We were supposed to be the ones who were the masters of the football.
Remember? That was the deal.
We play with the round ball, we play with goals and goalkeepers and three points for a point and we’d pit our mastery and skill and accuracy against their physicality.
Well, whilst the Irish might feel like they’ve caught up in the conditioning stakes, the Aussies aren’t too unfamiliar with the football anymore. Nat Fyfe, in particular, loves it.
In the ungodly hours of Sunday morning (Irish time), Joe Kernan’s men went down to the hosts in Adelaide during the first test of the International Rules Series.
Australia 2-13-12 (63) Ireland 1-13-8 (53)
The best of the AFL won by 10 in the end and it was that infamous third quarter that blew the visitors away until a spirited closing period from the green jersey kept the tie alive.
Michael Murphy, unsurprisingly, led the way and hit the only goal for Ireland with a typically ruthless finish.
Some quick ball movement freed Michael Murphy up to kick his first goal of the afternoon. #VirginIRS #AUSvIRE pic.twitter.com/GAhuGcXIiz
— AFL (@AFL) November 12, 2017
The Aussies hit back with two of their own – one a fisted effort and the other right out of the Michael Murphy school of finish.
Nat Fyfe got onto the end of a slick quick-ball move and drilled home the most accurate of efforts right across Niall Morgan and inside the post.
In fairness, its brilliance looked to have even shocked the man himself.
Pure brilliance from Nat Fyfe! What a finish that was 🙌 #VirginIRS #AUSvIRE pic.twitter.com/A04bSXjhRn
— AFL (@AFL) November 12, 2017
Australia: Brendon Goddard, Zach Merrett (Essendon), Eddie Betts, Rory Laird, Rory Sloane (Adelaide), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood (Geelong), Shaun Burgoyne, Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Michael Hibberd, Neville Jetta (Melbourne), Robbie Tarrant, Ben Brown (N. Melbourne), Travis Boak, Paddy Ryder, Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide), Luke Shuey (West Coast).
Ireland: Niall Morgan (Tyrone), Chris Barrett (Mayo), Killian Clarke (Cavan), Eoin Cadogan (Cork), Peter Crowley (Kerry), Pearce Hanley (Mayo/Gold Coast), Brendan Harrison (Mayo), Kevin Feely (Kildare), Karl O’Connell (Monaghan), Paul Murphy (Kerry), Aidan O’Shea (Mayo), Zach Tuohy (Laois/Geelong) Gary Brennan (Clare), Niall Grimley (Armagh), Sean Powter (Cork), Niall Sludden (Tyrone), Conor Sweeney (Tipperary), Shane Walsh (Galway), Conor McManus (Monaghan), Michael Murphy (Donegal)
