Selectors opt for pace for hybrid series clash with Ireland
THE combined skill, pace and goal sense of North Melbourne's Matt Campbell and Port Adelaide's Daniel Motlop has won the pair an Australian jumper for the upcoming two-match International Rules series.
The clever duo, who booted 32 and 57 goals for the season respectively, will be joined in the Perth and Melbourne Tests by fellow Aboriginal AFL players Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Roger Hayden (Fremantle) and Daniel Wells (North Melbourne) in a squad that's light on in experience but laden with pace.
The 25-man squad, named by the AFL today, consists of players from 13 of the 16 AFL clubs, 23 of whom finishing in the top 10 of their respective club's fairest and best counts this year.
The series, a hybrid game between Australian and Ireland's Gaelic football, resumes from a two-year hiatus after the Irish called off the annual series amid concerns of so-called growing on-field violence by the Australians.
Only six members in the squad have represented Australia in the series before, with Wells the only one of the five Aboriginal players having previously worn the green and gold.
Australia will be coached by Collingwood mentor, Mick Malthouse.
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 at Subiaco Oval, Perth, Friday, October 24; Second Test at MCG, Melbourne, Friday, October 31.
Johnson re-signs with Fremantle
KEY Dockers defender Michael Johnson has committed to the AFL club for another two years, to the end of the 2011 season.
The soon-to-be 24-year-old, a key plank in Fremantle's defence, has played 74 career matches with Fremantle and his rebounding defence and pinch-hitting in the ruck was a shining light in a season of gloom for the port club.
"I really believe in the direction that the Fremantle Football Club is going and I think we have a terrific bunch of guys who are determined to achieve something together," Johnson said in a statement released by the club.
"I was happy to commit to the club and rapt that the club wanted me to sign on until 2011 as well."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Last Modified on 08/10/2008 15:03