Hird calls premier players to represent Australia

Australian captain James Hird has urged the AFL's best players to realise the importance of representing their country in the annual International Rules series.

Upwards of twenty of the League's All-Australian All-Star squad missed the trip to Ireland this year, and it showed as the Antipodeans were soundly beaten by an aggregate 50 points.

Essendon forward Hird may not make it back for the return in 2006, but he knows the Aussies must bite back next year.

"I'd love to keep playing," said the 31-year-old today.

"I've absolutely loved the last 14 days. It's been an amazing experience and I would love to do it again, but I might not be playing AFL footy in two years' time.

"Playing for your club and winning Premierships is fantastic, but this is great as well. The great thing about this game is it promotes Australian rules football and Gaelic football.

"Our game is probably as big as it can get in Australia, and the only way it can get any bigger is to play these games.

"I can understand why players don't play because of injuries, and needing a break, but it would be great to see the best Australian players playing in this series."

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou, who hammered out a new deal with GAA President Sean Kelly to keep the series going until 2013, agreed for a review of their player selection.

"The players who put up their hand to play, we can't ask for much more, because they commit," he said. "And there are players who I know would've loved to come, but injuries prevented them from coming.

"I don't think we can point the finger at the players.

"There are other players who had personal commitments and couldn't make it. But I just hope there are players who aren't being prevented from playing who really want to play."

Next year's series will be played at Perth's Subiaco Oval and the MCG in Melbourne. With Australian coach Garry Lyon ending a four-year term in charge yesterday at Croke Park, Stephen Silvagni, one of Lyon's assistants, has emerged as an early favourite for the post.