Paul Earley insists yesterday's 73-point drubbing of a Victorian Football League selection in Melbourne will stand to Ireland.
"I think it was a really worthwhile run for us," the Ireland manager said of the warm-up game for next Saturday's International Rules Test against Australia in Perth.
"We needed the practice match to prepare for next week. We have eight guys who have never played this game before. They have never played against an Australian Rules player.
"For those guys to experience the instinct of an Australian and the pace at which they run and the slickness of their hand pass, the physicality and all that is invaluable to us."
Earley warned that Ireland can expect a far sterner test next weekend.
"These guys are probably the equivalent of a club team. Next time we are going to be playing a country," he added.
"We will be coming up against some of the best players in a professional sport. We will have to step it up another gear."
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