AUSTRALIA ARE READY to put up a fight in the International Rules decider — but that doesn’t mean that they will come out swinging.
The Aussies need a 22-point turnaround if they are to clinch the series and the Cormac MacAnallen Trophy in Croke Park this evening.
Michael O’Loughlin and the visitors have a point to prove after their disappointing performance in last week’s first test.
The Aussie coach wants his men to play hard but insisted he will not tolerate a repeat of the violence which marred previous games.
“For me as a player and a coach, going out and throwing punches is not tough,” he said.
Putting your head over the footy, making tackles when you need to, that’s in our make-up. That’s the way I’ve always coached and I’ve always played.I won’t be putting up with any indisciplined acts. It’s not what I’m about. We’ll be hard and tough at the footy and hard and tough at the man with the footy.
“The effort was poor for three quarters last week. Come Saturday the effort over four quarters will be a lot better.”
Captain Daniel Wells added: “I’m not sure about the rough stuff, just maybe competing as hard as we can go and hopefully things won’t boil over.
“I know the boys want to play the game nice and hard, nice and fair.
“Obviously the last performance isn’t good enough. There’s no doubt are boys feel they owe each other.”
