AFL, INTERNATIONAL RULES

Numbers game has Aussies on guard

COACH Chris Scott says he will be left with a bitter taste if Australia loses tonight’s International Rules clash in Perth — even if it does enough to win the series.

Australia’s 63-53 win over Ireland last week in Adelaide means the home side can lose by nine points or less in Perth and still claim the Cormac McAnallen Trophy.

But Scott says his team is desperate to make it a 2-0 series sweep in front of an expected crowd of more than 30,000.

“Clearly, the aggregate is the most important thing, and doing what you can to win the series,” Scott said.

“But there’s also each game in isolation. I think it would leave a bit of a bad taste in our mouth if we won on aggregate, but lost the game.”

Scott said his players wouldn’t be trying to protect the 10-point buffer unless it was absolutely necessary in the dying minutes of the game.

“We want to play a really attacking style,” Scott said. “It would just be so counter to the instincts our players have to talk about playing really dour, defensive football.”

Ireland’s team was plagued by sickness leading up to the opening Test loss in Adelaide.

But captain Aidan O’Shea said the team had been sickness-free this week.

“We had players in bed probably about 90 minutes before the game last week,” O’Shea said.

“Thankfully, it’s just been the backroom team that has been sick this week. The playing group has been fine.”

Tonight’s match will be the last major sporting event at Subiaco Oval before the move to the new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium.

“There’s some great history here. It is a privilege to be part of the last game,” Scott said.