CARLTON midfielder Marc Murphy says having the opportunity to represent Australia against Ireland in the 2008 Toyota International Rules series was priceless.

Although Australia lost both test matches at Subiaco and the MCG, Murphy said the experience was invaluable and was hopeful of getting the opportunity to play again next year.

“It was a great experience, meeting blokes you play against each week and being coached by Mick Malthouse, who has been in the game for a fair while, as well as Nathan Buckley,” Murphy told the Sunday Herald-Sun.

“Mick is pretty stern and loves the meetings, but he is straight down the line.

“We only had a week together to get us playing as a team and to get as close as we did was a pretty good effort.

“The conditions were tough and the way Ireland was able to use their soccer skills in the wet made them tough to counter.”