Aussies too quick, too good
10:49:57 PM Fri 21 October, 2005
Paul Gough in Perth
Exclusive to afl.com.au
Kevin Sheedy has pulled off one of the greatest triumphs in his long career after his hand-picked "speed team" destroyed Ireland in the opening Test of the Foster's International Rules series here on Friday night to all but guarantee the Australians will regain the Cormac McAnnallen trophy.
The Australians, who incredibly went into the game as underdogs, produced their greatest ever victory over Ireland, as well as kicking the highest score in the history of the competition, in recording a 2.27.7 (100) to 3.11.13 (64) over the shell-shocked visitors in front of nearly 40,000 fans at Subiaco.
It was the first time Australia had fielded a specialist team for the hybrid game. Previously the team had been based on the All-Australian team, which was often more suited to slower pace of Australian Rules.
But as soon as Sheedy was appointed coach for this year's series - following last year's record 50 point defeat in the two Tests in Ireland - he insisted he be allowed to pick his own team and not have to worry about including those in the All-Australian team, which often contained bigger, slower players not suited to the lightning pace of the international game.
However despite Sheedy picking a team composed of virtually all the fastest players in the AFL, there were fears that Australia would suffer a hiding coming into this game given the team was also one of the most inexperienced the country has ever fielded against Ireland.
But Sheedy's gamble paid dividends as Australia beat Ireland at their own game - relying on devastating ball movement and lighting fast leg speed to give the Irish the kind of defeat that will send the proud country into mourning.
With Luke Hodge and Brent Harvey dominating from the outset, Australia led by 10 points by quarter-time after helping themselves to eight 'overs' (three pointers) in the first term with only the one blemish as the home side made the most of every opportunity.
By the time Essendon goalsneak Andrew Lovett punched the ball into the net to score Australia's first six pointer halfway through the second quarter, the game was over as a contest.
And on the few occasions the Irish did set up scoring opportunities, they were run down from behind by Australia's defenders with Richmond's Chris Newman saving one certain goal in the second term with a great tackle.
Ireland coach Pete McGrath looked shell-shocked as his team trailed by 17 points at half-time and it only got worse after the break as the Aussies not only went further ahead but began to inflict some physical punishment on the Irish after Russell Robertson was sent off for flattening Tom Kelly with a hip and shoulder, which is illegal in the hybrid game.
However that did not stop the Aussies from scoring the first three overs of the third term as the margin blew out to embarrassing levels before Brendon Coulter finally scored Ireland's first goal when he beat Australian keeper Dustin Fletcher to the ball and punched it into the net.
But Australia did not have to wait long for another six pointer of its own when co-captain Chris Johnson converted a six point penalty goal after Kepler Bradley had been held in the box.
While Ireland virtually relied on the courageous Coulter to score its points, although Ronan Clarke started well but faded, Australia had points' scorers everywhere while Sheedy's tactics to run the ball, rather than kick it, paid huge dividends as Australia recorded an astonishing 207 handballs to Ireland's 122 although Australia's foot skills with the round ball, particularly in attack, were as good as they have ever been.
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The brilliant Hodge finished with three overs as did Shannon Grant, Nick Davis and Andrew Lovett as the home side easily surpassed its previous biggest score of 72 points and previous biggest winning margin of 25 points set in Ireland way back in 1987 to ensure Ireland faces a virtually impossible task to retain the trophy in Melbourne next Friday night.
AUSTRALIA: 0.8.1 1.12.4 2.19.7 2.27.7 (100)
IRELAND: 0.4.3 0.7.8 1.7.9 3.11.13 (64)
GOALS: Australia: Lovett, Johnson
Ireland: Coulter 2, Cavanagh
OVERS: Australia: Grant 3, Davis 3, Hodge 3, Lovett 3, O'Keefe 2, Gilbee 2, Giansiracusa 2, Davey 2, Johnson, Eagleton, Lappin, Croad, Harvey, Buchanan,
Newman.
Ireland: O'Neill 3, Clarke 3, Cavanagh 2, Coulter, Forde, McDonald
Best: Australia: Harvey, McLeod, Hodge, Giansiracusa, Davis, Lovett,
Newman, Davey, Gilbee
Ireland: Coulter, Cavanagh, O'Neill
INJURIES: Australia: Nil
Ireland: Nil
Umpires: Mathew James (Australia), David Coldrick (Ireland)
CROWD: 39,098 at Subiaco
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