Australian team For the first time since
2004, only players selected for
any All-Australian team were eligible for selection to represent Australia. The change was made so as to attempt to boost public interest in the series. In April 2014, the
AFL announced that
2008 and
2013 Hawthorn premiership coach
Alastair Clarkson would coach the Australian side and that
Collingwood club president and public figure
Eddie McGuire would take on the promotional role of
Chef de Mission. McGuire stated of the series a need to recapture the prestige associated with playing for Australia; ''"putting the coat of arms over our hearts again to take on the Irish ... we'll turn this into something special. We will make sure only the very best players will be picked in the first place and that they will be desperate to play"''. In July 2014, AFL executives announced that
Fremantle 2013 Grand Final coach
Ross Lyon would be Australia's assistant coach for the test match and that multiple All-Australian players
Luke Hodge,
Scott Pendlebury,
Joel Selwood and
Patrick Dangerfield had committed to representing Australia. The league subsequently announced that
Geelong premiership coach
Chris Scott would join the coaching panel as a second assistant coach. The Australian jersey for the test match was announced on 4 October, with the inclusion of the green and gold v-design a significant point of difference from previous designs. In November, three-time premiership player and
Geelong captain
Joel Selwood was selected as captain of the Australian team. The squad was announced in October 2014. Due to the eligibility criteria of having been selected for an All-Australian team, Brownlow medalist
Matt Priddis couldn't be selected. Star trio of
Gary Ablett,
Lance Franklin and
Scott Pendlebury were notable absentees, being ruled out because of injuries.
Fremantle best and fairest
Nat Fyfe, originally selected for the test match, was ruled out of the match after sustaining a shoulder injury during Australia's warm up win over a New South Wales
Gaelic football team. The Australian team and the series itself was sponsored chiefly by airline company
Virgin Australia, with the company logo featuring prominently on the Australian team jersey. The
Seven Network and its digital multichannel
7mate broadcast the match in Australia and
Sommet Sports broadcast the match in New Zealand.
Irish team Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) president
Liam O'Neill announced in April 2014 that former
Roscommon footballer
Paul Earley would once again serve as manager and coach of the Irish team, joined by a back room team identical to the 2013 series, including
Tony Scullion (Derry),
Séamus McCarthy (Tipperary),
Jarlath Fallon (Galway) and Nicholas Walsh (Cavan/GWS Giants). The Irish team will be sponsored on the team jersey and sports kits by live stream service
GAAGO.
Irish language TV network
TG4 will broadcast the test match live into Ireland. Ireland plan without reigning
Footballer of the Year Michael Darragh MacAuley (broken finger) and last year's Player of the Series
Ciarán Sheehan, who is tied to AFL club
Carlton. Last year's captain
Michael Murphy and fellow 2014 All-Ireland finalists with
Donegal,
Patrick McBrearty and
Neil McGee, all returned. The Irish touring squad was announced on 28 October 2014.
Donegal's
All-Ireland winning captain
Michael Murphy was again selected for the role of captain of the national team, while
Cork's
Aidan Walsh was selected as vice-captain. In total, 15 counties are included across the 25 man squad,
Mayo leading the way with four Irish-based players and
Brisbane Lions prolific back-man
Pearce Hanley being the only
AFL player selected in the side.
All-Ireland champions Kerry featured only one member in the team. ==Rule changes==