The 2017 All-Australian squad has been official but secret since August 28th, but the AFL has now revealed the 17-man team that will compete in the International Rules Series (IRS), which will comprise two test matches, one to be held on November 12th at Adelaide Oval, and the second to be played at Domain Stadium in Perth on the 18th.

To say that this year’s Australian side is star-studded would be an understatement. Prior to this year, this group has collected a combined 34 All-Australian honors, 10 AFL premierships, four Brownlow Medals, one Norm Smith Medal, five AFLPA MVP awards, and nine AFL Rising Star nominations. In addition, Eddie Betts, Paddy Ryder, Chad Wingard, and Shaun Burgoyne have made a combined eight appearances with the Indigenous All-Stars.

A collection of young amateur footballers from Melbourne are getting a chance to take footy to the Emerald Isle.

A representative squad comprised of youngsters from the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) is currently touring Ireland and will be competing against Gaelic footballers from the Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA in an international rules test match this Friday, October 13th. These two teams have participated against each other in international rules matches before, with both sides earning victories.

The 2017 edition of the International Rules Series has had its dates and venues confirmed -- the first test match between Australia and Ireland will be held on Sunday, November 12th at Adelaide Oval, while the second game will be held at Subiaco Oval in Perth on Saturday, November 18th.

While the past two international rules series were one-off test matches, the 2017 edition will have two games once again. Ireland will be looking to defend their flag after claiming the Cormac McAllen Trophy in a narrow win over Australia at Dublin’s Croke Park in 2015.

It’s official: Chris Scott, the premiership coach of the Geelong Cats, will be the new coach of the Australian team for the 2017 International Rules Series against Ireland, as appointed by the AFL’s general manager of football operations, Andrew Dillon.

Scott said that he was honored to be named the team’s coach following Alastair Clarkson’s prior decision not to return for a third IRS.

Following on from the announcement in Ireland the day before the AFL released their own statement on the IRS last night.

The GAA and the AFL today announced they would play a two-match International Rules Test Series in Australia in 2017.

It was also confirmed that, in addition, the Associations have committed to a further two-game Series in Ireland, as well as exploring the adaptation of the game for an exhibition Series in the United States in the future, as part of an agreement reached to play a further three series in all, each of two matches apiece, in the coming years.

Following on from the success of the two recent one-off Tests played in Australia (Perth in November 2014) and Ireland (Dublin in November 2015), the two controlling boards had agreed the appetite was there among fans, players and coaches of both countries to return to a two-Test series for a further three series, with the commitment of the elite players of both countries to be involved.

While Aussies were sleeping the Irish press reported that the 2016 International Rules Series has been scrapped. The past two series have seen only one-off games between the nations, but the two-match format is being revived for 2017.

GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail told the GAA world in his statement that : "It was not possible to organise a two-game series in Australia this year and for that reason we have decided to take a long-term view of the series and press pause for 2016.

"The success of the last two series has been based on the ability of both teams to attract the finest talent to their ranks making for close, competitive and entertaining games.

In this article from the NT News, four boys from the Northern Territory get a taste of international footy through their participation in an International Rules match in Ireland. In a unique stepping stone to bigger things, both for themselves and others who might wish to follow in their footsteps, these Territory lads have travelled ground that few of their contemporaries have.

From never kicking a round ball in Tennant Creek to beating the Irish in Ireland.

That is the story and journey of Barkly quartet — Liam Holt-Fitz, Matthew Green, Mattaniah Bain and Kyrell Barton who beat the Irish in a number of contests at the hybrid International Rules game over the past fortnight.

The lads, along with their Wanderers Australia AFL Training teammates, earned some green and gold pride as they went undefeated through the tour.

The 2015 International Rules Series will be just one Test played at Croke Park in Ireland tonight at 19:00 hours Dublin time (Sunday morning Melbourne time). The big talking points pre-match will centre around the 95th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the horrific events at Croke Park, and the final match played by Australian goalkeeper Dustin Fletcher.

The match will be televised in Australia live and at other locations around the world on delay. Live streaming will also be available for subscribers to the WATCHAFL.AFL.COM.AU service.

The schedule is as follows.