With the prospect floated earlier in the week by Collingwood superstar Scott Pendlebury, the move for an All Star weekend in the AFL is beginning to gather serious momentum.
What intrigued me most about the ideas put forward was the push for a rookie game, comprised of two team representing the last two season’s drafts. With a bit of spare time I decided to select these two teams for comparison, with one of them looking a seriously stronger side.
First Year Team
Backs: Duigan (Carlton) – Watson (Car) – Puopolo (Haw)
Half Backs: Heppel (Ess) – Pedersen (NM) – Conca (Rich)
Centres: Polec (Bri) – Swallow (GCS) – Batchelor (Rich)
Half Forwards: Siposs (St.K) – Dixon (GCS) – Patrick (GCS)
Forwards; Matera (GCS) – Darling (WCE) – Liberatore (WB)
Rucks: Smith (GCS) – Curnow (Car) – Gaff (WCE)
Interchange: Wallis (WB) – Cripps (St.K) – Johnson (Syd) – Bennel (GCS)
Second Year Team
Backs: Tapscott (Melb) – Grimes (Rich) – Hardingham (Ess)
Half Backs: Duncan (Geel) – Stratton (Haw) – Pittard (Port)
Centres: Fyfe (Freo) – Martin (Rich) – Morabito (Freo)
Half Forwards: Barlow (Freo) – Reid (Syd) – Howlett (Ess)
Forwards: Jetta (Syd) – Crameri (Ess) – Menzel (Geel)
Rucks: McCauley (Bri) – Scully (Melb) – Trengove (Melb)
Interchange: Howlett (Ess) – Melksham (Ess) – Rohan (Syd) – Gysberts (Melb)
For the sake of fair competition, I chose not to include mature-age recruits such as Podsiadly and Silvagni, as the age of their bodies could distract from the intended spectacle.
On paper, one would suggest that the second year team would comfortably account for the first year side. Players of the ilk of Martin, Fyfe and Trengove would be dominant over the types of Polec, Swallow and Curnow.
With this is mind, I decided to create a third-year side to see if they matched up better with the second-year side.
Third Year Team
Backs: De Boer (Freo) – Davis (Ade) – Hunt (Geel)
Half Backs: Yarran (Carl) – Trengove (Port) – Schoenmakers (PA)
Centres: Hill (Freo) – Rich (Bri) – Sidebottom (Coll)
Half Forwards: Beams (Coll) – Hurley (Ess) – Sloane (Ade)
Forwards: Banfield (Bri) – Watts (Melb) – Garlett (Carl)
Rucks: Naitunui (WCE) – Hanneberry (Syd) – Hartlett (Port)
Interchange: Vickery (Rich) – Savage (Haw) – Blair (Coll) – Redden (BL)
This side competing against the second year team would be a mouth-watering contest. To see the likes Tom Scully taking on Dan Hanneberry and Anthony Morabito going head to head with Stephen Hill would please many a supporter.
This match would be a great way to promote the talent that is within our game. An All Star weekend is something that the AFL needs to seriously consider, and the future stars running around in these teams would be a great spectacle to witness.
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