The AFL today announced a five-man leadership group for the Virgin Australian International Rules team, which includes Western Bulldogs’ captain Robert Murphy.
The side will contest a one-off Test against Ireland, to be played at Croke Park in Dublin on Saturday 21 November.
Murphy was named alongside St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt, Geelong defender Harry Taylor and Hawthorn pair Luke Hodge and Sam Mitchell.
He joins Easton Wood and Jake Stringer as the other Bulldogs players in the squad.
The Australian team is currently preparing in New York at week-long training camp, with the captain to be named before heading to Ireland (Saturday Australian time).
Hawthorn coach Alistair Clarkson – a member of the coaching panel alongside Ross Lyon and Chris Scott – said he had full confidence in the leadership group.
“We have an outstanding squad with leaders throughout the team, but for practical purposes we have settled on those five players and we know they will do an outstanding job leading this group.”
Australia regained the Cormac Macanallen Trophy with victory in last November’s test in Perth and has again named a squad comprised entirely of All-Australian players.
The Ireland v Australia International Rules Test will be telecast around Australia by the Seven Network.
The 2015 Virgin Australia International Rules squad is: Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle), Eddie Betts (Adelaide Crows), Grant Birchall (Hawthorn), Luke Bruest (Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Andrew Gaff (West Coast), Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), Dyson Heppell (Essendon), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), David Mundy (Fremantle), Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Tom Rockliff (Brisbane Lions), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn), Nick Smith (Sydney Swans), Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs), Harry Taylor (Geelong Cats), Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs).
