Sport

Sheedy suggests changing rules to keep Rules

Andrew Demetriou, chief executive of the AFL, has called for the International Rules series to be reinstated

Ahmer Khokhar
Tue Mar 20 2007 - 00:00

Andrew Demetriou, chief executive of the AFL, has called for the International Rules series to be reinstated. The competition was cancelled after the ugly scenes in last year's second Test in Dublin.

Danyle Pearce's controversial tackle on Graham Geraghty reduced the 82,000 attendance to near silence as he lay motionless on the ground, but Demtriou insists the positive aspects of the hybrid game should not be ignored and violence can be eliminated from future contests.

"I hope we can bring it back," he said. "I have seen the series grow and the effect it has on the players. They come back better players and people. I have seen what it means for our players to play in the only representative opportunity they get to play for their country, in this crazy game which is totally sold out."

Australia's last International Rules coach Kevin Sheedy supports the idea of taking tackling out of the game if it is the only way for the series to continue.

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"Whatever has got to be done to keep the series, we should look at it," Sheedy said. "It will be six months (since the last series) soon and I will write a letter to the GAA and tell them how the series can be improved.

"I know my assistant coaches, Mark Williams of Port Adelaide who wasn't sure about the concept before he got involved with the Australian team and West Coast's Robert Wiley, both said this is an unbelievable game. I said go back and tell other coaches and clubs and players who don't want to play."

Demetriou and Sheedy are not alone in their support for the international rules series. The Irish contingent currently in the AFL: Colm Begley, Aisake and Setanta Ó hAilpín, Tadhg Kennelly, and the latest Irish recruit and former Down footballer, Martin Clarke, all hope to play for Ireland in future Test matches.

"We didn't lose the International Rules series because of Australia's tactics, it was because they were better than us," said Begley. "It's every Irish player's' dream to play for Ireland and I hope they bring the series back so we can beat Australia in the future."