Fresh from coaching his third AFL premiership team, Mick Malthouse has forecast "unorthodox" tactics from Australia during the coming international rules series.

Malthouse will be in charge of Australia for the second time, following the 2-0 series loss to Ireland at home in 2008.

Sydney star Adam Goodes was named captain of the squad on Friday, a day before they leave for the two-Test Ireland tour.

While the 2008 Tests were most notable because they re-established a series that was in danger of folding, they also taught Malthouse plenty about the need to trust his instincts in the hybrid format.

"One of the things, because I was relatively new to the game myself, I think it would be fair to say it was pretty stereotyped in regards to this is what you do and this is how you structure your side and so forth," the Collingwood coach said on Friday.

"One of the things I learned was to throw it away, to coach the way I want to coach and give the players an opportunity to play the way they can play.

"As it turned out, from a 17-point deficit (in the second Test) we almost got over the line by being unorthodox.

"We will be playing to our strengths and I will be coaching the side to their strengths - that may turn out to be unorthodox, but this game is all about that, it's about adjusting and that's something we're looking forward to."

Another focus for Malthouse will be ensuring the Australians play in the right spirit.

The series was in jeopardy after on-field violence marred the 2006 games in Ireland.

"We've picked a side that we think is representative of AFL football and understands the requirements and understands the wishes of the AFL, which is my wish totally, that anything done is fair and square," Malthouse said.

"There's going to be niggle from time to time - we can't turn a blind eye to it, but we do not want to retaliate and I don't think the Irish by any stretch of the imagination will want to cause problems with the game."

Malthouse is pleased with the strength of his 23-man squad, which will feature Dane Swan (Collingwood), Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs) and Kade Simpson (Carlton) as vice-captains.

Goodes, the two-time Brownlow Medallist and one of the AFL's all-time greatest indigenous players, said it was a "proud moment" to be named captain.

"It's a huge honour and I'm really honoured by the position, to represent these young blokes here today because it is a huge thing," Goodes said.

"I saw Ricky Ponting get off the plane this morning, saying he still wants to be Australian captain and to be named Australian captain, to be put in that sort of list, is just a huge thing for me and hopefully I can serve the boys well."

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