Steven McDonnell has thrown his full weight behind Stephen Cluxton, who has succeeded him as Ireland’s International Rules captain.
Some voices have been dissenting of Anthony Tohill’s decision to make the headline-making Dublin goalkeeper Ireland's on-field leader, but Armagh great McDonnell thinks that he is the perfect man for the job.
Cluxton’s travel plans Down Under are in some doubt because of club commitments after Parnells were taken to a Dublin SFC quarter-final replay by Ballymum Kickhams, a game he will play in this weekend. However, McDonnell says he has the right character for the role and expects him to do a stellar job.
"From the time Dublin won the All-Ireland, he's shown tremendous commitment to the Ireland team,” McDonnell said of Cluxton in the Irish Daily Mirror.
“If any player on the squad deserved to be captain this year, it was Stephen.
"There's a lot of players who would have got carried away and maybe not shown up, but Stephen put the head down and busted a gut for the cause."
McDonnell, though, does admit that Cluxton will find it tricky to choose between following his Rules colleagues to Australia or playing for his club, should they advance beyond Kickhams.
McDonnell added: "He's found himself in a hard situation. I know myself from last year it's an unbelievable honour to play for your country and to be captain as well is massive.
"It's hard to know what decision he'll come up with, but I'm sure he will feel it's the right one."