Perth Glory goal keeping coach Willie McNally will be an interested onlooker when Australia meets Ireland in the International Rules series at Subiaco Oval on Friday night after lending his expertise to the Aussie camp.
Perth Glory goal keeping coach Willie McNally will be an interested onlooker when Australia meets Ireland in the International Rules series at Subiaco Oval on Friday night after lending his expertise to the Aussie camp.
AFL players have switched to a round ball for the series which is a blend of Australian Rules and Gaelic football.
Adelaide Crow Nathan Bock, one of the squad’s tallest members, has been given first crack at defending between the sticks and is well prepared thanks to McNally-s tutelage.
However Glory-s goal keeping coach, who is originally from Ireland, sounded a warning to the Crows custodian not to stray too far from his post.
“The tendency is to attack the ball all the time in AFL but in Gaelic football you’ve got guys there to pick up the pieces in front of you so he will have to be careful not to be exposed,” McNally said.
“He’s moving his feet and getting his hands up and catching everything, the decision making is getting better and he-ll just have to remember to stay in his own little square behind the defence and he’ll be fine.”
Bock was given the nod ahead of Kangaroos pair Michael Firrito and Drew Petrie, all of whom worked with McNally since arriving in Western Australia.
“There wasn’t much between them but when Nathan brought the ball out he had more accuracy and that could be vital in not turning the ball over in that position,” McNally said.
