Patrick Dangerfield and Brodie Smith are set to represent Australia in this year’s International Rules test to be held at Patersons Stadium in November.
In a revamped format for the 2014 series, the AFL has delivered on its pledge to draw the cream of the crop back to International Rules, selecting a star-studded team to take on Ireland in Perth next month.
The 24-man squad, made up exclusively of All Australian players, is headlined by stars Patrick Dangerfield, Nat Fyfe, Luke Hodge, Jobe Watson and Steve Johnson.
Dangerfield represented Australia in the 2010 International Rules Series in Ireland, while the contest will be Brodie Smith’s first appearance for his country.
There are nine members of this year's All Australian team in the squad, including captain Joel Selwood, with an IRS captain yet to be announced for the one-off clash at Patersons Stadium on November 22.
The team will come together in Sydney a week before the game to prepare with an initial training camp, before heading to Perth in the days before the game. The squad, which contains seven current club captains and two former club captains, will have its leadership named after the players have come together.
As well as Hodge, 2014 premiership players Sam Mitchell, Grant Birchall and Luke Breust have been selected to play under Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, with the Hawks the most represented team.
Hodge, Brendon Goddard, Robbie Gray, Brent Harvey, Kieren Jack, Jarrad McVeigh, Leigh Montagna and Nick Riewoldt will join Dangerfield for return appearances in the hybrid sport.
Regular goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher has also been selected for his fourth International Rules campaign.
Of the big names not named in the squad, Gold Coast star Gary Ablett and Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury were unavailable because of shoulder operations, with Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin also absent.
Ireland will be missing Carlton trio Zach Tuohy, Ciaran Sheehan and Ciaran Byrne after they reportedly chose not to represent their country to instead focus on preparing for another pre-season with the Blues.
Local clubs Fremantle and West Coast will be represented by Fyfe and ruckman Nic Naitanui, with big-name Dockers Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands not named.
The Eagles' only other All Australian, Mark LeCras, recently underwent surgery to remove a plate from his arm.
The team will be led by a coaching panel consisting premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, Ross Lyon, Chris Scott and Tadhg Kennelly.
Australia and Ireland have met three times previously in Perth with Australia holding a 2-1 record, claiming victories in 2003 and 2005, before a one-point loss in 2008.
Australia’s International Rules squad is:
Grant Birchall (Haw)
Travis Boak (Port)
Luke Breust (Haw)
Patrick Dangerfield (Ade)
Dustin Fletcher (Ess)
Nat Fyfe (Fre)
Robbie Gray (Port)
Brendon Goddard (Ess)
Brent Harvey (NM)
Luke Hodge (Haw)
Kieren Jack (Syd)
Steve Johnson (Gee)
Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
Sam Mitchell (Haw)
Leigh Montagna (St K)
Nic Naitanui (WC)
Nick Riewoldt (St K)
Tom Rockliff (Bris)
Joel Selwood (Gee)
Brodie Smith (Ade)
Nick Smith (Syd)
Harry Taylor (Gee)
Jobe Watson (Ess)
Chad Wingard (Port)
