Victorian captain Jonathan Brown remains hopeful of playing in Saturday night’s AFL Hall of Fame game, but a host of big names have been ruled out of the match through injury.

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Tonight Victoria and the Dream Team both named 30-man squads, to be reduced to 25 for the MCG match, with Brown and Geelong star Gary Ablett both named in the Victorian squad despite injury concerns.

The Victorians will definitely be without Luke Hodge, who damaged a hamstring playing for Hawthorn against Collingwood at the MCG yesterday, while Essendon defender Dustin Fletcher was also forced out by injury.

But the Dream Team was harder hit, with St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt forced out after injuring his knee against Richmond last night and gun Brisbane midfielder Simon Black ruled out with osteitis pubis.

Port Adelaide’s Chad Cornes (broken finger), West Coast’s Adam Hunter (knee), Hawthorn’s Chance Bateman (hand) and Essendon’s Alwyn Davey (knee) were other players that had to be cut from the initial 40-man squad.

The Dream Team are also set to lose Fremantle defender Luke McPharlin, who sustained a corked hip in his side’s loss to Melbourne at the MCG today.

Despite being named in the Victorian squad, Ablett appears to be in serious doubt for the showcase game, after withdrawing from the Cats’ match against Brisbane yesterday with a calf injury.

But Lions star Brown, who also withdrew from yesterday’s game, rated himself a good chance to return for Saturday night’s match against the Dream Team, despite some misgivings from Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews.

“I had a tight quad, I didn’t quite get through the fitness test yesterday morning, I probably pulled up short by a day or two,” Brown told the Nine Network today.

“So I’m still pretty confident of making the game next week and I’ll do everything I can to get up for it.

“I’ve spoken to Leigh about it and I’ve said to him that I’ll approach it like a normal game.

“He just said to make sure I go through the tests thoroughly and make sure I’m fit and healthy to play.”

West Coast ruckman Dean Cox, believed to have been playing with a foot fracture in recent weeks, was also considered an uncertain starter, but Dream Team coach Mark Williams was adamant he would play.

“There are some players who’ve got niggly this and niggly that,” Williams said today.

“Dean Cox, for instance – everyone knows he’s got a little bit of a sore foot, he is just adamant he wants to play.

“You have to understand, that’s the sort of commitment, this is one in 150 years.

“In the future, you’ll be one of those names on the wall, somewhere, wherever it is.”

Dream Team selectors included three players who were not in their initial squad – Adelaide defender Nathan Basett, Western Bulldogs midfielder Daniel Cross and Power forward Daniel Motlop, who starred with seven goals in Port’s win over Essendon today.

Victoria added seven new names – Hawthorn key forward Jarryd Roughead, key defender Trent Croad and midfielder Brad Sewell, Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury, Geelong youngster Joel Selwood, Richmond ruckman Troy Simmonds and Carlton defender Jarred Waite.

Reigning premiers Geelong retained a strong representation in both sides, with eight members of the Victorian squad, who will be coached by the Cats’ Mark Thompson, and four members of the Dream Team squad.

Victoria’s 30-man squad for Saturday night’s AFL Hall of Fame tribute match against the Dream Team at the MCG.

Jonathan Brown (captain, Brisbane), Gary Ablett (Geelong), Jimmy Bartel (Geelong), Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn), Paul Chapman (Geelong), Trent Croad (Hawthorn), Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda), Brendan Fevola (Carlton), Nathan Foley (Richmond), Josh Fraser (Collingwood), Adam Goodes (Sydney), Brent Harvey (North Melbourne), Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs), Steve Johnson (Geelong), Chris Judd (Carlton), James Kelly (Geelong), Darren Milburn (Geelong), Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Robert Murphy (Western Bulldogs), Ryan O’Keefe (Sydney), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Luke Power (Brisbane), Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn), Matthew Scarlett (Geelong), Joel Selwood (Geelong), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Heath Shaw (Collingwood), Troy Simmonds (Richmond), Jarrad Waite (Carlton)

Snapshot of AFL round seven

THEY SAID IT: “Can we have a fining system? Can we go to the AFL and fine them if they want to fine us? We’ve probably had someone step over the line or do the wrong thing on the interchange today and we’ll get slapped with a please explain why. Well, who explains to us?” – Richmond coach Terry Wallace on the missing seconds in the final minute of his side’s three-point loss to St Kilda.

STATS THAT MATTER: 50 points – the halftime deficit Melbourne overcame to defeat Fremantle at the MCG and record their first win of the season. It was the second-greatest second-half comeback in VFL/AFL history and after falling to 51 points at one stage, it was the Demons’ greatest recovery.

MAN OF THE ROUND: Austin Wonaeamirri – Elevated off the rookie list to make his debut in round three, the exciting Aboriginal small forward lifted Melbourne to their breakthrough win with four goals, including two in two minutes late in the final term. His passionate post-goal celebrations also showed the kind of spirit that has seemed absent from the Demons so far this year.

MAGIC MOMENT: Take your choice from the highlights package produced single-handedly by mercurial Port Adelaide forward Daniel Motlop against Essendon at Telstra Dome. Among the best were his second-quarter screamer, from which he played on and goaled, or his third-quarter spin and baulk to weave past two defenders and snap another.

TALKING POINT: The timekeeping error which cost Richmond valuable seconds as they pressed for a late winner in their narrow loss to St Kilda at Telstra Dome. It was the latest in a remarkable series of controversies in recent close games.

REPORTS: Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda, striking), Mathew Stokes (Geelong, striking) Adam McPhee (Essendon, front-on contact).

KEY INJURIES: Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda, knee), Matt Maguire (St Kilda, leg), Xavier Clarke (St Kilda, hamstring), Max Hudghton (St Kilda, hamstring), Simon Black (Brisbane, osteitis pubis), Jonathan Brown (Brisbane, quad), Gary Ablett (Geelong, quad), Chance Bateman (Hawthorn, hand), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn, hamstring), Luke McPharlin (Fremantle, hip).

UNDER PRESSURE THIS WEEK: Fremantle have always been infamously inconsistent, but surely they have plumbed new depths. Last round, they were the width of a goal post away from downing top-placed Geelong. This round, they somehow managed to give up a 51-point lead against bottom-placed Melbourne. Coach Mark Harvey now has what seems an almost impossible challenge to revive their season.

© AAP 2012

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