VICTORIAN assistant coach Kevin Sheedy hopes the pride of the Big V will win out when the Vics meet the Mark Williams-coached Dream Team in the Hall of Fame Tribute Match at the MCG on May 10.
The Dream Team is a who’s who of the AFL’s biggest names, with a forward line likely to comprise names such as Lance Franklin, Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Richardson and Matthew Pavlich.
But Sheedy is confident Victoria, which will be coached by Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson, will be able to get the job done.
“Well I mean it’s one thing that happens about talent, and that is they can be beaten,” Sheedy said on Tuesday.
“Obviously on the weekend you see what happened when the Tigers went over to play Fremantle in Fremantle.
“And then of course you’ve got tactics. Tactics can beat talent too, so it’s all about the way Bomber wants to run the game.”
Earlier on Tuesday squads were announced for next month’s blockbuster, and while Sheedy outlined his rough side he said changes were likely to be made in coming weeks.
“If we wanted to inspire young people, people that may have been left out, we could look at players like Marc Murphy or Joel Selwood, Jarrad Waite, Andrew Lovett, those sorts,” he said.
“Deledio, Firrito – those sorts of players are there with an opportunity to still get into this match.”
Sheedy might have let the cat out of the bag, not only confirming Carlton skipper Chris Judd was certain to play, but also that the star midfielder was in line to play a deputy role to Jonathan Brown.
“He’ll be in the side, don’t worry about that,” Sheedy said.
“He’s vice, he’ll be vice-captain … everybody in Victoria’s been waiting for Jonathan Brown and Chris Judd to come back and play for their home and state and this is why this is a great game and what this is about.
“Win, lose or draw, this is going to be a super-competitive match. It’s just going to be no-holds barred, there’s no doubt about that.
“I’m not going to have Mark Williams and Neale Daniher beating Mark Thompson and Kevin Sheedy for a start … that’s just very sickly from my point of view!”
Sheedy, who predicted an attacking, entertaining game of footy, also dismissed the Dream Team’s apparent edge in the ruck.
“The ball’s going to end up on the ground most of the time,” he said.
“History says that.”
To reserve your seats at the match that’s been 150 years in the making, visit ticketmaster.com.au