AUSSIE RULES HAS always struck us as a game requiring a greater blend of athletic abilities than most.
Between the necessity of a vertical leap, blistering acceleration and, at times, sheer strength it makes for quite a spectacle when flowing at full pelt.
With Ireland defending their AFL Europe Championship in DCU this week, we want to know who you would pluck from our country’s resources to help the side to glory in Ballymun.
Here are five to get the oval ball rolling.
Pearce Hanley
An easy one to start with. Pearce has had an amazing season in the AFL this year with the Brisbane Lions and is currently ranked as the 4th best defender in the entire competition. Even playing one-handed at one stage (he is nursing a broken one as we speak). The Irish team would love to have him.
Just the man needed for busting through packs and dancing around defenders. In all honesty, there are not too many national teams we don’t think would be better with the inclusion of BOD.
The AFL guys don’t seem to brawl like they did when it was on our screens in the 1980s, now it’s more jumper punching and sly ones at the bottom of packs. With Katie Taylor’s super-quick hands, she’d be perfect for getting away with the biffo.
Being a resident of Melbourne now, Sonia must be well up to date on the rules of the game. Couple that with her ability to run all day (some of these AFL players run 26km in a match!) Sonia could be the game winning elusive midfielder we need.
The young Dublin Football gun has been on the radar of AFL scouts since he blitzed the AFL draft trials in Dublin last year. Unable to be prized from his beloved Dubs, he has been in scintillating form this Championship.
The Kilkenny native may not be a household name, but any man who can jump 2.3 metres in a single bound would be a walk up start as a full forward in the Aussie Game. Who knows how high the high jumper could go using the backs of opposition players as a step ladder.
What Irish sportspeople would you like to see playing for our AFL Europe side?
AUSSIE RULES HAS always struck us as a game requiring a greater blend of athletic abilities than most.
Between the necessity of a vertical leap, blistering acceleration and, at times, sheer strength it makes for quite a spectacle when flowing at full pelt.
With Ireland defending their AFL Europe Championship in DCU this week, we want to know who you would pluck from our country’s resources to help the side to glory in Ballymun.
Here are five to get the oval ball rolling.
Pearce Hanley
An easy one to start with. Pearce has had an amazing season in the AFL this year with the Brisbane Lions and is currently ranked as the 4th best defender in the entire competition. Even playing one-handed at one stage (he is nursing a broken one as we speak). The Irish team would love to have him.
Brian O’Driscoll
Just the man needed for busting through packs and dancing around defenders. In all honesty, there are not too many national teams we don’t think would be better with the inclusion of BOD.
Katie Taylor
The AFL guys don’t seem to brawl like they did when it was on our screens in the 1980s, now it’s more jumper punching and sly ones at the bottom of packs. With Katie Taylor’s super-quick hands, she’d be perfect for getting away with the biffo.
Sonia O’Sullivan
Being a resident of Melbourne now, Sonia must be well up to date on the rules of the game. Couple that with her ability to run all day (some of these AFL players run 26km in a match!) Sonia could be the game winning elusive midfielder we need.
Jack McCaffrey
The young Dublin Football gun has been on the radar of AFL scouts since he blitzed the AFL draft trials in Dublin last year. Unable to be prized from his beloved Dubs, he has been in scintillating form this Championship.
Adrian O’Dwyer
The Kilkenny native may not be a household name, but any man who can jump 2.3 metres in a single bound would be a walk up start as a full forward in the Aussie Game. Who knows how high the high jumper could go using the backs of opposition players as a step ladder.
Irish Aussie Rules panel named for European title bid in Dublin
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