International Rules 2013

[St Chris]

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane "Indigenous All Stars to represent Australia in this year's International Rules Series v Ireland. Michael O'Loughlin to be Australian coach."

So.....what do we think???

Pretty average IMO. Players should be picked to represent Australia on their talent and ability, not based on their heritage or race. Pick the best side available, simple really.

Any relevance this series had left is now gone.

[bergholt]

Any relevance this series had left is now gone.

Did anyone ever care about International Rules?

[GrumpyOne]

Any relevance this series had left is now gone.

Did anyone ever care about International Rules?

The original name for this team under Harry Beitzel still applies.

The Galahs.

[mad saint guy]

IR is good for a few nights entertainment in the off-season. I guess the aboriginal team is a means of evening up the playing field; once the Australian selectors stopped picking the AA team and started choosing guys suited to the game there wasn't much competition (as long as plenty of the first-choice team was available). With less big-bodied players to pick from there's less chance of an Irish guy copping a knock and their media crying "thuggery" for weeks as well.

The game lost quite a bit of appeal when the AA team was no longer picked and they've needed to change things up somehow.

[skeptic]

its a nice novelty

[LTN16]

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane "Indigenous All Stars to represent Australia in this year's International Rules Series v Ireland. Michael O'Loughlin to be Australian coach."

So.....what do we think???

Pretty average IMO. Players should be picked to represent Australia on their talent and ability, not based on their heritage or race. Pick the best side available, simple really.

Any relevance this series had left is now gone.

Yeah that's a bit racist I reckon! Imagine if there was just an all white team representing Australia, I reckon the aboriginal community wouldn't be too happy and making a big fuss about it..

[busso mick]

The first cricket team from Australia to tour in 1868 comprised of Aborignals, so there is a bit of synergy with the latest IR tour.

IMO AFL will never become an international game but as far as IR goes it is a bit of publicity but nothing more.

[saint3d]

The AFL endorses racism as long as it's the good kind. They only disapprove of vilification.

So to recap:

Calling someone names based on the colour of their skin = bad

Excluding the majority of players from selection based on the colour of their skin = good

[plugger66]

The AFL endorses racism as long as it's the good kind. They only disapprove of vilification.

So to recap:

Calling someone names based on the colour of their skin = bad

Excluding the majority of players from selection based on the colour of their skin = good

Its a one off in a series thats lost its appeal. And Im glad the first you mentioned happens.

[stinger]

IR is good for a few nights entertainment in the off-season. I guess the aboriginal team is a means of evening up the playing field; once the Australian selectors stopped picking the AA team and started choosing guys suited to the game there wasn't much competition (as long as plenty of the first-choice team was available). With less big-bodied players to pick from there's less chance of an Irish guy copping a knock and their media crying "thuggery" for weeks as well.

...oh i don't know about that...buddy can coathanger a few and lindsay thomas can trade head buts with the irish....

[matrix]

Who cares most of the players pull out anyway and don't go

[Viking3]

Sorry Mr Riewoldt, you can't play because you're not Aboriginal!!
Racism at its best.

[plugger66]

Sorry Mr Riewoldt, you can't play because you're not Aboriginal!!
Racism at its best.

Victoria versus WA in state of origin if it ever happens again. Sorry Mr Riewoldt you cant play this game. No difference. its a one off game. And a game that has lost nearlt all interest. This mat spark some interest. if it is long term then it would be a worry.

[Viking3]

Sorry Mr Riewoldt, you can't play because you're not Aboriginal!!
Racism at its best.

Victoria versus WA in state of origin if it ever happens again. Sorry Mr Riewoldt you cant play this game. No difference. its a one off game. And a game that has lost nearlt all interest. This mat spark some interest. if it is long term then it would be a worry.

Personally, I couldn't care less, but imagine the uproar if they said we are only playing white fellas this year. They can't have their cake and eat it too.
Racism is either banned or it is not!!

[bergholt]

Racism is either banned or it is not!!

Crap. It's only a problem when it causes discrimination against a minority. White footballers are not a minority.

[plugger66]

Sorry Mr Riewoldt, you can't play because you're not Aboriginal!!
Racism at its best.

Victoria versus WA in state of origin if it ever happens again. Sorry Mr Riewoldt you cant play this game. No difference. its a one off game. And a game that has lost nearlt all interest. This mat spark some interest. if it is long term then it would be a worry.

Personally, I couldn't care less, but imagine the uproar if they said we are only playing white fellas this year. They can't have their cake and eat it too.
Racism is either banned or it is not!!

Obviously you feel the same about the all stars game and in the NRL they have a similar game.

[kp83]

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane "Indigenous All Stars to represent Australia in this year's International Rules Series v Ireland. Michael O'Loughlin to be Australian coach."

So.....what do we think???

Pretty average IMO. Players should be picked to represent Australia on their talent and ability, not based on their heritage or race. Pick the best side available, simple really.

Any relevance this series had left is now gone.

I knew people would have this reaction and to be honest I reckon it's a bit lame.
What is wrong with picking a team that will show-case our great indigenous talent? It's not as if the All-Australian team ever goes on these tours, so the other option would not be our best vs Ireland, it would be some decent Aussie players vs Ireland.
If this was Aus vs Ireland in Rugby and the ARU decided it would only allow indigenous players to play, then that would be an issue, but for these novelty series I don't see the need to jump up and down and claim reverse-racism (as others in this post have).
When it all boils down to it, the more we can do for reconciliation the better. After all, a lot has been taken from this race over the course of history. Is it that bad that these very small gestures be offered from time to time?

[Viking3]

The point I'm trying to make is that you can't pick and choose when you play the racism card.
Racism doesn't just apply to minorities, it applies to EACH and EVERY one of us.
It should also be applied ALL the time.

[St Chris]

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane "Indigenous All Stars to represent Australia in this year's International Rules Series v Ireland. Michael O'Loughlin to be Australian coach."

So.....what do we think???

Pretty average IMO. Players should be picked to represent Australia on their talent and ability, not based on their heritage or race. Pick the best side available, simple really.

Any relevance this series had left is now gone.

I knew people would have this reaction and to be honest I reckon it's a bit lame.
What is wrong with picking a team that will show-case our great indigenous talent? It's not as if the All-Australian team ever goes on these tours, so the other option would not be our best vs Ireland, it would be some decent Aussie players vs Ireland.
If this was Aus vs Ireland in Rugby and the ARU decided it would only allow indigenous players to play, then that would be an issue, but for these novelty series I don't see the need to jump up and down and claim reverse-racism (as others in this post have).
When it all boils down to it, the more we can do for reconciliation the better. After all, a lot has been taken from this race over the course of history. Is it that bad that these very small gestures be offered from time to time?

That's all fine, but I just hope its not marketed as "Australia vs Ireland", or the team wearing green and gold, because although representing your country isn't the pinnacle in this sport, its still a damn fine honor, and non-indigenous players shouldn't be denied that opportunity for some cheap PR.

[plugger66]

The point I'm trying to make is that you can't pick and choose when you play the racism card.
Racism doesn't just apply to minorities, it applies to EACH and EVERY one of us.
It should also be applied ALL the time.

Sorry but i dont agree. No one can be racist to me in Australia. Im a white Australian and with parents and grand parents born here.

[Viking3]

The point I'm trying to make is that you can't pick and choose when you play the racism card.
Racism doesn't just apply to minorities, it applies to EACH and EVERY one of us.
It should also be applied ALL the time.

Sorry but i dont agree. No one can be racist to me in Australia. Im a white Australian and with parents and grand parents born here.

You're kidding aren't you?
If an Aboriginal calls you 'whitey' or a Greek calls you 'skip' you're vilified. Both racial terms for, as you say, "white Australian". Simple as that.

[dragit]

I think it's a great idea… the whole concept had completely lost momentum, with none of the good players actually wanting to play.

This will bring a bit of energy back, I'm looking forward to it.

I highly doubt many non indigenous players are aggrieved.

[plugger66]

The point I'm trying to make is that you can't pick and choose when you play the racism card.
Racism doesn't just apply to minorities, it applies to EACH and EVERY one of us.
It should also be applied ALL the time.

Sorry but i dont agree. No one can be racist to me in Australia. Im a white Australian and with parents and grand parents born here.

You're kidding aren't you?
If an Aboriginal calls you 'whitey' or a Greek calls you 'skip' you're vilified. Both racial terms for, as you say, "white Australian". Simple as that.

I think you are the one kidding. You obviously have never been explained what racism is because calling me whitey or skip in Australia is not and will never be racist. I hope you are taking the piss otherwise you just dont get it at all. I doubt anyone on here or just about anywhere in Australia would agree with you.

[Viking3]

Sorry but i dont agree. No one can be racist to me in Australia. Im a white Australian and with parents and grand parents born here.[/quote]

You're kidding aren't you?
If an Aboriginal calls you 'whitey' or a Greek calls you 'skip' you're vilified. Both racial terms for, as you say, "white Australian". Simple as that.[/quote]


I think you are the one kidding. You obviously have never been explained what racism is because calling me whitey or skip in Australia is not and will never be racist. I hope you are taking the piss otherwise you just dont get it at all. I doubt anyone on here or just about anywhere in Australia would agree with you.[/quote]

So you're saying whitey is not racist but black/y is???
Referring to anyone's color (white/black), religion or gender, as a negative, is racist.
I think you may be the one lacking knowledge here Pluggs.

[plugger66]

Sorry but i dont agree. No one can be racist to me in Australia. Im a white Australian and with parents and grand parents born here.

You're kidding aren't you?
If an Aboriginal calls you 'whitey' or a Greek calls you 'skip' you're vilified. Both racial terms for, as you say, "white Australian". Simple as that.[/quote]


I think you are the one kidding. You obviously have never been explained what racism is because calling me whitey or skip in Australia is not and will never be racist. I hope you are taking the piss otherwise you just dont get it at all. I doubt anyone on here or just about anywhere in Australia would agree with you.[/quote]

So you're saying whitey is not racist but black/y is???
Referring to anyone's color (white/black), religion or gender, as a negative, is racist.
I think you may be the one lacking knowledge here Pluggs.[/quote]


Yes i am saying that.