Opinion
Assuming everything returns to normal in the sporting industry after the current pandemic, there’s an opportunity to have a competition between the five states that have AFL teams in order to have a Preseason Challenge Cup.
Hopefully by 2021, if not by then, somewhere in the near future. This is an idea that is hypothetical as it stands, but let’s try and be positive and look ahead.
The five teams would consist of players from each team in the given state, ie the Victorian team would be made up of players from the ten Victorian teams and would be different to the State of Origin concept.
The competition would have every state playing every other state twice in order for the competition to be fair. The top two teams would face off in a best-of-three grand final series.
The games would comprise of 12-minute quarters in order to reduce injuries and would consequently mean that the best players would be available.
The rules would be different to that of the home-and-away season; the AFL would have the opportunity to trial potential rule changes. First of all, goals from outside 50 metres would be nine points in order to increase scoring and make the game more exciting.
If the ball hits the post and goes into the goal then a goal would be awarded, while if the ball rebounded into play it would be played on as the rules pertaining to the ball hitting the goalposts should change.
The players who are not a part of the squads would play scratch matches/preseason cup; on different days to those that the games involving the states and would also be broadcast on television and provide revenue through the broadcast rights. It will also give opportunities to players that wouldn’t normally get a game as they have teammates in the state-versus-state competition.
Victoria was the first state I chose to select a team from it is presumably the most challenging, because all of the other states have just two teams to select from. As mentioned earlier Victoria has ten teams to select from and therefore it was an intriguing and entertaining process to select a team.
Coach: Damien Hardwick (Richmond Tigers)
(AAP Image/Julian Smith)
B: Brayden Maynard (Collingwood Magpies), Robbie Tarrant (North Melbourne Kangaroos), Jack Crisp (Collingwood Magpies)
HB: James Sicily (Hawthorn Hawks), Tom Stewart (Geelong Cats), Michael Hibberd (Melbourne Demons)
C: Dion Prestia (Richmond Tigers), Scott Pendlebury (Co-Captain- Collingwood Magpies), Zach Merrett (Essendon Bombers)
HF: Trent Cotchin (Co-captain – Richmond Tigers), Shane Edwards (Richmond Tigers), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong Cats)
F: Dustin Martin (Richmond Tigers), Tom Hawkins (Geelong Cats), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
Foll: Brodie Grundy (Collingwood Magpies), Josh Dunkley (Western Bulldogs), Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
I/C: Max Gawn (Melbourne Demons), Patrick Cripps (Carlton Blues), Dylan Grimes (Richmond Tigers), Ben Cunnington (North Melbourne Kangaroos)
Emg: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond Tigers), Darcy Moore (Collingwood Magpies), Adam Treloar (Collingwood Magpies), James Worpel (Hawthorn Hawks)
Coach
Picking Damien Hardwick as a coach was a no brainer; he is probably the best coach in the competition.
Backs
Brayden Maynard is a player with plenty of ability as he is mobile and always shows great endeavour.
Robbie Tarrant finished second in the 2019 North Melbourne best and fairest.
Jack Crisp finished third in the Collingwood Magpies 2019 best and fairest, which says a lot for the quality of player he is.
Halfbacks
James Sicily has the ability to create run out of defence and can also sneak forward and kick a goal.
(Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Tom Stewart finished third in the 2019 Geelong Cats best and fairest. Playing centre halfback would suit him.
Michael Hibberd would be given more time to create run off the half-back line thanks to Tom Stewart starting at centre halfback.
Centres
Dion Prestia won the 2019 Richmond Tigers best and fairest, which says a lot for how much ability he has as they were the 2019 AFL Premiership team.
Scott Pendlebury leads from the front; enough said.
Zach Merrett is a player that deserves more recognition as he proved how good a player he is winning the 2019 Essendon Bombers best and fairest, which means that he should have been included in the 2019 AFL All-Australian squad of 40 at a minimum. He arguably could have been a part of the 2019 AFL All-Australian starting 22.
Half-forwards
Trent Cotchin will bring plenty of leadership to the team.
Shane Edwards came second in the 2019 Richmond best and fairest.
Patrick Dangerfield could be effective playing most of his game time up forward.
Forwards
Dustin Martin should be a permanent forward as he is extremely dangerous in the forward 50.
(Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Tom Hawkins is a player that still has the capability to kick plenty of goals.
Marcus Bontempelli should play part of the game up forward and play in bursts in the midfield.
Followers
Brodie Grundy is currently one of the most highly regarded players in the AFL.
Josh Dunkley is a player that has so much ability; he was named in the 2019 AFL All-Australian squad of 40.
Jack Macrae showed how much character he has in Round 1 of 2020 where he was arguably the Western Bulldogs’ best player in a game in which they were smashed in. He was named on the interchange bench in the 2019 AFL All-Australian team.
Interchange
Max Gawn is a quality ruckman; he tied for first in the 2019 Melbourne Demons best and fairest with Clayton Oliver.
Patrick Cripps is a quality, highly-regarded player.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Dylan Grimes would benefit from starting on the interchange bench as he has the capability to play on a tall or small forward from the opposition who starts the game well. He may give Sicily the opportunity to pinch-hit up forward as Sicily is a danger there.
Ben Cunnington goes about his work with little fuss. Despite starting on the interchange bench, he would be a pivotal part of the team, in particular the midfield.
Emergencies
Jack Riewoldt is mobile, which would mean he would be a back up for a small or tall forward.
Darcy Moore is a good centre half back and a pivotal part of the Collingwood Magpies team.
Adam Treloar is extremely talented.
James Worpel won the 2019 Hawthorn club champion award.
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