AFL State of Origin: Victoria vs All-Stars live scores, blog

The AFL has thrown its weight behind the bushfire relief effort with this pseudo-State of Origin match between Victoria and the All-Stars set to take place at Marvel Stadium on Friday night. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEDT) for live scores and coverage.

In the closest thing we’ve seen to an AFL State of Origin match since the AFL Hall of Fame tribute in 2008, it will be players of Victorian origin versus everyone else.

Given the intention of the match, a good-natured pre-season hit out for charity, AFL put forward squad selection rules to include players equally from all 18 clubs across the league.

This was disagreed with by coaches Damien Hardwick and John Longmire, who wanted more relaxed rules. The coaches got their way, meaning there is somewhat of an imbalance when it comes to club representation.

Last year’s grand final sides, Richmond and GWS, are the best-represented teams with each having six players involved across the two sides. Gold Coast, Melbourne and Essendon all have just the one player.

A large battle within the match will be in the ruck contest. Like Collingwood versus North Melbourne last season, Victoria’s Todd Goldstein and All-Stars’ Brodie Grundy, the two top ruckmen in the AFL (save for Melbourne’s Max Gawn), will once again battle for supremacy.

Whichever of these two that comes out on top will go a long way towards setting their team up for the win.

With niggling the injuries and soreness that has arisen over Week 1 of the Marsh Community Series, both sides have been forced into some late changes. Victoria have needed to replace North’s Ben Cunnington with West Coast’s Andrew Gaff, while Robbie Gray has been replaced by his Port Adelaide teammate, Travis Boak.

All-Stars have brought in Carlton’s Eddie Betts for Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko.

Prediction
Both sides look like they’ll be taking this seriously, so any notion of not playing for keeps would seem misguided. As always with matches like this, it should be close. But Victoria to win.

Victoria by 12.

Join The Roar for live scores and updates from 7:50 (AEDT) and don’t forget to leave a comment below.

Game information

Where: Marvel Stadium
When: Friday, 28th February. 7:50pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Footy, Channel Seven, Kayo Sports

Squads

Victoria
1. Jade Gresham, 2. Shaun Higgins, 3. Andrew Gaff, 4. Dustin Martin, 5. Toby Greene, 6. Lachie Whitfield, 7. Marcus Bontempelli, 9. Trent Cotchin (c), 10. Scott Pendlebury, 11. Jack Macrae, 12. Tom Papley, 13. Stefan Martin, 14. Bachar Houli, 18. Jeremy Cameron, 19. Tom Lynch, 20. Nick Haynes, 21. James Sicily, 22. Todd Goldstein, 23. Josh Kelly, 24. Steele Sidebottom, 30. Darcy Moore, 31. Rory Sloane, 35. Patrick Dangerfield, 42. Adam Saad, 44. Jake Lloyd, 46. Mark Blicavs Travis Boak.

All-Stars
1. Michael Walters, 2. Zach Tuohy, 3. Stephen Coniglio, 4. Brodie Grundy, 5. Brad Sheppard. 6. Elliot Yeo, 7. Nat Fyfe (c), 8. Jack Riewoldt, 9. Patrick Cripps, 10. Shane Edwards, 12. Callum Mills, 13. Taylor Walker, 14. Lachie Weller, 16. Isaac Smith, 17. Lachie Neale, 18. Scott Lycett, 22. Luke Breust, 23. Charlie Cameron, 26. Tom Hawkins, 29. Rory Laird, 31. Harris Andrews, 32. Bradley Hill, 33. Brodie Smith, 38. Jeremy Howe, 39. Neville Jetta, 40. Jason Johannisen, Eddie Betts.

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