• International Rules history, results and rules
AUSTRALIA says there will be no repeat of the bloodshed and violence which have marred past International Rules series, but have promised to be hard but fair when they take on Ireland on Saturday.
Previous matches have been tarnished by ugly brawls and at one point the level of brutality threatened the future of the hybrid game.
The 2007 series was scrapped as a reaction to a number of violent on-field incidents, as the amateur Irish players were regularly out-muscled by their professional opponents.
In game one in 2006, Ireland's Graham Geraghty was hospitalised and concussed after a slinging tackle by Australia's Danyle Pearce.
The fisticuffs began before game two could even get underway, with a brawl breaking out prior to the opening whistle.
The previous year, Australian co-captain Chris Johnson started an infamous brawl when he clotheslined Philip Jordan and tangled with another two Irish players during the ensuing melee.
A match at Gold Coast's Metricon Stadium in 2011 descended into farce when six players were sin-binned, including five in the one term.
In the third quarter, the Australians amazingly racked up more yellow cards (three) than points scored (one).
Meet the full Australian squad
On Tuesday, Port Adelaide co-captain Travis Boak said the Australians would not be bringing back the biff during Saturday’s Test at Paterson Stadium. However, he promised to play a hard game.
"Any game you go into, there's always a few niggles here and there but we're going out to win the game," he said.
"We'll play it hard but fair at the same time. And we'll have our structures in place and I'm sure they will as well.
"At times it might get a little bit heated, but for us we're going out there to play. We want to play and win the game."
Ireland forward Colm O’Neill said the visitors weren’t concerned the Aussies would be too physical.
"I don’t think so, I think it’s going to be played within the rules," he said.
"There’s two officials (umpires) out there who have to keep it within the spirit of the game.
"The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) back home is pretty physical game, so we’re well used to contact."
Meet the full Irish squad
The Australian squad assembled in Sydney on Monday for a two-day training camp and will fly to Perth on Tuesday evening.
Sydney Swans captain Jarrad McVeigh said the game's structures, rules and round ball took some getting used to.
The 24 Australian team members were sent an International Rules ball prior to going into camp to help with the transition.
The Irish defeated a Victorian representative side by 73 points in a practice match on Sunday but were caught holding the ball on several occasions.
The tackling laws of International Rules are more similar to AFL than gaelic football and McVeigh identified defensive pressure as one area the Australians would attempt to wrest control from Ireland.
"It's a fast game, there's no throw-ins so it goes back and forth," McVeigh said.
"To bring that pressure and hardness around the ball, that's a real area that we can get on top."
