Lions defender Pearce Hanley has been named in Ireland’s squad to take on Australia in the upcoming 2011 International Rules Series which will be played in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast.

If selected in the final Irish team, Hanley will be the only Lions representative in the Series after his team-mates were overlooked in the Australian side.

Hanley is no stranger to the hybrid game, having already won the Ron Barrassi Medal as the best player in the Under 17 International Rules Series.

He is also one of only five current Lions players to have featured in a senior International Rules Series along with Todd Banfield, Simon Black, Amon Buchanan and Andrew Raines who have each previously represented Australia in two tests.

Hanley is fresh from a career-best season in the AFL where he averaged 20.4 disposals and led the Lions in total marks, rebound 50s and running bounces.

Now, together with his countrymen, Hanley will be hoping to bring the Cormac McAnallen trophy back to the Irish after Australia swept last year’s series 2-0 in Ireland.

The Australian side will be coached by former Sydney and Western Bulldogs Senior Coach Rodney Eade, who believes his selected team is well suited to the demands of the hybrid game.

“To be successful against Irish sides who have an emphasis on a fast-moving forward line and great ball skills, we need to select players who are both quick across the ground and have good foot skills that can adapt to the round ball very quickly,” Eade said.

“We have selected well-performed players in the youth bracket of 20-24 year olds around the competition to provide spark and enthusiasm, combined with a proven track record in AFL footy of their running power.”

“We will need to use our pace in attack and then have the ability to use our repeat speed and defend just as hard when Ireland has the ball and is attacking our goals,” he said.

The Australian team is made up of: Richard Douglas (Adelaide Crows), 95 games, 0 Tests; James Frawley (Melbourne), 82 games, Two Tests 2010; Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide), 68 games, 0 Tests; Brad Green (Melbourne), 241 games, Four Tests 2004/2010; Shaun Grigg (Richmond), 64 games, 0 Tests; James Kelly (Geelong Cats), 194 games, 0 Tests; Jake King (Richmond), 75 games, 0 Tests; Ben McGlynn (Sydney Swans), 82 games, 0 Tests; Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast Suns), 21 games, 0 Tests; Stephen Milne (St Kilda), 236 games, Two Tests 2002; Angus Monfries (Essendon), 132 games, 0 Tests; Robin Nahas (Richmond), 55 games, 0 Tests; Mark Nicoski (West Coast), 112 games, 0 Tests; Mitch Robinson (Carlton), 49 games, 0 Tests; Liam Shiels (Hawthorn), 42 games, 0 Tests; Zac Smith (Gold Coast Suns), 20 games, 0 Tests; Matthew Suckling (Hawthorn), 29 games, 0 Tests; Andrew Swallow (North Melbourne), 106 games, 0 Tests; Colin Sylvia (Melbourne), 121 games, 0 Tests; Jack Trengove (Melbourne), 37 games, 0 Tests; Bernie Vince (Adelaide Crows), 88 games, 0 Tests; Callan Ward (GWS Giants), 60 games, 0 Tests; David Wojcinski (Geelong Cats), 199 games, One Test; Easton Wood (Western Bulldogs), 28 games, 0 Tests.

The squad was selected by Rodney Eade, assistant coaches Wayne Campbell and Andrew McLeod, Match Committee Member Brad Johnson and AFL Football Administration Manager Rod Austin. The AFL has also appointed medical officers, physiotherapists, trainers and football logistics staff from across the competition to work in each area of the team’s requirements.

The first Test will be played at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Friday October 28, with the second Test played at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast on Friday November 4. Both matches will be broadcast nationally by Network Ten and simulcast into Ireland via TG4.

The 2011 International Rules Series is proudly supported by the Victorian Government and the Queensland Government through Events Queensland.