Alastair Clarkson is hopeful Fremantle stars Nat Fyfe, Hayden Ballantyne and David Mundy will be selected in the All Australian team this year so he can pick them in his Australia's International Rules outfit.
The two-time Hawthorn premiership coach has been appointed as Australia's head coach for the one-off International Rules Test against Ireland at Patersons Stadium on November 22.
In the lead-up to Hawthorn's clash with Fremantle on Sunday, Clarkson caught up with Fremantle coach Ross Lyon and Geelong mentor Chris Scott to discuss the make-up of the Australian team.
Lyon and Scott will serve ad Clarkson's assistants but the team will only feature All Australians, and Clarkson hopes Fremantle's star players will become eligible by season's end.
"That's not my job, to pick the All Australians, but gee they're good players and they've had good years," Clarkson said on Sunday night.
"Particularly Fyfe and Ballantyne, they've had super years, and Mundy has been as consistent as ever.
"I hope like all buggery that Nat Fyfe makes All Australian so that we can select him because he's a great player, and Mundy and those type of guys who are really good players and would be really well suited to playing International Rules, particularly in their home state here and on their home deck."
Aside from Fremantle's trio, Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis is also ineligible unless he can gain All Australian selection this season. Lewis has had an outstanding year and gathered a career-high 44 possessions in the Hawks 19-point loss on Sunday.
Despite Sunday's result and Hawthorn's tilt at back-to-back premierships, Clarkson said he was really looking forward to the contest against Ireland in November.
"I'm really excited about the International Rules. It's a great concept," Clarkson said.
"I spoke to Ross last week and got him on board just so that he could throw a bit of home ground advantage my way when we're back here in November.
"(It) was brought to Perth for a reason because they thought the Perth people would support it more so than any other state in the country.
"So that's great for the people of this state to support it and get behind it with Ross and couple of his Fremantle players playing, hopefully."
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