As we are deep into the Spring Racing Carnival and head into full-blown cricket season, the AFL season is a long-lost memory. But luckily, fans cans get a little hint of footy action as the 2015 International Rules Series begins this Sunday as an all star Australian team take on Ireland in a hybrid between Aussie rules football and Gaelic football.
The International Rules Series has been played in it's current form since 1984 and while there have been some memorable contests during that period, there is no doubt that interest has waned in recent years. The AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association must have been aware of this and decided to try and make the 2015 series bigger than ever before and that is apparent if you take a look at the Australian team line-up.
Here is the Aussie lineup as published on the AFL website:
Luke Hodge (c) (Hawthorn), Dustin Fletcher (gk) (Essendon), Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle), Eddie Betts (Adelaide), Grant Birchall (Hawthorn), Luke Breust (Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Andrew Gaff (West Coast), Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Dyson Heppell (Essendon), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), David Mundy (Fremantle), Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn), Nick Smith (Sydney Swans), Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs), Harry Taylor (Geelong), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs). Coach: Alastair Clarkson (Hawthorn)
Has our International Rules team ever looked this good?
Australia's Assistant Coach, AFL premiership player and Gaelic Football star Tadgh Kennelly seems to think this is the best team ever assembled.
“I think this is the strongest Australian side you’ll see. I’m trying to say that to the people in Ireland - I’m telling them they’ve got to come out and see this team because it really is a genuine Dream Team," Kenelly said.
Here's all the info you need for the International Rules:
Where: Croke Park, Dublin Ireland
When: Sunday, November 21 at 5:30am AEST
TV: 7mate, the AFL LIVE App or at CrownBet
Verdict: It really is always hard to bet on the International Rules considering we know very little about the Irish team. But there is simply no doubting that this list, along with Alistair Clarkson as coach, is going to be formidable and all signs point to an Australian victory.
So if you want to have a punt, you can bet on the International Rules at CrownBet and we will be taking Australia at the line (-8.5) at $1.90.
