IRISH coach Anthony Tohill says he feared his players would be injured in Friday night's fiery International Rules Series win over Australia at Metricon Stadium.
A total of six players - three from each team - were yellow carded in a match that threatened to boil over with a number of off-the-ball scuffles at Metricon Stadium.
The Irish kept their cool and ran out convincing 21-point victors to wrap up the series 2-0, but Tohill said he was relieved to finish the match with no injuries.
He said the Australians had walked a tightrope with the officials.
"It's a very, very fine line. For a while tonight I thought it was going to boil over," Tohill said.
"I must say I'm relieved to get all my players off that pitch with no injuries. There was a time there tonight I was concerned with where that game was going. I'm just glad that it settled down and that we got the game finished with no injuries."
Angus Monfries, Mark Nicoski and Robbie Gray all spent time on the sidelines with yellow cards for Australia, while captain Brad Green and Mitch Robinson were never too far from the action.
Tohill said it was important the series continued to be played in a sporting manner.
"We welcome the physical side of the game. We don't get it in our own game, so we welcome it here, but it has to be within the rules," he said.
Green said it was not a pre-meditated plan from the Australians.
"It was more we had to show some fight - not literally - but show a bit of what you're playing for and standing for," Green said.
"It's not only your family and your teammates and your friends, the whole AFL was looking at us and watching this game."
Tohill said he was delighted with the way his players had stood up in the face of the physicality and praised them for a professional two Test thumping of Australia.
"They've been a pleasure to work with and their execution again tonight was very good and I can't say enough praise for the lads and what they've achieved here," he said.
"Our target before we came out here was to win the series two nil. We did half of that job last Friday night and finished it tonight. We're relieved and very satisfied with our victory."
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