Scott vows to stay on attack in Subiaco
AUSTRALIAN coach Chris Scott had promised to retain the attacking style that won Sunday’s International Rules Test in Adelaide for today’s deciding match against Ireland at Subiaco.
The match will be the last time an AFL fixture is played at the ground.
Both Scott and Australian captain Shaun Burgoyne said it was important for the players to farewell the stadium with a win.
This year is the first time since 2013 that International Rules is being played over two Tests, and the series will be decided by aggregate scores if Ireland is victorious.
Australia won Sunday’s Test by 10 points and the score — 63 points — was the team’s highest tally since 2006. Scott said the attacking mindset had worked and there was no reason to change the approach.
“We want to play a really attacking style,” he said.
“It would be so counter to the instincts that our players have to talk about playing really dour, defensive football.
“We think the best way for us to control the game is to attack, move forward and try to put the opposition under a little bit of pressure. We know when they (Ireland) get the ball they’re going to try to do the same.
“Clearly the aggregate is the most important thing and doing what you can to win the series. But there’s also each game in isolation. I think it would leave a little bit of a bad taste in our mouth if we won on aggregate but lost the game.”
Ireland coach Joe Kernan said his team was vastly better prepared today after illness swept through the squad last week. The players also won’t have to deal with the scorching temperatures they experienced in Adelaide.
The Irish have placed an emphasis on having more players scoring because Conor McManus and Michael Murphy booted 45 of their 53 points. They have also promised to put Australia’s defenders under more pressure after allowing them to run the ball out of the backline unchallenged.
More than 38,000 people watched the International Rules Test in Perth in 2014 and Scott hoped WA fans would pack the ground to farewell Domain Stadium in style. “It is significant,” Scott said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about the new stadium and that looks fantastic. But there’s some great history here as well. It is a privilege to be part of the last ever game at Subiaco.”
“Hopefully the crowd is on our side and they really get behind us (and) we can make it a little more difficult for the Irish than it was in Adelaide.”