Star-studded team to play at Patersons StadiumWednesday, October 8, 2014 - 4:10 PM

The AFL today named a powerful 24-man squad to contest the one-off Test against Ireland in the 2014 Virgin Australia International Rules Series, to be played at Patersons Stadium in Perth on November 22.

Australia suffered a 2-0 defeat on last year's tour of Ireland, being comfortably beaten for the Cormac Macanallen Trophy, and totally revised its approach to this year's series with an altered series date in late November and commitment from the game's leading players to the concept.

The coaching panel of Alastair Clarkson, Ross Lyon, Chris Scott and Tadhg Kennelly nominated a squad comprised entirely of players who were either All Australian selections in 2014, or who had previously been an All Australian player at some point in their careers.

The squad is: Grant Birchall (Hawthorn), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Luke Bruest (Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide Crows), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Kieren Jack (Sydney Swans), Steve Johnson (Geelong Cats), Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney Swans), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Nic Naitanui (West Coast), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions), Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats), Brodie Smith (Adelaide Crows), Nick Smith (Sydney Swans), Harry Taylor (Geelong Cats), Jobe Watson (Essendon) and Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide).

Assistant coach Ross Lyon and North Melbourne's Brent Harvey - the most capped Australian player in IRS matches - were present in Perth for today's announcement and said the squad represented the best collection of talent the competition could muster.

“The playing list speaks for itself and this collection of skill gives us a great chance to give a very good account of ourselves and represent Australia and win against a talented and committed opponent,” Lyon said.

“On a personal note, I get the chance to work with the very best coaches in the game and to see the very best players prepare themselves.”

Harvey, who first represented Australia on its undefeated tour of Ireland in 2000, said he jumped at the chance to be involved again after five previous series, including as captain in 2008.

“Ive always loved representative football and this is a chance to meet and play with great players that may never come for me again.

“Each time I've played, I've learned something from someone at another club that has made me a better player and I particularly wanted the chance to absorb the football knowledge of the coaching group,” he said.

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.

Dangerfield, Fletcher, Goddard, Gray, Harvey, Hodge, Jack, McVeigh, Montagna and Riewoldt have all previously represented Australia against Ireland and the squad was finalised after a telephone hook-up late last week between the coaching panel of Clarkson, Lyon, Scott and 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.

Player representative details:

Grant Birchall – All Australian 2012.

Travis Boak- All Australian 2013 and 2014.

Luke Bruest – All Australian 2014.

Patrick Dangerfield – All Australian in 2012 and 2013. Played IRS 2010.

Dustin Fletcher – All Australian 2000 and 2007. Played IRS in 2005, 2006 and 2010.

Nat Fyfe – First Time All Australian in 2014.

Brendon Goddard – All Australian 2009 and 2010. Played IRS in 2006.

Robbie Gray – All Australian 2014. Played IRS in 2011.

Brent Harvey – All Australian 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2008. Played IRS in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008 (captain).

Luke Hodge – All Australian 2005, 2008 and 2010 (captain). Played IRS in 2005.

Kieren Jack – All Australian 2013. Played IRS in 2010.

Steve Johnson – All Australian in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

Jarrad McVeigh – All Australian 2013. Played IRS in 2010.

Sam Mitchell – All Australian 2011 and 2013.

Leigh Montagna - All Australian 2009, 2010. Played IRS in 2008 and 2010.

Nic Naitanui – All Australian 2012.

Nick Riewoldt – All Australian in 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 (captain) and 2014. Played IRS in 2004.

Tom Rockliff – First Time All Australian in 2014.

Joel Selwood – All Australian 2009, 2010, 2013 (captain) and 2014 (captain).

Brodie Smith – First Time All Australian in 2014.

Nick Smith – First Time All Australian in 2014.

Harry Taylor – All Australian 2010 and 2013.

Jobe Watson – All Australian 2012 and 2013.

Chad Wingard – All Australian in 2013.

The Virgin Australia International Rules Test will be telecast around Australia by the Seven Network.