Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Hayden Ballantyne are candidates to play Ireland in Perth Gaelic Rules Test

HAWKS coach Alastair Clarkson eyes Freo stars to play Ireland in the Gaelic Rules Test at Patersons Stadium.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 09: Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson looks on before the round 20 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Melbourne Demons at Melbourne Cricket Ground on August 9, 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

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DUAL Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson has played an early hand in the make-up of his Australian team to play Ireland later this year, with more than a hint he wants Fremantle stars Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Hayden Ballantyne.

Clarkson will coach the Australian side for a first time in a one-off Test in Perth in November and he makes no secret he wants potential match-winners and local knowledge.

But a strict criterion from AFL headquarters is that players must be All-Australians to be eligible to play against Ireland at Paterson Stadium on November 22.

Fyfe, Mundy and Ballantyne are all in blistering form and more than worthy candidates for first-time All-Australian call-ups.

Hayden Ballantyne, in his last match, against Geelong at Skilled Stadium, is a frontrunner to be the Australian team small-forward. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Fyfe, 22, was a surprise omission from All-Australian recognition last season and is now considered one of the premier on-ballers in the business.

Mundy, 29, has twice been an All-Australian nominee as a member of the provision 40-player list ahead of final selection back in 2010 and last year.

Ballantyne, 27, is a front-runner to be the Australian team small-forward this season with the 42 goals he has bagged form 17 outings and he missed the Dockers 19-point win over Clarkson’s Hawks on Sunday with a nagging back and hamstring complaint.

Clarkson made his unabashed plug for the brilliant Dockers trio immediately after his Hawks went down to Fremantle.

It was Fremantle’s first win over the Hawks since the elimination final in Perth in 2010, including the 15-point loss in last year’s Grand Final.

“That’s not my job, to pick the All Australians, but gee they’re good players and they’ve had good years,” Clarkson said.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson has Fyfe, Ballantyne and Mundy in his sights for Gaelic Rules Test and reveals he has also recruited Ross Lyon.

“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.”

David Mundy, pictured ahead of Sam Mitchell in yesterday’s win against the Hawks, would be well suited to playing International Rules, Clarkson says. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Clarkson indicated that Perth and Patersons stadium knowledge will be critical in his Australian team selection and has seconded assistance from Dockers boss Lyon as an assistant coach for the Gaelic Rules Test.

“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,” Clarkson said.

Lyon’s win over the reigning premiers was his first in five starts since taking over the Dockers in 2012.

Originally published as Nat Fyfe, David Mundy and Hayden Ballantyne are candidates to play Ireland in Perth Gaelic Rules Test