GEELONG star Paul Chapman expects the club will enthusiastically support next month's Hall of Fame tribute match, despite the obvious risks for the defending AFL premier team.

The Cats had nine All-Australian players last year and will feature prominently in selections for the Victorian and Dream teams ahead of the one-off May 10 match at the MCG.

Coach Mark Thompson will be in charge of the Victorian team.

One of the main reasons the old state-of-origin concept foundered nine years ago was that it lost the support of the clubs and their players.

The risk of injury simply became too great to a team's premiership campaign and state of origin had lost the sort of passion that it enjoys in rugby league's epic clashes between Queensland and NSW.

But Chapman said players were interested in the tribute match, which the AFL will stage as part of the game's 150th-year celebrations.

Asked if the Cats were wary of having too many players involved, Chapman replied: "Once upon a time, maybe — we had a little survey last year as to whether players would support it or not and they had overwhelming support for it.

"I don't think it will be a big deal, it's what every player wants to do and I know everyone at Geelong who gets an opportunity will definitely take it and play."

Richmond's Matthew Richardson played once for Victoria and twice for the composite Allies side before state of origin was disbanded.

Like Chapman, he thinks absence has made players' hearts grow fonder of a match outside their normal club commitments. # "I'd love the opportunity to play, as would any player in the AFL," he said.