Western Australia hosts Australasian Gaelic Games

The West Coast Eagles have done it in the AFL; the question now is can their Gaelic football counterparts do it with the round ball?

The Australasian Gaelic Football and Hurling Championships kicks off today at EFTel Oval (formerly Lathlain Park) in South Perth, with the Western Australian women’s team defending its title won in Brisbane last year, while the WA men’s side will be looking to break its 19-year drought without a title.

The WA men may just be the dark horses of the competition this year, with a promising influx of new players, although last year’s winners New South Wales will be tough to beat.

The reigning men’s champions will be looking for their fourth consecutive title – a feat no other men’s team has achieved in the Australasian competition.

The WA women have retained most of their successful 2005 squad, but coach Fred McCormack is cautious about premonitions of a repeat performance of last year, saying playing at home is not necessarily advantageous.

“I don’t think playing at home has the advantage people think it has,” he said.

“When we go away, there is the buzz of going away, we jell as a team, we focus on the job and don’t have as many outside influences.

“(Playing at home) is good for the girls, it’s exciting, but it also adds pressure.”

However, despite his doubts, McCormack said he believed his team could defend its title.

“We’ve got a team good enough to win it,” he said.

“I think we are the equal of that team (which won in 2005) - what will determine the outcome is whether the other teams have improved.”

“Being at home (after six years of playing away) will be the x-factor.”

Games commence at 10:30am today, with the women’s titleholders playing Victoria at 1:30pm. The WA men’s side will open its Games campaign also against Victoria, at 3pm.

Preliminary games will continue until Saturday, with the finals to be played on Sunday. Hurling games will take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Special guest at the finals on Sunday will be the Irish Ambassador to Australia, Martin Fallon.