Nat Fyfe leads Australia to victory in first International Rules series clash against Ireland

FREMANTLE star Nat Fyfe proved he is just as good with the round ball as he is with the oval one in a dominant performance against Ireland as he helped lead Australia to victory in the first International Rules clash.

Nat Fyfe was best on ground against Ireland at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

NAT Fyfe showed he is back to his Brownlow Medal-winning best as Australia on Sunday snapped its International Rules drought in Adelaide.

With the 2015 Brownlow winner starring in 33-degree heat — and goalkeeper Brendon Goddard playing his sweeping role to perfection — Australia overcame an early 10-point deficit to win in Adelaide for the first time in four attempts.

Its 10-point victory was just its second in its past eight Tests against Ireland and saw it cut its overall deficit to 21-18 with two draws.

INJURY BLOW: SCOTT PENDLEBURY BREAKS FINGER AGAINST IRELAND

ANALYSIS: AUSSIES HONOUR BEITZEL WITH WIN OVER IRISH

The second Test of this series will be held in Perth on Saturday, where the Cormac McAnallen Cup will be decided.

Coach Chris Scott’s team — clearly advantaged by the hot conditions — seized control of the match in the third quarter through the brilliant performances of Docker Fyfe and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield.

The two Brownlow Medallists ran riot as Australia turned a one-point advantage into a decisive 15-point lead at the final change.

Nat Fyfe was best on ground against Ireland at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Sarah Reed

The Irish stayed in the game through the heroic efforts of forwards Conor McManus, who bagged a game-high seven overs, and Michael Murphy (one goal, four overs) but they just couldn’t get their hands on the round ball often enough.

Australia, with Goddard mopping up everything that came his way down back, dominated possession with Ireland’s best moves coming when they were able to find the ball in space and move it at breakneck speed.

Fyfey turning it on 👌🏻 #InternationalRules

— Jack Billings (@jack_billings) November 12, 2017

Fyfey putting on an absolute clinic! #VirginIRS

— Hayden Crozier (@HaydenCrozier17) November 12, 2017

Fyfe, who won the Brownlow Medal in 2015 before suffering two broken legs that have curtailed his career, was superb, kicking one of Australia’s two goals (six points each) and three overs (three points).

Australia, which lost Geelong captain Joel Selwood (ankle) before the match and influential Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury (finger) at halftime, also had strong contributions from Carlton defender Kade Simpson, Melbourne backman Michael Hibberd and Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard.

The star-studded Australian side was too good in the first clash. Picture: Sarah Reed

Eagle Luke Shuey added its second goal when he cleverly punched the ball past Ireland goalkeeper Niall Morgan.

Australia had failed to win any of its three previous International Rules matches in Adelaide, losing in 1986 and 2001 and drawing in 1999 at Football Park.

While on-field spotfires have threatened the future of the International Rules Series in the past, Sunday’s game was played in good spirits with only a handful of minor scuffles.

Australia was all at sea in the opening minutes of the match as it struggled to use the round-ball with any precision.

It quickly found itself six points behind after overs from Ireland pair McManus and Michael Murphy.

Crow Eddie Betts registered Australia’s first score with a behind before Wingard showcased his talent with a checkside over.

Nat Fyfe was in everything, including the biff. Picture: Getty

The first sign of any real physicality came when Ireland captain Aidan O’Shea locked horns with Fyfe.

The Aussies took their first lead when Dangerfield kicked an over but the Irish, with McManus and Murphy creating havoc, hit back hard to seize a one-point lead at the first change.

They extended it to 10 points early in the second quarter when McManus’s third over followed the game’s first goal through Murphy.

Murphy found himself one-on-one with Goddard and booted it under his diving body.

With O’Shea having a strong influence, Ireland — which featured two AFL players, Geelong’s Zach Tuohy and Gold Coast’s Pearce Hanley — appeared to be well on top but Dangerfield suddenly took over in the middle of the ground.

Eddie Betts was as dangerous as ever up forward. Picture: Sarah Reed

He dominated the second half of the quarter as Australia had five consecutive scoring shots, which included two overs from livewire Fyfe, to snatch a one-point advantage at the long break.

They then won the match in the third term.

FINAL SCORE

AUSTRALIA 0-3-5 0-7-7 1-12-8 2-13-12 (63)

IRELAND 0-4-3 1-6-3 1-8-5 1-13-8 (53)

BEST — Australia: Fyfe, Goddard, Dangerfield, Simpson, Wingard, Hibberd.

Ireland: McManus, M. Murphy, O’Shea, Tuohy, Cadogan, Feely.

GOALS (6 POINTS): Australia: Fyfe, Shuey. Ireland: M. Murphy.

OVERS (3 POINTS): Australia: Fyfe 3, Wingard, Zorko, Brown 2, Dangerfield, Ryder, Simpson, Betts. Ireland: McManus 7, M. Murphy 4, Geaney, Sweeney.

REFEREES: Matt Stevic (Aus), Maurice Deegan (Ire).

CROWD: 25,502 at Adelaide Oval.

Originally published as Nat Fyfe leads Australia to victory in first International Rules series clash against Ireland