethink on behalf of the GAA.
"I've said all along we want to get through this series, we want to make sure it's played in the right spirit - I'm certainly filled with confidence after last Friday," Brennan told reporters, adding that the series remains subject to approval from Central Council.
"There is the proviso there at all stages," he added. "We reserve the right to reconsider the matter, but I don't want to be talking down too pessimistically.
"I'd like to be talking optimistically, but let's wait and see. As I said at the time (following last Friday's match in Perth), it is half-time in every sense of the word."
Brennan went on to explain that the series would be run on a two-year cycle with no matches in 2010 before being revived again in 2011 and 2012.
One other issue on the agenda during today's meeting was the AFL's continued recruitment of young GAA talent.
Confirming that the junior International Rules series is "dead", Brennan requested that the minimum recruiting age of Irish players is raised to 19 and a quota system introduced for Australian clubs.