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Australia will field an all-indigenous line-up for their International Rules Series (IRS) tour of Ireland in October, the AFL’s deputy chief Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday.
With a side expected to boast Hawthorn forwards Lance Franklin and Cyril Rioli and Sydney’s dual Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes, Australia will tackle Ireland in two Tests in late October.
McLachlan described the AFL’s decision as a significant announcement.
“To the best of our knowledge, the all-stars representing the AFL in this IRS series will be the first all-indigenous team to represent a sporting code at senior level overseas since that first cricket team toured England in 1868,” McLachlan said.
Former Sydney Swans forward Michael O’Loughlin will coach the side, assisted by his former coach at the Swans Rodney Eade, who’s currently an assistant at Collingwood.
Eade coached the Australian side in the 2011 series.
Adelaide and Australian IRS great Andrew McLeod and ex-Brisbane defender Chris Johnson will also be on O’Loughlin’s coaching panel.
Ireland are current champions following their series win in 2011.
McLachlan said the concept gained momentum following the indigenous all-stars’ game during the 2013 pre-season.
“This series has needed reinvigoration,” McLachlan said.
“The fact that senior indigenous players like Adam Goodes, ‘Buddy’ Franklin, Shaun Burgoyne and others have said ‘we want to play representing the indigenous all-stars’ … was exciting for us.
“That commitment carries a lot of weight.”
Asked if there could be a backlash from non-indigenous players complaining they’d been robbed of an opportunity to play for Australia, McLachlan pointed to previous problems getting big names on the park.
“The players have had plenty of chances historically to represent Australia in International Rules Series and haven’t been available,” he said.
“I don’t think there’s any disguising the fact that in 2011 there weren’t many of our senior players available to play in that series.
Irish officials have also given the concept their support, McLachlan said.
O’Loughlin said his side would be loaded with skilful players.
“Ireland are a great team and we know we’ll have our work cut out. But certainly (Australia want) a quick play-on and get that ball moving fairly quickly to our dangerous players,” he said.
The AFL’s leading indigenous stars had all committed to play in the series, O’Loughlin says.
“We’ll be putting the acid on them but we wouldn’t have to twist their arm too much,” he said.
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