If you haven’t already heard the news, the AFL is holding a one-off State of Origin exhibition game at Marvel Stadium in February to raise funds for bushfire relief across the country.
In an unprecedented display of good thinking by the administration, fans will get something they’ve been passionately demanding for years and the proceeds will go to an indisputably good cause.
But who should line up for each side? I’ve undertaken the unenviable task of coming with a 22 for both Victoria and the All Stars.
I’m sure nobody will disagree with any of my selections and there’ll be no debate whatsoever.
Without further ado…
| VICTORIA | |||
| B | Tom Stewart (GEE) | Dylan Grimes (RCH) | Nick Vlastuin (RCH) |
| HB | Jake Lloyd (SYD) | Daniel Talia (ADE) | Lachie Whitfield (GWS) |
| C | Andrew Gaff (WCE) | Scott Pendlebury (COL) | Josh Kelly (GWS) |
| HF | Robbie Gray (PA) | Tom Lynch (RCH) | Jordan de Goey (COL) |
| F | Toby Greene (GWS) | Jeremy Cameron (GWS) | Dustin Martin (RCH) |
| FOL | Max Gawn (MEL) | Patrick Dangerfield (GEE) | Marcus Bontempelli (WB) |
| INT: Jack Macrae (WB), Darcy Moore (COL), Luke Shuey (WCE), Steele Sidebottom (COL) | |||
Hoo boy, what a midfield! When you’ve got players like Luke Shuey, Jack Macrae and Steele Sidebottom on the bench – with Adam Treloar, Clayton Oliver, Travis Boak and Dylan Shiel missing out altogether – you know you’re packing serious heat in the engine room.
Andrew Gaff, Scott Pendlebury and Josh Kelly complete one of the most imposing centre lines you’ll ever see, while Patrick Dangerfield and Marcus Bontempelli round out an on-ball brigade let by Max Gawn.
For all the enviable midfield depth the Vics have, however, picking the rest of the team was a fair bit easier.
Michael Hurley and James Sicily are the unluckiest exclusions from defence, but it’s very hard to argue their inclusions in the key positions over the likes of Dylan Grimes and Daniel Talia. Tom Stewart and Nick Vlastuin pick themselves in the pockets, while Lachie Whitfield is a lock on one half-back flank. Jake Lloyd narrowly beat out Bachar Houli and Adam Saad for the last spot in the back six.
The forward line was quite an easy task too. Jeremy Cameron and Tom Lynch are the key position forwards, that’s that. Dustin Martin proved over the last 12 months he can genuinely play up forward, so he’s not just a token inclusion to make more room for midfielders, while Toby Greene, Jordan de Goey and Robbie Gray will have plenty of goals between them at ground level.
Shaun Higgins was the man who narrowly missed out here, with Gary Ablett not far behind.
| ALL STARS | |||
| B | Dane Rampe (SYD) | Harris Andrews (BL) | Zac Williams (GWS) |
| HB | Rory Laird (ADE) | Jeremy McGovern (WCE) | Shannon Hurn (WCE) |
| C | Stephen Coniglio (GWS) | Patrick Cripps (CAR) | Tim Kelly (WCE) |
| HF | Luke Breust (HAW) | Jack Riewoldt (RCH) | Shane Edwards (RCH) |
| F | Charlie Cameron (BL) | Tom Hawkins (GEE) | Michael Walters (FRE) |
| FOL | Brodie Grundy (COL) | Nat Fyfe (FRE) | Lachie Neale (BL) |
| INT: Isaac Heeney (SYD), Brad Hill (STK), Jacob Hopper (GWS), Elliot Yeo (WCE) | |||
Upon first glance, it looks like Victoria has the edge in the middle – certainly in terms of midfield depth – but I like what the Dream Team has to offer inside each 50-metre arc.
The back six is prepared for forwards of all shapes and sizes. Harris Andrews and Jeremy McGovern have the talls covered, with Dane Rampe prepared to pitch in on that front if necessary. Zac Williams and Rory Laird have the smaller forwards and then you’ve got Shannon Hurn ready to boomfa the ball into next week on the rebound.
Jeremy Howe was close to taking Laird’s spot here, but I thought that made the back six a bit too tall.
Up forward, you’ve got Jack Riewoldt roaming the half forward areas and Tom Hawkins parked in the goal square. Ben Brown obviously came very close here, but I think the former two would work better in tandem. Charlie Cameron and Michael Walters form an unstoppable pairing at ground level, Luke Breust provides the forward pressure, while the criminally underrated Shane Edwards performs his role as the glue holding it all together to perfection.
The Dream Team’s midfield can absolutely go toe-to-toe with Victoria’s – Coniglio, Cripps, Kelly, Fyfe, Grundy and Neale could easily be a Brownlow podium as much as it’s a mock Origin team – but they probably fall just short on the bench.
So, what do you think Roarers? Who’d win if you put these sides on the field tomorrow?
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Victoria v Non-Victoria. Lets play it in Victoria at the end of summer. Can't wait to see everyone put their hands up to play if the forecast is for a hot evening. Sounds like a plan anyway. I have been told by the AFL that this will be ... interesting ... so I better get interested, especially as I have already made several donations to bushfire relief orgs etc? To expand interest the game will need more celebrity involvement. Perhaps we could use Andy Lee, Julie Bishop and Waleed Aly as umpires. ScoMo and Albo to run the water. Dr Harry to provide medical services. Greta Thunberg to toss the coin and provide additional lecturing of adults and berating of umpires (can she sail here in time). There are so many other possibilities.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Fans have been passionately demanding State of Origin footy, not this Vic centric artificial construct! I think I have to wash my hair that night.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
New to footy?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I'd have Darling and Munday in all these sides. Even at 34yo Munday blitzes it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Talia is too slow and would never catch him.
A Iyer
Guest
Tippa ahead of Hopper.
Martin
Roar Rookie
Me too; however, when there's only the one match it won't allow the opportunity for all Australians unless it was a WA versus the rest of the country which would probably be a close game. Western Australia does seem to lead the country with regard to the quality of players in our country. Without WA Aussie rules footy wouldn't be as professional as it is today. WA does set the standard.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Would love to see a WA only side... I reckon they could beat the Vics.
Blitz
Guest
Yeo isn’t a tagger, he is a run with player that plays head to head and makes the oppositions best players accountable and he beats them more often than not. He doesn’t always play that role either. Hutchings is the designated tagger and teams don’t play two taggers, many don’t even play one.
Martin
Roar Rookie
For the sake of an even contest surely the Victorian side should have had at least one other state on their side. Here are a few more evenly talented team options: 1) Victoria, Northern Territory and Tasmania versus the other states of WA, Qld and SA. 2) Victoria, Tasmania and NSW versus SA, NT, WA and Qld 3) Victoria, NT, Tas and Qld versus WA and SA
Micko
Roar Rookie
Only WA, SA & Vic are big enough in terms of the sport to compete with each other. Tasmania, NSW/ACT, QLD don't produce enough players, and a composite "allies" (best of the rest) is stupid, and crowds rapidly declined when this entity came in. Do you demand other states get involved in rugby league SOO to play NSW & Qld?
Davico
Roar Pro
How about we just don’t play anything and crown VIC the gods of football as they have the most players in the AFL. Better yet just give us a list of all the teams you think are the best in all sports, we will call off all the games, and just award them all the respective trophies. We all know that there have never been upsets in team sports where one team had a “better” team on paper!! :thumbup:
Jayell Lucas
Guest
Only 3 players from each AFL side allowed to play in the game....need to redo ur picks..
Stirling Coates
Editor
Unsure of his match fitness returning from a broken leg, so he missed. Similar story with Sam Docherty.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Maybe a teir two could play off for the 4th spot with the 'more likely to win states'?
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
The All star non vic allies have much better defenders. Forward 50 for those dodgy vics looks more dangerous. Maybe the lil V midfield has more depth. Problem is, all stars have 3-4 of the comps top 5 mids and the best ruckman. If this was the teams and allies players actually cared it would be a blowout.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Where is Tom Mitchell?
John
Guest
I'm all for raising money for the bushfires but I couldn't give a rats about a All Stars team they represent know one.
Davico
Roar Pro
Are there only three states in Australia are there? Here was me thinking that there were teams based in NSW, QLD, SA, VIC and WA and players in the AFL competition from Tassie and both territories. Must have been watching something else!
Meeks
Guest
Yep only tags against the best players. Needs to become the best in his team first. Shuey and Kelly are better miss than him at present