Jack Iredale joins Socceroos' camp high on confidence after positive season
Hibs defender Jack Iredale has joined up with the Australia national team this week, following a stand-out debut season.
Speaking to the Socceroos media team at their Abu Dhabi training camp, the 29 year-old Hibs defender discussed his career journey, international aspirations and his first year in green and white.
He made 31 appearances for Hibs in 2024/25 and caught the eye of Australia Head Coach Tony Popovic, who handed the centre-back his first senior call-up.
Speaking firstly on the Hibees' rollercoaster season, Iredale said: 'It was a tough start but we managed to turn things around in November and went on a really good run.
'At the start of the season we set ourselves a goal of European football and finishing third means we've hopefully got a qualifying place.
'Now I come into the camp with really high confidence after a positive season and I'm just trying to keep things going from there.'
Iredale's call-up is the result of over a decade of hard work from the defender, who was capped for Australia Under-17s back in 2012.
Three ACL injuries nearly ended the defender's career before it had started in his teenage years.
Iredale, who was born in Scotland before moving to Australia with his family as a young boy, signed for Greenock Morton in 2017 before spells with Carlisle United, Cambridge United and Bolton Wanderers.
A summer move to Hibernian in 2024 came next, but he had to be patient for his chance in David Gray's side.
After breaking into the team, Iredale quickly became a key player and wrote his name in Hibs folklore with a stunning Edinburgh Derby winner against Hearts at Easter Road in March.
Having sealed third place in the William Hill Premiership with the Hibees, Iredale was called up alongside Hibs teammates Martin Boyle, Nectar Triantis and Lewis Miller.
Asked how he has found the training camp so far, he said: 'It's been pretty good. It's been tough but everyone has made me feel really welcome. The boys have been really good.
'Obviously there's a few familiar faces but even the boys I hadn't met before have made me feel really welcome.
'I've been out of the system now for 13 years. I've been working away to try and get back involved. I'm very excited to be here.
'It's very rewarding. I had a tough time at the start of my career with injuries but to have this positive step in a good direction with the training camp, hopefully I can do well this week.
'For me, playing for my country is the only thing I've wanted to do in my career.'
Iredale and the Australia national team now prepare for tough 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia next month. Tony Popovic will name his final squad in the week leading up to those games in early June.
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