Fyfe, Nic Nat headline Irish series

UPDATE: Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe and West Coast ruckman Nic Naitanu will headline a 24-man Australian squad for next month's International Rules clash against Ireland in Perth as the league rolls out their stars to reboot the series.

Naitanui and Fyfe, who was named this year's AFL Players' Association most valuable player, committed early to being involved in the one-off Test to be played at Patersons Stadium on November 22.

Fyfe will represent his country for the first time on the back of a season where he polled 25 votes in the Brownlow Medal and starred by averaging 27 disposals across 20 matches, including two finals appearances.

Dual Norm Smith medallist Luke Hodge, three-times Geelong premiership forward Steve Johnson and Brownlow Medallist Jobe Watson are also confirmed starters.

Only past and present All-Australian players are eligible for selection in the Alastair Clarkson coached Australian side.

Fyfe is the only Docker chosen in the line-up despite Matthew Pavlich and Aaron Sandilands available for selection. Hayden Ballantyne was unavailable because of recent jaw surgery.

Fremantle have six All-Australians on their list, but defenders Luke McPharlin and Michael Johnson are both recovering from surgery and not expected to play.

Dockers coach Ross Lyon will be an assistant coach for this year's series.

Australian squad: Grant Birchall, Travis Boak, Luke Bruest, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Fletcher, Nat Fyfe, Brendon Goddard, Robbie Gray, Brent Harvey, Luke Hodge, Kieren Jack, Steve Johnson, Jarrad McVeigh, Sam Mitchell, Luke Montagna, Nic Naitanui, Nick Riewoldt, Tom Rockliff, Joel Selwood, Brodie Smith, Nick Smith, Harry Taylor, Jobe Watson, Chad Wingard.

Nic Naitanui is one of the few tall players in the squad.

Lyon said the group of players assembled was unlike anything seen in the past, or likely to be seen again.

"It is a unbelievably talented squad which has achieved a lot in AFL football," he said.

"It has certainly been an enormous player response, the AFL has made a decision to elevate the series to levels it has not been to before.

"The players have picked up on that and it is really the cream of the competition that has performed at a high level over a long period of time.

"My own experience … we equated it to the great State of origin series, the great WA team, the great Victorian and
South Australian teams when they used to play that tri-series.

"But what you've got here is all of the great players from each state collected in the one team."

Lyon said there were only a handful of star players unavailable.

"The three obvious ones are (Gary) Ablett, (Scott) Pendlebury and (Lance) Franklin," Lyon said.

"Pendlebury made noises a long way out that he was really keen to play. "It was a significant shoulder, I think Lance, who played last year, has got a knee. There's a couple of exceptional players who were desperate to play who have missed out.

"It's been a real process.

"It's really a team of superstars all gathering in the one place.

"When I read the names, it's hard to get your head around it.

"I'm sure they'll gel - pride in performance, break down all the barriers, come together and put on a great show."

Brent Harvey tries on the new Australian strip in Fremantle today. Pic: Nic Ellis

Harvey said it was an opportunity too good to resist when he heard some of the other names participating.

"When the AFL made contact with you 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," he said.

"Will I get this opportunity ever again, I'm not too sure.

"Will anybody get this opportunity again?

"I'm pretty sure that bunch of guys will never play football together again so that opportunity was just too big to refuse."

Harvey said he would try to pass on his knowledge of the round ball game to those debuting in the team and hoped the local crowd would get behind him.

"The biggest thing for us is the kicking skills," he said.

"We're all getting sent out a ball.

"And you have to practise, because if you don't practise, you get found out."