Australian coach Mick Malthouse will not ask his players to rein in their natural aggression despite the future of International Rules depending on their behaviour.

Australia named a 25-man squad packed with youth and pace for the upcoming two-match series against Ireland at Subiaco Oval on October 24 and the MCG on October 31.

The series is a revival of the concept after it was shelved because of Irish anger over on-field violence by Australian players when it was last played two years ago.

Malthouse said he was mindful that the spirit in which this year's matches were played would be crucial to the hybrid game's survival.

But that did not mean Australia would shy away from seeking to exploit their physical edge against Irish players not accustomed to hard tackles and bumps.

"The coaches, the player group, will be very much aware of the fact that for this series to continue (it depends on) the way we conduct ourselves," Malthouse said.

"And also the Irish, let's not forget it takes two to tango and there's going to be two sides out there.

"We haven't gone out of our way not to pick aggressive players.

"There are rules in place that state that you can tackle and you can bump when the opportunity arises, but you've still got to run hard at the football.

"What you don't want to do is be compromised in the mind, thinking we've got to tread very lightly, in fact you've still got to have a massive assault on the ball."

Malthouse said he could not ask players brought up on a highly physical game to suddenly rein in their aggressive instincts, although he said a reputation for sportsmanship had been a factor in the selection process.

"From five years of age when they've learned to kick it, they've learned to take a tackle and learned to lay a bump and learned how to go and get the football," he said.

"So that's not going to change overnight, we don't want that to change.

"But ... one of the reasons why I've taken the job on, I believe that we have a fundamental obligation to ensure that this series is continued because we've played in the right spirit and we've conducted ourselves in the right manner and we've played to win."

With only six members of the squad having played at international level before, Malthouse said there was an emphasis on players who had shown good form this season.

Fourteen players finished in the top five in their AFL club best and fairest awards.

The premium on pace in the round-ball game meant the squad was dominated by small players.

North Melbourne ruckman Drew Petrie, Adelaide's Nathan Bock, North's Michael Firrito, Brisbane's Jared Brennan and Hawthorn's Campbell Brown were the only players of key position height chosen.

Ireland named a 27-man squad on Wednesday, with Brisbane's Colm Begley the only AFL player among them.

Squads: Australia: Nathan Bock (Adelaide), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Jared Brennan (Brisbane), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Matt Campbell (North Melbourne), Ryan Crowley (Fremantle), Michael Firrito (North Melbourne), Nathan Foley (Richmond), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Roger Hayden (Fremantle), Leigh Montagna (St Kilda), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Marc Murphy (Carlton), Michael Osborne (Hawthorn), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Drew Petrie (North Melbourne), David Rodan (Port Adelaide), Max Rooke (Geelong), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Kade Simpson (Carlton), Adam Selwood (West Coast), Dale Thomas (Collingwood), Scott Thompson (Adelaide), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne).

Ireland: Sean Cavanagh (Tyrone), Graham Canty (Cork), David Gallager (Meath), Colm Begley (Laois), Paddy Bradley (Derry), Bernard Brogan (Dublin), Benny Coulter (Down), Bryan Cullen (Dublin), Kieran Donaghy (Kerry), Leighton Glynn (Wicklow), Finian Hanley (Galway), John Keane (Westmeath), Aaron Kernan (Armagh), Ciaran Lyng (Wexford), Steven McDonnell (Armagh), Enda McGinley (Tyrone), Ciaran McKeever (Armagh), Joe McMahon (Tyrone), Justin McMahon (Tyrone), Michael Meehan (Galway), Jon Miskella (Cork), Aidan O'Mahony (Kerry), Pearse O'Neill (Cork), Tom Parsons (Mayo), Kevin Reilly (Meath), Tommy Walsh (Kerry), Killian Young (Kerry).

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