Flights to Dublin from Melbourne – as featured from Etihad Airways – would be route one for the boys in green looking to take the humble meaning of “football” and apply it to the upside-down-Englishers. What am I blithering on about?
It’s not exactly a short trip to the training ground if you’re having to fly from Australia to Ireland, but that’s the call that is going out for the Australian rules footy tournament. Aussie rules is a game in it’s infancy by comparison to other ball-based sports. From a strictly professional point of view the only players of the game to date have been male Australian citizens.
“The Irish squad will feature former North Melbourne rookie Conor Meredith, while selectors are also keen to secure the services of ex-Carlton big man Aisake O’hAilpin.” [Above]
It was during this year that the first International tournament began and was named simply; International Cup. The cup is designed to spread the word of the Australian game and as such does not see the Aussie side take part on account of their likelihood to win with very little competition. Ireland took the cup in 2002 when it began, and it seems they’ve been harboring a taste for it ever since.
In a bid to repeat their performance of 9 years ago the Irish team-members are looking for compatriots based in Australia. The ruling passed to suit this tactic states that it’s “probably okay” [paraphrased, of course].
The only rule is that the players must have resided in Ireland for a large portion of their life, particularly between the ages of 10-16.
Players are having to look for their own flights to and from the country as the whole thing is self-funded – this is the reason behind the call-out for Aussie residents with Celtic blood to sign up for the national side. It’s not like there’s a shortage of people that would like to play, however:
The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland, footy’s governing body in Ireland, started in 2001 with two teams based in Dublin and Belfast.
Auskick has also been introduced in Ireland, with clubs running the popular junior program in primary schools.
Such is the growth that Ireland was recently selected to host the Eurocup in October.
The cup’s played every 3 years, so the next one is lined up for later this year. It all starts in August with local teams competing purely for entertainment purposes.
You can read more here: Team to be shored up.