We take a look at the most memorable moments from past International Rules Series
From Fev getting a barman in a headlock to an emotional Shane Crawford grabbing the mic hours after the Bali bombings, the International Rules Series has had some memorable moments.
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It’s back.
The International Rules Series, a hybrid game featuring AFL and Gaelic football stars, has divided fans over the years with debates around its merit and meaning.
But there’s been plenty of memorable moments from the series, which despite periods of hiatus span back more than three decades.
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After today’s announcement the AFL and GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) would again re-energise the series, we went through the archives.
Here’s some of the more memorable moments in IRS history.
1986: AUSSIES WIN HISTORIC HOME FIXTURE
The International Rules was still in its infancy when Australia celebrated the first Test on home soil with a seven-point triumph at the WACA.
Stars such as Gerard Healy, John Platten, Maurice Rioli and Paul Roos featured for the Aussies, who prevailed 1-14-16 (64) to 5-5-12 (57).
Ireland won the next two Tests to claim a 2-1 series victory.
1998: SERIES RETURN AS STARS SHINE
The Australian team boasted names like Carey, Buckley, Silvagni, Ricciuto, Crawford, Neitz and Lloyd … but couldn’t quite get the job done against an Irish team that included the late, great Jim Stynes.
Revived after an eight-year hiatus, the series involved an all-star Aussie side travelling to Ireland which featured most of the game’s biggest stars. The visitors pulled off a memorable win in the first of the two-Test series, coming back from a 13-point deficit to win a thriller at Croke Park by just one point.
However the home side, with 35,000 cheering them on again at Croke Park, responded in game 2.
The 11-point win sealed the series for Ireland.
2002: AUSSIES IN SHOCK AFTER BALI BOMBINGS
Sometimes maligned as a meaningless series with no relevance, the International Rules had real significance thrust upon it by the Bali bombings in 2002.
The Australian team watched in horror from their Dublin hotel as news of the Bali bombings broke, with reports that dozens of Aussies had perished.
Not knowing whether friends and teammates were among those directly affected, the team travelled to Croke Park in a highly emotional state to represent a nation in mourning.
In freezing conditions, a shivering Shane Crawford addressed the crowd before the match as Australian captain, explaining what a privilege it was to represent his country on such a dark day and to offer thoughts and prayers to “those whose lives have been changed forever”.
The shell-shocked visitors went in at half-time trailing by 19 points before staging a remarkable comeback in appalling conditions to win by seven points
A week later, in the 21st Test between Ireland and Australia, the countries played out their first draw in the second Test of the 2002 series. Again, the Aussies rallied from 19 points down at three-quarter-time to clinch a stirring series win.
2004: THERE’S A DOG AT FULL FORWARD!
Sydney had Plugger’s pig. Croke Park had the International Rules dog.
More than 60,000 people packed into the Dublin venue to watch Ireland seal a 2-0 series victory, however the match was overshadowed by a jack russell terrier which ran onto the field.
The game continued as the determined terrier chased the ball from one end of the pitch to the other for about six minutes.
The dog was eventually collared by a steward and escorted from the field. It remains unclear whether the canine was fined for pitch invading.
2005: CHRIS JOHNSON’S CLOTHESLINE
The 2005 series in Australia is largely remembered for the home side’s physicality as the hosts sought to assert their size advantage over the Irish.
Brisbane Lion Chris Johnson’s clothesline on Irishman Philip Jordan became the iconic moment of a series which went down in infamy.
Johnson flew through the air and collected Johnson in the throat, an incident which sparked an all-in brawl between the sides.
Johnson was sent off for the incident and copped a five-match ban.
Australia claimed a 2-0 series victory, triumphing 63-42 in a game two which would leave a bitter taste in the mouths of the Irish for years to come.
2006: FEV KICKED OFF THE TOUR
Arguably the biggest story of the series occurred in 2006, when then-Carlton star Brendan Fevola was ordered home after a scuffle with a barman. The Aussies had been out enjoying a quiet ale or two following their narrow first Test loss in Galway.
When the barman cut off drinks, Fev wasn’t happy and grabbed the barman in a headlock.
“I’ve done the wrong thing by getting him in a headlock ... it was pretty stupid,” Fevola said.
“I’m just glad I didn’t hit him. I would’ve been in more trouble if I’d hit him. A lot more trouble.
“It was just a headlock. If I wanted to hit him, I would’ve hit him.”
The Aussies hit back on the field, thumping the home side 69-31 at a sold-out Croke Park in Dublin to clinch the series on aggregate.
But Fev’s leadership aspirations at the Blues were shot, with the enigmatic goalkicker shipped off to Brisbane three years later.
2013: IRELAND HAMMERS HAPLESS AUSSIES
Australia trailed by 22 points heading into the second Test of the 2013 series, needing a huge turnaround to claim victory on Irish soil. The Aussies were demolished in the second Test by 79 points, no match for a relentless Ireland side. It remains the greatest margin in International Rules history and was a famous day for the Irish. Carlton’s Ciaran Sheehan was crowned player of the series.
