The allure of the Ireland tour
Samantha Lane
The Age
October 22, 2006
JOEL Bowden openly calls it a junket, but quickly makes a clarification — "only because everything's put on for you. Your flights, for example. We flew over business-class, which was the most amazing experience. The hotel, the Berkeley Hotel (in Dublin), is incredible. And breakfast, lunch and dinner is put on. It's all there, put on for you.
"But we trained really hard, and we trained even harder after the first Test because we lost."
The Richmond defender toured Ireland with the 2004 Australian international rules side and by being an All-Australian again this year was granted automatic selection to the 2006 team. But while a select group of 25 players, from 13 of the AFL's 16 clubs, boarded an Ireland-bound flight last night hoping to reverse the result of that particularly disappointing series for Australia, Bowden was contentedly preparing for a summer in Melbourne.
Since Australia's previous away tour, he has married and become a parent, which changes things a bit. He is also finishing a university degree. In contrast, 25-year-old Western Bulldog defender Lindsay Gilbee had neither a wife, nor children to consider before deciding whether to accept the AFL's offer of a free two-and-a-half week overseas trip. Yes, he will miss the annual frivolity of Melbourne's spring racing carnival, but he says he would rather keep himself fit by playing a second international rules series than through more mundane exercise.
"The positives outweigh the negatives, and by a long way. I'd rather get fit by doing this than by running around the Tan or running around Princes Park. I'd rather do this any day."
Bonding, however, is an important part of the trip. And a valuable one. If not for his international rules experience, Bowden otherwise wouldn't have struck up friendships with Saints Luke Ball, Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo and Max Hudghton, who he continues to keep up with.
INTERNATIONAL RULES 2006 SERIES
First Test: October 28, Pearse Stadium, Galway
Second Test: November 5, Croke Park, Dublin
Full article at:
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/10/21/1160851185569.html
