Only one Essendon player made the 2004 All Australian side but no less than five will represent their country in next month’s International Rules series in Ireland. Adam McPhee, Mark McVeigh, Dean Solomon, Jason Johnson and James Hird will wear the green and gold in the two match series with the Bomber captain to lead his country for the second time.

The final 27-man squad will take part in a training camp at the Lexus Centre on Saturday, October 9^th and Sunday, October 10^th before flying out to Dublin the following day. The first test is Sunday, October 17^th with the final test being played a week later. Both matches will be played at Croke Park, Dublin.

Only St Kilda – with seven representatives – will have more players making the trip than Essendon. For James Hird and Jason Johnson it will be their second experience of International Rules Football while the trio of McVeigh, Solomon and McPhee will be making their debuts.

Australia, which has been coached by Garry Lyon for the past four series, has won the previous two series. Former Bomber Terry Dainher holds the record for the most International Rules appearances with nine. He holds the record jointly with Craig Bradley and Steve Malaxos.