The AFL announced a 25 man squad today which included just six players that have previously played for Australia in the International Rules series which is to be played on Australian soil later this month.
The six players include Brent Harvey, Campbell Brown, Ryan Crowley, Adam Selwood, Kade Simpson and Daniel Wells.
Mick Malthouse will coach the young side alongside assistants Nathan Buckley, Glen Jakovich and Matthew Lappin. Malthouse said at a press conference today that they side had been picked on form and the type of player that generally suits the skilful game.
“We have young coaches, a reasonably young side; Brent Harvey is the oldest at 30 and the rest of them are fairly young men.
“We’ve picked the side to celebrate football’s involvement in Australia over 150 years, and we’ve picked it because this will be the climax of going out there to… not win at all costs… but certainly win within the rules.
“We’re picking a side to win; we’re picking what we believe to be an exciting young side.”
It’s expected Brent Harvey will captain the side.
The full 25-man Australian squad:
Nathan Bock (Adelaide), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Matt Campbell (North Melbourne), Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Michael Firrito (North Melbourne), Nathan Foley (Richmond), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Roger Hayden (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Marc Murphy (Carlton), Michael Osborne (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Max Rooke (Geelong), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Adam Selwood (West Coast), Dale Thomas (Collingwood), Scott Thompson (Adelaide), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne).
First Test: Subiaco, Perth, Friday 24 October
Second Test: MCG, Melbourne, Friday 31 October