Ireland will face the AFL’s cream of the crop on Saturday night, and Essendon ace Brendon Goddard hopes it will stay that way for years to come.
The future of the International Rules appeared rocky last year when an all-Indigenous Australian side copped the mother-of-all hidings by Ireland in a two-Test whitewash.
In a bid to add relevance to the flagging concept, the AFL declared only past or present All-Australians would be eligible for selection for this year’s series.
Nic Naitanui, Luke Hodge, Jobe Watson, Sam Mitchell, Chad Wingard, Steve Johnson and Patrick Dangerfield are among a host of stars who answered the AFL’s SOS call, and Goddard hopes the All-Australian selection criteria will now be used every year.
“Everyone wants to see the best players, they want to see the best spectacle in terms of the game,” Goddard said.
“So I think that’s the best concept.”
A near sell-out crowd is expected for Patersons Stadium, with the talent on display convincing people to flock to the game in their droves.
Goddard has become accustomed to being booed while playing in Perth, and he won’t be surprised if the heckling continues on Saturday night.
“It’s quite a hostile crowd here. It’s always daunting coming to the bench along here and copping a few sprays,” Goddard said with a laugh.
“I’m sure they’ll still get their chance to spray a few of us even though we’re all playing for the same team.”
Local star Nat Fyfe has been ruled out of the game after injuring his right shoulder during a practice match on Tuesday.
Ireland have won the past four International Rules matches, but Australia’s star-studded squad will start as warm favourites for this year’s one-off Test.
