ALL-AUSTRALIAN jumpers will count for little but previous experience could help – that was the message from Australian coach Mick Malthouse when it came to selection regarding this year’s International Rules Series.
The Aussies will play the Irish later this year and while Malthouse is no doubt more occupied with his Collingwood side at present, he is getting to work on the Australian squad for the two-match series in October.
Malthouse finalised his coaching panel on Monday, with Nathan Buckley, Glen Jakovich and Matthew Lappin to guide the Aussies as the series roars back into action following a one-year hiatus.
And the senior coach’s assistants, all of whom have played the hybrid game, are likely to play a leading role in helping select the squad, according to Malthouse.
“Quite frankly, I’ll be relying heavily on these blokes to suggest [players], and we’re going to go on previous form, but we’re also going to look at the [current AFL] player group,” Malthouse said at the Lexus Centre on Monday.
“If we do it correctly then there’ll be a return trip to Ireland to make sure we have got a competitive and winning side to go to Ireland [next year].”
Malthouse said the coaching squad would begin discussing possible selections immediately and players who had performed well in past International Rules Series could be one step ahead.
“The reason why we’ll be looking for certain players is because they’ve already played and produced the qualities that you’d require, so that’ll be part of the tick-off to see who’s played,” he said.
“But we also want new, fresh, young players who perhaps haven’t played or who have played at a junior level.
“So we’re not hell-bent and set on ‘this player can, this player can’t’.
“One thing is for certain though, and I’m pleased to say, the All-Australian side doesn’t give you carte blanche that you just walk into this side, because it is horses for courses.”
The coach said selectors hadn’t yet hit any roadblocks from clubs trying to prevent their players from taking part in the series, and he didn’t expect to.
Meanwhile, Malthouse said Australia would play the game hard, but fair.
Ireland was critical of Australia’s approach in recent years which led to the suspension of last year’s series.
Malthouse used his assistants as the example his players would use and follow when playing the game.
He also said the coaches wouldn’t only go on players’ ability when it came to selection, but also whether the player had “discipline about them” and would show the series – and the Australian jumper – the respect it deserved.
However, Malthouse did have some words of warning for the Irish if they believed this year’s series would be nothing more than a game of touch football.
“If the Irish think it’s going to be a soft option that we take, that we’re going to back right off from being a physical side, well they’re wrong,” he said.
“But we’re going to do everything within the rules. There are rules that state you can do things. We’ll be trying to stay on that line, within the rules.”
