The Australia international rules football team is Australia's senior representative team in International rules football, a hybrid sport derived from Australian rules football and Gaelic football. The current team is solely made up of players from the Australian Football League.
Although Australian rules football is played around the world at an amateur level, Australia is considered far too strong to compete against at senior level. Hence, selection in the Australian international rules team is the only opportunity that Australian rules footballers have to represent their country. Until 2004, the majority of the men's Australian squad was composed of members of the All-Australian team as well as other outstanding performers from the season. In 2005, the decision was made to select players best suited to the conditions of the hybrid game, which usually resulted in a younger, smaller and quicker team being selected.AFL typecasts its International Rules team However this was reverted to the All-Australian model ahead of the 2014 series. For the 2013 Series only, the decision was made to select an all-Indigenous team, known as the Indigenous All-Stars.AFL: Australia to field all-Indigenous team for International Rules Series against Ireland Because of the severely limited playing pool, the Indigenous All-Stars lost by an aggregate of 101 points over the two Tests, including a record-breaking 79-point defeat in the 2nd Test.
Competing in the International Rules Series, the only team Australia plays against is the Ireland international rules football team. The series has been played intermittently since 1984. Australian under-age teams have been represented in the past, as well as a women's team in 2006. Australia last hosted the International Rules Series in 2017.
Squads
2017 1 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide) 2 Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide) 3 Michael Hibberd (Melbourne) 4 Jack Gunston (Hawthorn) 5 Kade Simpson (Carlton) 6 Zach Merrett (Essendon) 7 Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) 8 Brendon Goddard (Essendon) – Goalkeeper 9 Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn) – Captain 10 Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 11 Rory Sloane (Adelaide) 12 Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne) 14 Joel Selwood (Geelong) 15 Dayne Zorko (Brisbane) 16 Ben Brown (North Melbourne) 17 Neville Jetta (Melbourne) 18 Eddie Betts (Adelaide) 20 Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide) 21 Luke Shuey (West Coast) 22 Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne) 29 Rory Laird (Adelaide) 35 Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong) Toby Greene withdrew from the squad after breaking his toe, and Gary Ablett withdrew for personal reasons. Selwood missed the first game due to an ankle injury. Pendlebury and Ryder only played the first game; Higgins was added to the team for the second game.
2015 (Tour to Ireland) Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle) Eddie Betts (Adelaide) Grant Birchall (Hawthorn) Luke Breust (Hawthorn) Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) – Goalkeeper Andrew Gaff (West Coast) Brendon Goddard (Essendon) Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide) Dyson Heppell (Essendon) Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) – Captain Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) David Mundy (Fremantle) Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs) Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) Tom Rockliff (Brisbane) Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn) Nick Smith (Sydney) Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs) Harry Taylor (Geelong) Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs) Coach – Alastair Clarkson Jim Stynes Medal: Harry Taylor
2014 Grant Birchall (Hawthorn) Travis Boak (Port Adelaide) Luke Breust (Hawthorn) Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) – Goalkeeper Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle) Brendon Goddard (Essendon) Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide) Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) Kieren Jack (Sydney) Steve Johnson (Geelong) Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney) Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn) Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) Nic Naitanui (West Coast) Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) Tom Rockliff (Brisbane) Joel Selwood (Geelong) – Captain Brodie Smith (Adelaide) Harry Taylor (Geelong) Jobe Watson (Essendon) Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide) Coach – Alastair Clarkson Jim Stynes Medal: Luke Hodge
2013 (Tour to Ireland) Tony Armstrong (Sydney) Dom Barry (Melbourne) Eddie Betts (Carlton) Aaron Davey (Melbourne) Alwyn Davey (Essendon) Shaun Edwards (Greater Western Sydney) Cam Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide) Lance Franklin (Sydney) Jarrod Harbrow (Gold Coast) Josh Hill (West Coast) Lewis Jetta (Sydney) Nathan Lovett-Murray (Essendon) Ashley McGrath (Brisbane) – Goalkeeper Steven Motlop (Geelong) Jake Neade (Port Adelaide) Mathew Stokes (Geelong) Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne) Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast) Daniel Wells (North Melbourne) – Captain Chris Yarran (Carlton) Coach – Michael O'Loughlin Jim Stynes Medal: Ashley McGrathAsh McGrath with Jim Stynes Medal (via Twitter)
2011 Richard Douglas () James Frawley () Robbie Gray () Brad Green () – Captain Shaun Grigg () James Kelly () Jake King () Ben McGlynn () Trent McKenzie () Stephen Milne () Angus Monfries () Robin Nahas () Mark Nicoski () Mitch Robinson () Liam Shiels () Zac Smith () Matt Suckling () – Goalkeeper Andrew Swallow () Jack Trengove () Bernie Vince () Callan Ward () David Wojcinski () Easton Wood () Joel Patfull () Coach – Rodney Eade Jim Stynes Medal: James Kelly
2010 (Tour to Ireland)
Todd Banfield (Brisbane) Eddie Betts (Carlton) Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs) Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs) Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide) Paul Duffield (Fremantle) Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) – Goalkeeper James Frawley (Melbourne) Bryce Gibbs (Carlton) Sam Gilbert (St Kilda) Tyson Goldsack (Collingwood) Adam Goodes (Sydney) – Captain Brad Green (Melbourne) Garrick Ibbotson (Fremantle) Kieren Jack (Sydney) Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney) Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs) Jack Riewoldt (Richmond) Kade Simpson (Carlton) Dane Swan (Collingwood) Travis Varcoe (Geelong) David Wojcinski (Geelong) Coach – Mick Malthouse (Collingwood) Jim Stynes Medal: Dane Swan
2008 Nathan Bock (Adelaide) – Goalkeeper #1 Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs) Jared Brennan (Brisbane) Campbell Brown (Hawthorn) Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) Matt Campbell (North Melbourne) Ryan Crowley (Fremantle) Michael Firrito (North Melbourne) – Goalkeeper #2 Nathan Foley (Richmond) Brent Harvey (North Melbourne) – Captain Roger Hayden (Fremantle) Josh Hunt (Geelong)* 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) – Vice Captain Dale Thomas (Collingwood) Scott Thompson (Adelaide) Daniel Wells (North Melbourne) Coach – Mick Malthouse (Collingwood)Crowley, Hayden, Selwood in Rules squad; 8 October 2008 Jim Stynes Medal: Kade Simpson
*Max Rooke was named in the initial squad, but did not play due to illness. He was replaced in the squad for the second game by Josh Hunt.Josh Hunt joins Aussie squad; 28 October 2008
2006 (Tour to Ireland) 1 Barry Hall (Sydney) – Co-Captain 2 Nick Davis (Sydney) 3 Michael Voss (Brisbane) 4 Andrew Raines (Richmond) 5 Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney) 6 Kade Simpson (Carlton) 7 Brett Peake (Fremantle)*** 8 Brendon Goddard (St Kilda) 9 Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs) ** 10 Chance Bateman (Hawthorn) 11 Justin Sherman (Brisbane) 12 Matthew Lappin (Carlton) 13 Adam Schneider (Sydney) 15 Ryan Crowley (Fremantle) 16 Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide) 18 Graham Johncock (Adelaide) 21 David Mundy (Fremantle)*** 23 James McDonald (Melbourne) 24 Brent Stanton (Essendon) 25 Brendan Fevola (Carlton)* 26 Samuel Fisher (St Kilda) ** 30 Campbell Brown (Hawthorn) 31 Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) – Goalkeeper / Co-Captain 36 Aaron Davey (Melbourne) 37 Adam Selwood (West Coast) Coach – Kevin Sheedy (Essendon) Australian Panel 2006
Jim Stynes Medal – Ryan O'Keefe
*Brendan Fevola was an emergency for the first game, but was sent home before the second game due to misconduct in that he was involved in a fight at a pub.Nick Higginbottom, Mark Stevens and Sam Edmund; AFL demands Fevola apology; 2 November 2006
**Lindsay Gilbee and Sam Fisher only played in the first game.
***Brett Peake and David Mundy only played in the second game.Aussies thump Ireland to regain trophy; RTÉ; 5 November 2006
2005 Coach – Kevin Sheedy (Essendon) 2 Chris Johnson (Brisbane) – Co-Captain 3 Brett Deledio (Richmond) 5 Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney) 6 Shannon Grant (Kangaroos) 7 Nick Davis (Sydney) 8 Daniel Wells (Kangaroos) 9 Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs) 10 Nathan Eagleton (Western Bulldogs) 12 Matthew Lappin (Carlton) 13 Daniel Giansiracusa (Western Bulldogs) 15 Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 16 Kepler Bradley (Essendon) 18 Troy Makepeace (Kangaroos) 21 Heath Black (Fremantle) 22 Brent Moloney (Melbourne) 23 Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) – Co-Captain 24 Trent Croad (Hawthorn) 29 Brent Harvey (Kangaroos) 30 Jarrad Waite (Carlton) 31 Dustin Fletcher (Essendon) – Goalkeeper 32 Amon Buchanan (Sydney) 33 Russell Robertson (Melbourne) 35 Chris Newman (Richmond) 36 Aaron Davey (Melbourne) 38 Dale Morris (Western Bulldogs) 39 Darren Milburn (Geelong) 41 Andrew Lovett (Essendon)
Jim Stynes Medal – Andrew McLeod
2004 (Tour to Ireland) "Irish terriers tear through Australia" theage.com.au 26 October 2004. URL accessed 7 September 2006 "Irish Lyon gives tour squad seal of approval " abc.net.au 5 October 2004. URL accessed 7 September 2006
Luke Ball (St Kilda) Craig Bolton (Sydney) Jude Bolton (Sydney) Joel Bowden (Richmond) Michael Braun (West Coast) Nathan Brown (Richmond) Cameron Bruce (Melbourne) Joel Corey (Geelong) Jared Crouch (Sydney) Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda) Alan Didak (Collingwood) Andrew Embley (West Coast) Brad Green (Melbourne) Robert Haddrill (Fremantle) James Hird – Captain (Essendon) Max Hudghton (St Kilda) Jason Johnson (Essendon) Austinn Jones (St Kilda) Brett Kirk (Sydney) Adam McPhee (Essendon) Mark McVeigh (Essendon) Mal Michael (Brisbane) – goalkeeper Brady Rawlings (Kangaroos) Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda) Dean Solomon (Essendon)
Jim Stynes Medal – Nathan Brown
2003 Coach:Garry Lyon Leo Barry (Sydney) Peter F. Bell (Fremantle) Mark Bickley (Adelaide) Clint Bizzell (Melbourne) Nathan Brown (Richmond) Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide) Matthew Carr (Fremantle) Jared Crouch (Sydney) Shane Crawford (Hawthorn) Barry Hall (Sydney) Brent Harvey (Kangaroos) Paul Hasleby (Fremantle) Lenny Hayes (St Kilda) Glen Jakovich – Goalkeeper (West Coast) Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs) Chris Johnson (Brisbane) Brett Kirk (Sydney) Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs) Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) Luke Power (Brisbane) Jade Rawlings (Hawthorn) Matthew Scarlett (Geelong) Adam Simpson (Kangaroos) Rohan Smith (Western Bulldogs) Daniel Wells (Kangaroos) David Wirrpanda (West Coast)
Jim Stynes Medal – Brent Harvey
2002 (Tour to Ireland) Mark Bickley (Adelaide) Craig Bradley (Carlton) Nathan Brown (Western Bulldogs) Cameron Bruce (Melbourne) James Clement (Collingwood) Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide) Shane Crawford (Captain) (Hawthorn) Luke Darcy (Western Bulldogs) Tyson Edwards (Adelaide) Josh Francou (Port Adelaide) Chris Johnson (Brisbane) Chris Judd (West Coast) Andrew Kellaway Goalkeeper (Richmond) Daniel Kerr (West Coast) Angelo Lekkas (Hawthorn) Cameron Ling (Geelong) Stephen Milne (St Kilda) Brett Montgomery (Port Adelaide) Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs) David Neitz (vice-captain) (Melbourne) Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle) Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide) Matthew Scarlett (Geelong) Brad Scott (Brisbane) Adam Simpson (Kangaroos) Warren Tredrea (Port Adelaide) Adem Yze (Melbourne)
Jim Stynes Medal: Andrew Kellaway
2001 Coach – Garry Lyon 2 Darren Gaspar (Richmond) 3 Michael Voss – Captain (Brisbane) 5 Brad Ottens (Richmond) 6 Jonathan Hay (Hawthorn) 8 Joel Bowden (Richmond) 9 Stuart Maxfield (Sydney) 10 Josh Francou (Port Adelaide) 11 Joel Smith (Hawthorn) 12 Matthew Lappin (Carlton)