AUSTRALIA’S INTERNATIONAL RULES squad have been ordered by team management to focus on next weekend’s second test after hitting the headlines for a late night party at the weekend.
The AFL’s official website has reported that there were complaints of noise disturbances by the Australian players in the early hours of this morning at Dromoland Castle in Clare.
The players had been given a couple of nights off after Saturday’s first test 57-35 defeat to Ireland in Kingspan Breffni Park.
It is understood that the players socialised in Limerick last night before returning to their team hotel where staff had to ask them to turn the music down in their rooms at 5am.
A team meeting was called this morning where AFL deputy CEO Gill McLachlan, football operations manager Mark Evans and coach Michael O’Loughlin addressed the players.
A training session for today has become compulsory as management ordered the players to focus ahead of next Saturday night’s second test at Croke Park.
Australian coach O’Loughlin was critical of his players in the wake of last Saturday night’s loss.
“I was really disappointed with our efforts. Our ability to apply pressure was non-existent in the first-half. That’s the harsh reality.
“Our guys got a real big wake-up call. Some guys got found out, that their efforts and pressure needs to be at a higher standard than what it is. I thought some guys individually were really holding the team together.”
