Round ball’s a big test for Ben

AUSTRALIA’S International Rules squad — in particular North Melbourne forward Ben Brown — is still dealing with the challenge of the round Gaelic football more so than the rules and Chris Scott’s playbook for the first Test against Ireland at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.

The 22-man AFL squad gathered for the first time in Adelaide yesterday and picked up the round ball for their first training session of this two-Test tour that ends in Perth.

And there is plenty on the Australian agenda in the quick lead-up to the first International Rules game to be played at Adelaide Oval.

Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, who will work alongside Chris Scott in the Australian coaches’ box, expects professional AFL players will quickly adjust to the Australian playbook and the compromise AFL-Gaelic rules. But the ball that favours the Irish re- mains the test for the Australians.

“We do have players who have experienced the game before — and we will have a rules meeting [today] to go through it clearly and definitely before our main training session,” Lyon said.

“But [the rules] are not that complicated. The ball is probably our biggest challenge more than the rules. How we handle the ball and advantage our skill set the best — our run, our carry and handball — is a feature for us.”

Brown, a late call-up to the squad, cut short his honeymoon in Iceland to become an Australian representative.

Despite playing mock “International Rules” games in his backyard in Tasmania, Brown yesterday picked up the heavy Irish ball for the first time.

“It will be different for me,” Brown said. “It is different for a few of our guys too.

“But we are all really excited — and keen to play well.”