Fletcher and Hall named as Australian Captains

The AFL today announced that Essendon's Dustin Fletcher and Sydney's Barry Hall had been appointed as joint captains for the 2006 Foster's Australian International Rules Team, for the series against Ireland in Ireland.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said the playing group had met last night (Monday night in Ireland) to vote for its leadership group on tour and the AFL had then ratified the captaincy appointments.

Fletcher will captain the side for Saturday's sold-out First Test match at Pearse Stadium in Galway and Hall will lead the side in next week's Second Test at Croke Park in Dublin.

The full Australian leadership group that was voted in is Fletcher, Hall, Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs), Matthew Lappin (Carlton), Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney) and Michael Voss (Brisbane Lions), Mr Demetriou said.

'Dustin and Barry have both represented Australia with distinction in the past and are among the absolute elite players in the competition, with tremendous records stretching over more than a decade.

'They are worthy successors to the outstanding leaders that have led the Australian side since 1998 -- Wayne Carey (1998), Nathan Buckley (1999), James Hird (2000 and 2004), Craig Bradley (2001), Shane Crawford (2002 and 2003), Andrew McLeod (2004) and Chris Johnson (2004) -- and the AFL congratulates them on their appointment.'

Fletcher has played 257 games for Essendon, including the 1993 and 2000 premierships, while Hall has played 204 games for St Kilda and Sydney, including the 2005 premiership.