Play or be banned
28 November 2007 Herald Sun
Jon Ralph
PLAYERS who sit out next year's AFL all-star showpiece game will be ineligible to play for their clubs the following week.
The AFL yesterday confirmed its tough stance on players who bypass the Victoria v Dream Team game at the MCG on May 10, which will be the centrepiece of celebrations of 150 years of Australian football.
"We don't think it will be an issue because there has been overwhelming support from the players and coaches we have spoken to about this game," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said.
Geelong chief executive Brian Cook yesterday expressed concern the Cats could have as many as 12 players in the game, with the club's nine 2007 All-Australians all likely selections.
Anderson said the AFL's hard line on players missing the game showed how serious the league was about the high-profile clash.
"The basic principle is if the player is ineligible for this match once selected, he is ineligible to play the week after as well," he said.
"We are still working through the detail, but it signifies the importance with which we hold this game as a special tribute to the greats of the past in our 150th year of the game."
Cook said he hoped there might be some leeway for players with management injuries who had valid reasons for skipping the clash.
"It probably is a bit harsh on those players who do have genuine injuries, so the issue for the AFL is to identify an independent process which best identifies the players who are genuinely injured," Cook said.
"It probably is a bit harsh on those players who do have genuine injuries, so the issue for the AFL is to identify an independent process which best identifies the players who are genuinely injured," Cook said.
Victoria's best will play a "Dream Team" made up of the best talent from other states and overseas.
The selection policy for the 25-man sides is linked closely to last year's All-Australian selection, and with the squads to be picked after Round 3 or 4, most of Geelong's nine representatives would be automatic selections.
Brad Ottens, considered unlucky to miss the All-Australian team, is a strong candidate to ruck for the Dream Team.
Cook admitted there would be some trepidation about a possible injury toll with so many Cats taking part in the high-intensity clash.
"You certainly don't want any of them to get injured, so we are concerned about that," he said.
"But all of the players want to play and you take your hat off to them and say, 'Here is an opportunity for you'.
"But in the back of your head, you are worried about injuries, there is no doubt about it.
"There is the potential for nine to be playing and that's a lot of players from one club."
With the clash scheduled after Round 7, even those Cats who have not recaptured their 2007 form are likely to be picked for the game.
"The backbone of the side will be All-Australian players, and we will be over-represented on that basis," Cook said. "But that is the game.
"We are much more in favour of it than we would have been about the reintroduction of a State-of-Origin series.
"We weren't in favour of State-of-Origin coming back and we indicated that to the AFL."
The Cats play Richmond -- which, on last season's form, is unlikely to be heavily represented in the all-star game -- at the MCG the following Saturday.
Geelong's All-Australians this year:
Matthew Scarlett, Darren Milburn, Matthew Egan, Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Gary Ablett, Joel Corey, Cameron Ling.
Those also in the picture for the all-star clash next year:
Brad Ottens, Paul Chapman, Corey Enright, Joel Selwood.
