TWO-TIME Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett has withdrawn from the Australian team to play Ireland in the upcoming Virgin Australia International Rules series.
Ablett has claimed All Australian honours eight times in his 302-game career, but was set to make his first International Rules appearance at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
However, an AFL spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that the 33-year-old has dropped out of the two-match series for personal reasons.
Ablett's sister Natasha died suddenly just days after he was named in the initial squad in October.
He is also completing a move from Gold Coast to Geelong after the Suns agreed to trade him to the Cats so he could be closer to family.
The League spokesman said a replacement player would not be required.
The 22-man squad was completed last week with the additions of Hawthorn's Jack Gunston, North Melbourne pair Robbie Tarrant and Ben Brown, Carlton's Kade Simpson, Melbourne's Neville Jetta and West Coast's Luke Shuey.
Ablett had been one of the headline players in the star-studded squad that also includes fellow Brownlow winners Patrick Dangerfield and Nat Fyfe.
Greater Western Sydney star Toby Greene had to withdraw from the team after breaking his little toe in a mishap while on holiday in New York.
The squad, to be coached by Geelong's Chris Scott, will convene in Adelaide on Thursday for their first training session.
The series will then conclude at Domain Stadium in Perth on November 18.
Meanwhile, Crows' AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard has joined Chris and Brad Scott and Ross Lyon on the coaching panel.
"I saw the International Rules Series was on and I thought it would be great for my professional development, so I sent an email to Chris Scott to see if it was a chance," Goddard said.
"I want to learn from different coaches and I thought this was an opportunity too good to miss."
Australian International Rules squad
Eddie Betts (Adelaide Crows), Travis Boak (Port Adelaide), Ben Brown (North Melbourne), Shaun Burgoyne (Hawthorn), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats), Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle), Brendon Goddard (Essendon), Jack Gunston (Hawthorn), Michael Hibberd (Melbourne), Neville Jetta (Melbourne), Rory Laird (Adelaide Crows), Zac Merrett (Essendon), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Paddy Ryder (Port Adelaide), Joel Selwood (Geelong Cats), Luke Shuey (West Coast), Rory Sloane (Adelaide Crows), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne), Chad Wingard (Port Adelaide), Dayne Zorko (Brisbane Lions).
