Aussies eye International Rules sweep
  Story By Justin Chadwick     

Friday, 17 November 2017: Australia can afford to lose by nine points or less against Ireland in their second International Rules clash in Perth.

Coach Chris Scott says he will be left with a bitter taste if Australia lose Saturday night's International Rules clash in Perth - even if they do enough to win the series.

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Australia's 63-53 win over Ireland last week in Adelaide means the home side can lose by nine points or less in Perth and still claim the Cormac McAnallen Trophy.

But Scott says his team are desperate to make it a 2-0 series sweep in front of an expected crowd of more than 30,000.

"Clearly, the aggregate is the most important thing, and doing what you can to win the series," Scott said.

"But there's also each game in isolation.

"I think it would leave a bit of a bad taste in our mouth if we won on aggregate, but lost the game."

Scott said his players wouldn't be trying to protect the 10-point buffer unless it was absolutely necessary in the dying minutes of the game.

"We want to play a really attacking style," Scott said.

"It would just be so counter to the instincts our players have to talk about playing really dour, defensive football."

Ireland's team were plagued by sickness leading up to the opening Test loss in Adelaide.

But captain Aidan O'Shea said the playing group had been sickness-free this week.

"We had players in bed probably about 90 minutes before the game last week," O'Shea said.

"Thankfully, it's just been the backroom team that has been sick this week. The playing group has been fine."

Saturday night's match will be the last major sporting event at Subiaco Oval before the move to the new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium.

Scott, while coaching Geelong, has endured a tumultuous relationship with Perth footy fans at Subiaco Oval.

The situation reached boiling point in 2012 when he sent an official complaint to the AFL about abusive West Coast fans.

Scott hoped to have the fans on his side this time around, but he was quick to joke when asked about football's looming departure from Subiaco Oval.

"Good riddance to the place, I reckon. They're going to kill me for that," Scott said with a laugh.

"There's some great history here. It is a privilege to be part of the last ever game at Subi.

"Hopefully, the crowd is on our side and they get behind us.

"It would be nice to be on the other side of it. It's funny - in Adelaide, I still got some advice walking back to the coaches' box.

"So I don't think there will be complete love for Ross (Lyon), Brad (Scott) and I."