International Rules series:Adelaide AFL coach Mark Williams insists he saw nothing wrong with the tackle by his charge Danyle Pearce that knocked out Ireland's Graham Geraghty in the controversial second International Rules Test at Croke Park last month.

Williams, who was Australia's assistant coach during the series, believes there was no more thuggery or violence from the Australian team than from the Irish.

"For me, it's all about some minor changes to the rules. It is not a problem that cannot be overcome," Williams said. "The International Rules series must continue to be played between Australia and Ireland."

Once a non-believer in the concept, Williams said experiencing this year's trip to Ireland had made him realise the importance of representing your country and the great benefit the players could take from the games.

He has implored the AFL and the GAA to reach a compromise on rules that would outlaw some of the physical clashes and lower the injury toll which threatens the future of the annual clashes.

Ireland has pulled out of next year's series in Australia after last month's second Test in Dublin erupted in violence.

"It will take some time, a month or so, for people who know the game better than me to work out what can and can't be done," Williams said. "If the two sides sit down together, I am sure they can reach a compromise on continuing the series."

Meanwhile, Chris Johns, the former chief executive of Australian National Rugby League club, the Melbourne Storm, has proposed a match between the top AFL and NRL stars to fill the void left by the absence of the International Rules series.

Preliminary discussions have already taken place in Brisbane for a match between the Brisbane Lions and the Brisbane Broncos and Johns said that interest was high. He said he nearly pulled off a similar game some years ago between Storm and Essendon, but the AFL refused to allow it for fear their players might have been injured.

"We had the two clubs pretty interested, but the AFL wouldn't allow it because they thought it would be too rough," Johns said. "We've now talked to Wayne Bennett (Broncos coach) and Leigh Matthews (Lions coach) about a game next year as a launch to the season for both codes.

"Can you imagine the two clubs going head-to-head in Brisbane? They'd pack out the place."

John said there were plans to play the game last year, but the idea lost momentum when the Lions suffered a number of pre-season injuries to key players. "But next year I want to see if we can pull it off and there's been plenty of interest from all parties," he said.

Such a game would change the landscape for the AFL. Footy's finest could suddenly find themselves the hunted, rather than the hunters.

Would Chris Johnson, for example, stand in the middle of the ground knocking players' out if he knew Willie Mason was standing next to him wearing an opposition jersey?