AUSTRALIA HAVE GIVEN the faltering International Rules series a shot in the arm by naming a star-studded squad for this year’s clash down under.
The 24-man panel is made up exclusively of players who have won All-Australian honours.
The Aussies have failed to attract their top talent in recent years, with Ireland winning the last two contests by record margins.
The future of the series was under threat after Paul Earley’s side romped to a 101-point aggregate win over an Indigenous All-Star panel in 2013.
But the AFL selectors have made good on their pledge to strengthen their squad for this year’s one-off game which takes place in Perth on 22 November.
Kerry’s Tadhg Kennelly was part of the Australians’ six-man committee alongside coach Alastair Clarkson.
Nine of the squad are current All-Australians and veteran midfielder Brent Harvey said the chance to play alongside such talent was too good to turn down.
“When the AFL made contact with me and they throw out another six or seven names that are elite in the competition, if not the best in the competition, it’s just an opportunity that you can’t pass up,” Harvey said.
“I’m pretty sure that bunch of guys will never play football together again so that opportunity was just too big to refuse.”
Australia squad
Grant Birchall, Travis Boak, Luke Breust, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Fletcher, Nat Fyfe, Brendon Goddard, Robbie Gray, Brent Harvey, Luke Hodge, Kieren Jack, Steve Johnson, Jarrad McVeigh, Sam Mitchell, Leigh Montagna, Nic Naitanui, Nick Riewoldt, Tom Rockliff, Joel Selwood, Brodie Smith, Nick Smith, Harry Taylor, Jobe Watson, Chad Wingard.
