BEST OF THE BEST
Victorians, All Stars share a laugh before bushfire battle
AFL: It has been 4312 days since a collection of the best 54 players in the country gathered at one venue for a State of Origin game.
Two days before the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute clash in 2008, the Dream Team and Victorians trained on the MCG. According to Jonathan Brown at the time, the ball did not hit the grass. The same could be said of yesterday’s training sessions at Marvel Stadium, which were held back-to-back.
The All Stars were out first – decked in Wimbledon-style all white outfits – and immediately began kick-to-kick.
Jeremy Howe and Tom Hawkins paired up, as did Stephen Coniglio and Brodie Grundy. Patrick Cripps, Shane Edwards and Jack Riewoldt were in a triangle as assistant coach Stuart Dew lingered talking to players.
Nat Fyfe shared a joke with Jason Johannisen and Eddie Betts’ shorts were predictably a size (or two) too big.
Betts later revealed he was initially down to qualify for the Big V, before telling officials he was born in Port Lincoln.
On Wednesday he replaced
Dayne Zorko (hamstring), who was said to be shattered to be missing this once-in-a-career occasion. Around the same time the All Stars were being put through their paces by Sydney’s fitness guru Rob Spurrs, Toby Greene strolled into a press conference, held in the same room he faced charges at a tribunal in September 2019 (and in years before).
“Oh, this is my room,” Greene laughed. “I wasn’t happy when I was in here last time.”
Journalists and AFL staff chuckled. Everything about this occasion was in the right spirit.
During a five-minute kicking drill with four stations in the shape of a square, only once did the ball hit the deck. Tom Hawkins chatted to Isaac Smith at the back of one line.
Just as the All-Stars were leaving the field, the Vics arrived. Two All-Stars hung around to send their best wishes to tonight’s opponents: Jack Riewoldt and Shane Edwards. The duo was greeted by fellow Tigers Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch and Trent Cotchin.
On paper, the Victorians appear stronger and boast a deeper squad. But a midfield quartet of Cripps, Fyfe, Neale and Coniglio will be hard to beat.
There were no injuries, plenty of laughs and tonight will be an experience the players and coaches will never forget – all for a worthwhile cause.