INTERNATIONAL RULES COUNTDOWN TO FIRST TEST:GLEN JAKOVICH is one of the new Australia management team. He has a colourful playing history in the international game and is one of his former club coach Mick Malthouse's assistants for this year's series.
In itself this is an impressive tribute to their enduring relationship, as in his younger days Jako received a cautionary slap from his coach and now colleague.
"Early in my career I had Mick as coach," he says. "He's a very strict disciplinarian and I was guilty of an undisciplined act in a game and he was letting me know all about it. It was good for me and I never did it again."
Jakovich's role in the Australia camp carries special responsibilities. He is the coach with responsibility for goalkeeping. His international career was centred on his execution of net-minding duties in the 2003 series.
A local player with the West Coast Eagles in Perth, with whom he won premierships in 1992 and '94, he wouldn't have made the selection as an outfield player, but as soon as Andrew Kellaway, one of Australia's outstanding goalkeepers, was ruled out of the panel five years ago Jakovich had contacted manager Garry Lyon and with typical Aussie reticence had expressed interest in being the goalkeeper.
"I put my hand up for it. When they were speaking about it I approached them and said 'I think I could do a job for you' and I put a lot of work into it."
The position has produced some exceptional players for Australia over the years, surprisingly given it's completely unknown to AFL players. Conversely it occasionally has proved a disaster.
After a nervous start Jakovich grew into the role and was a hero in the thrilling closing stages of the second Test in Melbourne five years ago, clawing away a shot by Steven McDonnell for a 45, which yielded only a point.
His preparation for the position was helped by a familiarity with soccer and friendship with an eminent goalkeeping family.
"I just went out and got professional help from Jason Petkovic - a national goalkeeping coach and former 'keeper with Perth Glory," he says about his preparation for the task. "His brother Michael is a goalkeeper as well and plays in Turkey (for Sivasspor). I grew up with those boys and played a bit of soccer at school before deciding to make my living in the AFL. Professional tutoring gave me more awareness of the position."
In the unhurried way of their approach to filling the position Australia have yet to finalise their goalkeeper for tomorrow night. Three had been in audition but according to Jakovich the choice comes down to two, neither of whom are experienced in the role.
In Monday's practice match the one aspect of Australia's performance that looked a little off-beam was the concession of goals.
"Michael Firrito (North Melbourne) and Nathan Bock (Adelaide) are the two 'keepers. Michael's one of the best fullbacks in our game and Nathan's more of a centre back but they have similar roles as key defensive players. Both showed some promise in the practice match. Michael conceded a few but Mark Schwarzer (Australia's soccer goalkeeper now with Fulham) wouldn't have saved those.
"The Irish won't have that much space and anyway they predominantly go for overs, which is the cautious option and their skill means they can take those chances."
Meanwhile, the Ireland and Australia teams were guests of the AFL in King's Park, Perth, last night in advance of the first Test here tomorrow night. Both AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou and GAA president Nickey Brennan spoke and expressed the wish to put the controversial 2006 series behind them.
Assistant coaches and former international captains Nathan Buckley and Ireland's Anthony Tohill also spoke and emphasised the importance for players in being able to represent their country. Tohill added that all of this year's players had a duty to ensure the game survived in order to preserve the opportunity for other players in the future.
