2003 International Rules Series
| Event | International Rules Series | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Australia win series 101-94 on aggregate | |||||||
| First test | |||||||
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| Date | 24 October 2003 | ||||||
| Venue | Subiaco Oval, Perth, Western Australia | ||||||
| Referee | Stephen McBurney (Aus) Bryan White (Ire) |
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| Attendance | 41,228 | ||||||
| Second test | |||||||
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| Date | 31 October 2003 | ||||||
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Victoria | ||||||
| Referee | Stephen McBurney (Aus) Bryan White (Ire) |
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| Attendance | 60,235 | ||||||
The 2003 International Rules Series was the 10th annual International Rules Series and the sixth time a test series of international rules football has been played between Australia and Ireland since the series resumed in 1998.
Despite both teams each winning a match, the series was won by Australia on an aggregate score line of 101−94 points. In doing so, the Australians recorded their third series win in the two-test format, their first consecutive series win following their seven-point aggregate win in 2002 and their first ever series victory on home soil. The series was regarded as a commercial success, generating popular media interest and a sell-out crowd for the first test at Perth's Subiaco Oval.
John O'Keefe returned as Ireland manager/coach, whilst three-time All-Australian player Garry Lyon returned for his third consecutive series as Australian coach. The first test at Subiaco Oval was an entertaining affair, with the visitors bursting out of the blocks in the first quarter, taking a 25−11 point lead thanks mainly to a superb goal from debutant Benny Coulter in the 5th minute after Dessie Dolan did well to release the ball in the course of being grounded. The second quarter was a tighter affair, with the Australian tactic of the long ball toward the net paying dividends; resulting in some fine overs from full-forward Barry Hall and leaving scores at 32−27 in favour of Ireland at half time. A frenetic third quarter ultimately went the way of the Australians, with poor shooting from the Irish forwards being compounded by two brilliant goals from Australia - one from a quick thinking Brad Johnson who shot low into the net and the other coming as a result of a penalty for a trip to Chris Johnson. Trailing 47-41 at the final break, things got worse for the Irish when Australian captain Shane Crawford was allowed to run in on goal and with no Irish defender in sight, the fair-haired centre calmly slid the ball into the net to catapult his side into a comfortable 56−43 point lead. Ireland failed to get much closer from there and if it was not for a terrific save from Enda Murphy in the final minute the margin could have been greater. Australia won 56−46.
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