International Rules News: Three of Australian Rules' leading players have made themselves available to head coach Kevin Sheedy ahead of next month's two-Test International Rules series in Ireland.
Barry Hall Junior, a team-mate of Tadhg Kennelly at the Sydney Swans, is expected to be confirmed as Australian captain, while Michael Voss of the Brisbane Lions, arguably the greatest player of his generation, is set to finally represent Australia before his imminent retirement.
"Opportunities are running out for me and I haven't played for Australia," Voss said. "If the opportunity's there I've probably got to take it."
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou added: "When Michael Voss was mentioned to Sheeds his eyes lit up. It's up to the selectors but there's a lot of pluses if they found a spot for him. Some of the other senior AFL guys have also put their hand up, so we will have a very strong squad in Ireland."
Former Essendon captain James Hird, who has toured Ireland before, is also expected to be named in Australia's squad. The imminent selection of Hall as captain is a worrying development considering the 29-year-old's colourful disciplinary record.
The AFL adopted a far more serious attitude towards the hybrid game after being whitewashed in the 2004 series at Croke Park. The appointment of legendary Essendon coach Sheedy saw them reclaim the Cormac McAnallen Cup in emphatic fashion on home soil last year.
However, the violent scenes that led to Australian co-captain Chris Johnson receiving a five-Test suspension overshadowed their dominance. To combat the alien nature of the tackle, Seán Boylan has drafted in Irish Colleges rugby coach Shay McGuinness as a specialist coach.
Boylan and his management team of Eoin Liston (Kerry), Padraic Joyce (Galway), Anthony Tohill (Derry) and Hugh Kenny (Wicklow) hold their fourth trial session this Saturday at Westmanstown Sports Complex in north Dublin.
Ireland's Aussie Rules-based players Setanta Ó hAilpín, Aisake Ó hAilpín (both Carlton), Colm Begley (Brisbane Lions) and Kennelly have all been approached to join the training squad. Kennelly's season is still not over as the Swans reached the quarter-finals of the AFL championship. "They have all expressed an interest after contact was made but we should know more after this weekend," said Boylan.
Armagh's Kieran McGeeney, overlooked by former manager Pete McGrath, has been an ever present at training, while Cork's Nicholas Murphy arrived last week. Anthony Lynch and Derek Kavanagh are still nursing injuries but Graham Canty - who became embroiled in a great rivalry with Barry Hall during the 2003 series - is ruled out with a cruciate knee injury.
The Dublin players will join the trials this weekend but Boylan is still waiting for confirmation from Graham Geraghty (playing football in America) and Armagh's Francie Bellew. No Kerry or Mayo players will be approached until after the All-Ireland final but Kieran Donaghy and Ciarán McDonald must be top of the shopping list.
The first Test is in Pearse Stadium, Galway, on Saturday evening, October 28th, with the second Test in Croke Park on November 5th.
