International Rules Australian squad arrives in Ireland: After yesterday's long journey from Melbourne, Australia coach Garry Lyon and team captain James Hird had to postpone further their bedtimes and attend a press conference in Dublin's Berkeley Court hotel at midday.
Lyon, the most successful of all Australian coaches, said he hadn't been focusing on the opportunity to make history with an unprecedented third successive series win.
"Not really. Every year presents a different challenge. Last time it was trying to be the first Australian team to win on home soil. This is my fourth - and last - year and it would be nice to go out with a victory."
Soon he was fielding the perennial barrage of questions about the potential for unacceptable physicality and whether his team would resort to rough-house tactics if the matches were going against them.
"You looking for a headline?" he joked. "I've never said, 'we're in trouble, let's whack them'. Our aggregate score in the first quarter over three years is 54; Ireland's is 110. The simple reason is we take time to get up and running.
"There's not one thing that irritates me (about the way the Irish play). I'm actually delighted with the way the series runs. We understand the challenge for us is to get the ball under control. The challenge for you is to get to grips with the tackle and the physical side of the game."
Hird echoed his coach's mild bemusement at the recurring theme. "It (International Rules) hasn't got anywhere near the physical element that football has. A lot of the rules of the combined rules series prevent you doing what you do in football. It's never been an issue with us and we don't think about it until we get here and get asked questions by you guys."
This will be Hird's second series. He also captained the side that won both Tests in 2000, also in Dublin, but has been unable to take part since. Like many Australian players, he has had to undergo surgery during their limited five-week close season.
"It's been disappointing for me that injury operations have kept me out of the series but I've been watching them on TV and had a look and had a talk to Shane Crawford and Craig Bradley, who have been captains since.
"I was dying to get back. Garry is a very good friend of mine and I've always said I want to come back and play under him and fortunately this is my opportunity."
He believes both countries have improved over the series since he last played.
"Definitely. I think we're better at kicking and the Irish are better at tackling. Both teams have adapted to the rules a lot better and understand it a lot better. The physicality of the game has picked up and the speed of the game has increased."
Given his status in the AFL and performances four years ago, Hird's return to action is a considerable lift for the Australians, as acknowledged by his coach.
"James is one of the great players. When people say you don't have the best players available, I laugh and point at James Hird. Early this year he said to me that one of his goals was to get here at the end of the year."
Lyon also disclosed that the Australian players travelled "at the right end of the plane", equipped with beds recently added to the Qantas business class.
It will be interesting to see if the GAA decide to emulate this standard of treatment when next year's panel travels out from Ireland.
Meanwhile Ireland manager Pete McGrath has had to rule out Kerry's Tomás Ó Sé with a fractured jaw and has called up Fermanagh's Marty McGrath from the stand-by panel.
"Tomás is definitely out. The fracture will take a minimum of 21 days to clear up. It leaves us thin on the ground in relation to defensive options. Phil Jordan (Tyrone) had an abdominal problem that got worse during the training sessions and so he had to withdraw.
"Both Michael McCarthy and Tom O'Sullivan from Kerry were unavailable so I'd be a wee bit concerned about the defensive cover. Fortunately Marty's played in the half-back position at practice sessions and has experience of the position so although he's better known as a midfielder he can play in defence."
The Australians will play a practice match against a Dublin Selection this afternoon at Parnell Park at 4.0. The match, which had been fixed for tomorrow, will be a fund-raiser for Cumann na mBunscoil. Dublin will be captained by Paddy Christie, with the Ballymun player himself a former Irish representative with team-mates Coman Goggins and Shane Ryan.
DUBLIN (v Australia): Paul Copeland (St Jude's), Martin Cahill (St Brigid's), Donnacha Corcoran (St Mary's, Saggart), Anthony Holly (Whitehall CC), Paul Casey (Lucan Sarsfields), Shane Ryan (Nh Mearnog), Shane O'Sullivan (Whitehall CC), Hugh McEnerney (Whitehall CC), Kevin O'Malley (Erins Hope), Mick Casey (Lucan Sarsfields), John McNally (Ballinteer SJ), Declan Lally (St Brigid's), Enda Crennan (St Jude's), Robbie Boyle (Erin's Isle), Wayne McCarthy (Erin's Isle), Glenn Archbold (Inisfails), Cian Cleere (St Sylvester's), Dec Cahill (St Brigid's), Caoimhin King (Erins Hope), Peadar Andrews (St Brigid's), Coman Goggins (Ballinteer SJ), Dave Noonan (Erin's Isle), Seamus Breathnach (St Mary's, Saggart), Val Sheridan (Erin's Hope), Denis Bastic (Templeogue Synge St), Darren Ducie (Ballymun Kickhams), Francis Fitzgerald (St Margaret's), Shane Cooke (St Mary's, Saggart), Ross Archbold (Inisfails), Robert Leghio (Inisfails).
