Fyfe, Danger on fire
NAT Fyfe showed he is back to his Brownlow Medal-winning best as Australia yesterday snapped its International Rules drought in Adelaide.
With the 2015 Brownlow winner starring in 33C 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.
The 10-point victory was only its second in its past eight Tests against Ireland and saw it cut its overall deficit to 21-18 with two draws.
The second Test 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 in the third quarter through Docker Fyfe and Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield.
The Brownlow medallists ran riot as Australia turned a one-point advantage into a decisive 15-point lead at the final change.
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 could not get their hands on the round ball often enough.
Australia, with Goddard mopping up everything that came his way, dominated possession with Ireland’s best moves coming when it was able to find the ball in space and move it at speed.
Fyfe was superb, kicking one of Australia’s two goals (six points each) and three overs (three points).
Australia, which lost Cats captain Joel Selwood (ankle) before the match and Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury (finger) at halftime, also had strong contributions from Carlton defender Kade Simpson, Melbourne backman Michael Hibberd and Port Adelaide’s Chad Wingard.
Eagle Luke Shuey added its second goal when he cleverly punched the ball past Ireland goalkeeper Niall Morgan.
Australia was all at sea in the opening minutes 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 added a checkside over.
The Aussies took their first lead when Dangerfield kicked an over but the Irish hit back hard to seize a one-point lead at the first change.
They extended it to 10 points early when McManus’s third over followed the game’s first goal through Murphy, who found himself one-on-one with Goddard and booted it under his diving body.
With Aidan O’Shea having a strong influence, Ireland — which featured Geelong’s Zach Tuohy and Gold Coast’s Pearce Hanley — appeared to be well on top but Dangerfield suddenly took over.
He dominated as Australia had five consecutive scoring shots, which included two overs from livewire Fyfe.
They then won the match in the third term.