By John Harrington
It’s safe to say that the International Rules code suits Monaghan star Conor McManus.
He’s been Ireland’s top scorer in each of the last three series against Australia in 2015, 2014, and 2013.
Vice-Captain of the team for this year’s tour Down Under, he’s relishing the opportunity to test himself against the professionals of the AFL again.
“It’s something that I’ve always enjoyed,” said McManus. “The game is a forwards’ dream in that if you’ve movement inside and you get a good kick-pass and you catch it, which is what you’re doing in the game anyway, it’s a free-kick.
“You’re playing with guys that you’re up against all year and you get on with the boys very well. It is a good environment and especially going Down Under, I think there’s a wee bit more prestige attached to it. The group probably comes together that wee bit better.”
The Australians are well aware of the threat that McManus will pose over the course of the two Tests on November 12th and 19th.
He made such an impression in his debut series in 2013 there was talk he might be lured to the AFL himself.
“Yeah, Essendon got on to me back in 2013 I think it was, after the first time I played International Rules,” said McManus.
“They were looking for me to come out for two or three weeks but I’m not sure they knew that I was 24 or 25 at that time! Nothing really came of it.
“You certainly would have gone down and given it a rattle, see if it could have gone anywhere or something could have came out of it.
“It would be very hard to leave. I suppose you never really know until you’re in that position what you would do but you’d probably have to think seriously about it anyway.”
He’ll hope to remind the AFL what they missed out on by once again over the course of the upcoming two-game series by being at the cutting edge of an Ireland team set up to attack.
“We have a strong panel and a strong team. The inside-forward line will hopefully benefit from that,” he said.
“The way the guys are talking about playing is directed at the inside-forwards so there’s a certain element of pressure on us to deliver now.
“The skills of the game in International Rules are rewarded. We’re always looking to move the ball forward and into space so it should be something that we’re well used to, it’s just about going out and executing it now.”
14 of Ireland’s 23-man squad have no previous experience of playing International Rules, and the key message that McManus will be trying to get across to them between now and the first test is that patience can be a virtue against the Australians.
“Our game is all about pace and trying to go forward,” said McManus. “You don’t always to have to do the first thing that comes into your head. Slow it down, take your time.
“Once you get a mark you have time to play with. Take a few steps back, take a look up. If there’s something on great, if there’s nothing on, keep the ball.
“Our tendency in the past has been to deliver 60 or 70-yard passes into the full-forward line which isn’t going to stick against the Australians.
“It’s just keeping possession and trying to work the ball upfield to get as many three-pointers as we can. If we can keep the scoreboard ticking with three-pointers, we’ll be hard to stop.
“Obviously it would be great if we could get a few six-pointers but if we can got five or six three-pointers a quarter, I reckon that would be a tally that would take a bit of beating.”