That's fair enough, I see also that Zach Touhey has not put his hand up for selection for Ireland either as he'd rather concentrate on Carlton's preseason.But its always been the case, The GAA has never sent its strongest team ie its All Star team or a team specifically made up of past All Stars! They constantly send the strongest team available to them but its never been anyway near the strongest team that could possibly play the game. Id love to see the All Australian team play The GAA All Star team but I know its not possible due to the set up of the GAA season!
The GAA wasn't happy with the weak Aussie teams of recent years because ye were taking the piss! If the AFL wasn't interested in the series that was perfectly fine but at least have the decency to tell us and don't disrespect us by sending jokes of teams and wasting our time and money. Last year took the biscuit it literally looked like ye went into the outback rounded up a few indigenous aborigines sent them on a flight to the Irish winter and they looked completely lost in the bright lights of Breifini Park and Croke Park. It would have been funny only that the GAA and AFL were charging people 25 or 30 euro a head into watch that rubbish not to mention it was quiet a racist stunt that the AFL pulled and dragged us into it.
Id expect the Aussies to win the series this year, but if Ireland select a team with enough of the top players in it Id expect it to be a close run thing. Obviously I want Ireland to win but as long as its entertaining I will be happy enough!
Even though not all of Ireland's stars are available, I've felt that Ireland is at a considerable advantage because they use and kick that round ball all the time. The Aussie guys have to set up a training camp for the purposes of learning how to effectively kick a ball of that shape. Thoughts?