All-Stars playing for keeps
INDIGENOUS All-Stars captain Andrew McLeod has dispelled the notion of the biennial match as a mere February exhibition series.
The Adelaide veteran, speaking ahead of the clash with the Crows in Darwin tomorrow night, said winning All-Stars games are what it's all about. Defeat at the hands of Essendon in the 2007 match was the composite side's first.
"It's a fair dinkum game and we're out there to win, that's all we've been talking about all week and no doubt (Adelaide captain) Simon (Goodwin) and the boys are no different," McLeod said.
Coach Chris Johnson is of the same mind-set.
"The important thing is that we want to win, and Adelaide want to win for their (own) preparations," he said. "It's only every two years that we get to come together, so that's what we're planning on."
How the Indigenous team go about doing that has been the big question all week after the release of its initial squad, culled to 30 on Wednesday night. A lack of key-position players is the All-Stars' Achilles heel. Only ruckman Jonathon Griffin is a true KPP.
"We're thinking about throwing Aaron Davey in the ruck … see how we go with that," Johnson said tongue-in-cheek today. "No, look, it's something we have to manage and that's what we'll do."
Johnson could pull a few surprises tomorrow night. During the All-Stars' two-hour training session at Marrara this morning, Griffin was joined by Western Bulldogs youngster Brennan Stack in ruck training drills.
The 30-man team has seen five new players come in after seven were cut. New draftees Warren Benjamin and Jeffrey Garlett, and Jarrod Atkinson, Austin Wonaeamirri and Richard Tambling the new inclusions.
The game will be replayed on ABC1 on Saturday night at 11.20pm into each State and Territory.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Friday, February 6, 2009
Last Modified on 09/02/2009 00:53