INTERNATIONAL RULES COUNTDOWN TO FIRST TEST: Seán Morangets the views of Nathan Buckley perhaps thegreatest Australian International Rules exponent, and assistant coach for the series

IN THE eyes of many reasonable judges Nathan Buckley was one of the best, if not the best, Australian player to take part in the International Rules series since it was resumed in 1998. He was his country's best player in that initial year and unlucky not to retain the Jim Stynes medal a year later when captaining the side at home.

Buckley's indefatigable running and hard work enabled him to get on to large amounts of ball but he was also distinguished by being a terrific kicker of the round ball at a time when his compatriots generally struggled with it and hit a typically well-struck pressure free to tie up the second Test of that 1999 series, allowing Australia a modicum of consolation for losing out on aggregate.

Injury and the need for surgery prevented the former Collingwood player, now an elite performance director at the AFL academy, from making further appearances but it is no surprise to see him popping up as assistant coach to Mick Malthouse for the series.

Asked at training in Perth's Subiaco Oval how the game has evolved since he last played a decade ago he says that whereas Australia have progressed more successfully, the long-term balance of the series suggests Ireland will respond.

"In all competitive sport, it ebbs and flows and the way the game is at the moment, the latest rule changes make it extremely competitive once again," he says.

"Australia have competed well and won the last two series but if you look over the longevity of the competition, it is so close you can't split us. It's a 55.9 average against a 55.6 average, so it is very close. It has evolved rapidly, as all sport has, and for the better."

The latest rule changes inhibit the Australians from running the ball up and down the field using only hand passes. Now the ball has to be kicked after every four hand passes. The home team, possibly because they are used to adaptation, have processed the change, whereas Ireland, who have been assumed more suited by the reform, have found coming to terms with the restriction difficult.

"The 'four handballs' is interesting," according to Buckley. "Obviously the Australians teams in '05 and '06 went into the series with a tactic of running the ball more and trying to kick it less because that would have been to their disadvantage.

"Looking back at those series it was probably only in isolated incidents where they hand-passed the ball more than four times. It will have an effect on us because by the time you get your second or third handball, you will have to start thinking about what you are going to have to do with the ball rather than having unlimited handball and that will have to be taken into consideration."

Other rule changes have addressed the indiscipline problems on the field that nearly brought the international series to extinction. Both the rules of the game and the rules on suspension have been changed.

"The sling tackle is something that our own game has addressed at club level," says Buckley, "so that is something the international rules and the AFL have addressed to take out of the game - so that is a very positive thing.

"Every player needs to be accountable for their actions on the field because in the end it reflects not just on themselves but the team they represent, both at national and at club level, the AFL in general and every Australian because once you put on that coat of arms you are representing your country.

"We believe the relationship between the two nations and the two different codes need to be fostered and encouraged and we believe in making individuals accountable for their actions and they will be."

Nonetheless he rejects the idea that rule changes should be used to even up the series by making it harder for one team to win or easier for another to regain competitiveness.

"There was probably only one (uncompetitive) result and that was here in Perth in '05. If you need to change rules to make the game competitive, I don't think that is a legitimate consideration. We believe the Australians have won on their merits in the last couple of years and that when the Irish have won they have won on their merits and not because of rule changes or rule adjustments."

Ireland's most successful phase in international competition coincided with Buckley's involvement but he has warm memories of his two series as a player.

"If you are a competitor within and you love testing yourself there is no better concept. It was really exciting for me to play over in Ireland in '98 and then captain Australia in '99.

"One of the greatest regrets of my career is that I did not play in a winning series. I played in one win, one draw and two losses. I think we lost both series by eight or nine points. It was a disappointment for me but the opportunity to play the games . . . I loved it."