The squad was picked from the four corners of Ireland. In a way to understand where the Irish are coming from in the game you have to understand where the players come from. Some Aussies can’t understand the amateur status it has here. Ironically it’s about status, S.T.A.T.U.S. There’s a sizable chunk of players from the North ( aka Northern Ireland). And they get to play for their country, Ireland (ie be proud Irishmen).
It’s not about money. Is AFL about money? (Kick2Kick comment: yes these days it is) All the Irish guys work full time, in banks, in shops, as plumbers for example Gardai is a policemen/women. They all travel half way across the country to train a couple of times a week (or more) in their own time, without pay (bar the occasional rare sponsorship deal).
Some play other Irish sports like Hurling (would be the other big one) and also Poc Fada and Handball. Payment comes in being out on the pitch representing their club ( could be a village club), their parish, or their county. The guys are born in the villages. Reared and go to GAA throughout their lives for the village, and then die in their village. Sometimes the village can be a parish, a town, a county.
Some folk say the International Rules series is a waste. But the players do not; they get to play for their country, the biggest village of them all, Ireland.
The AFL pinching Irish players situation
There is tension about the players being scouted by guys from Oz. They jingle jangle coins and folk worry that they weaken our county teams. And it’s the county teams that really everybody is worked up about. Folk talk about the Aussies, that they are a lot rougher. I think the Aussies play a similar game, but different.
The game previews from an Irish POV
The round ball suist the Irish more. Hopefully it will be cool, weather-wise and maybe a bit of rain. The more rain the better, it’ll feel like home!
A good game is easy to see, so hopefully they’ll be good games, and not pub brawls in the extreme like what happened the last time!
A couple of great links and places to learn more is:
- An Fear Rua - one of the most popular GAA fan site with a great comment board
- Village - Irelands Current Affairs website on the International Rules.
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October 30th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Thanks for that, its good to hear a different perspective.
I agree that there needs to be a policy or limitation in regards to who the clubs can pinch from Ireland. From what I know international rookies come into a grey area were the money (~10k i think) does not come under the salary cap which means clubs like Sydney, Collingwood etc can use it to try and unearth a future star, which Collingwood and Sydney have.
This comes to a situation were the Bulldogs require private sponsorship to recruit an international rookie. I think its the way to go especially if we can pick up players like Naitinui and Kennely who will make a difference to a side.
I also wish that the AFL players played less for money and glory but rather the spirit of the game. The players of the mid 90s and before used to play for status and not the money but now??
Jermayns last blog post..So won’t the real Jesus Christ please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?