THE RECORD will show that Victoria defeated the Dream Team by 17 points in the Hall of Fame Tribute match at the MCG on Saturday April 10, 2008, but the raw facts won't show the passion, skill and commitment that was on show.
The Vics put on a performance that would have made Teddy Whitten proud, and he copped a mention in Jonathan Brown's post-match speech – "We stuck it right up ‘em!" - twice fighting back after falling behind to win, 21.11 (137) to 18.12 (120).
A superb Brendan Fevola won the Allen Aylett Medal for best on ground, with six goals.
The game fluctuated wildly, with neither team able to get out to a decisive lead. Seven goals in the third term for the Dream Team looked enough until the Big V kicked four in a row in the last to snatch it.
But was the game about the result, or about the chance to see the best of a generation going head to head all over the ground?
For Victorians, the answer was probably a little of both, but no matter who you supported, there was no shortage of extraordinary talent on display.
Where to start with the match-ups? As ever in modern footy, some lasted the course and some didn't. There was Matthew Richardson v Adam Goodes, then v Trent Croad. Jonathan Brown v Craig Bolton, then v Ben Rutten. There were the following pairings, any of which would be enough to make your average home-and-away game mouth-watering: Chris Judd v Kane Cornes; Matthew Pavlich v Jarrad Waite; Matthew Scarlett v Cameron Mooney; Robert Murphy v Ryan Griffen; Fevola v Rutten then Nathan Bock; Sam Mitchell v Brett Kirk; Lance Franklin v Croad.
We were treated to the sight of Franklin crunching Sam Mitchell. At times, even watching the interchanges was enough to make your head spin. Franklin off, Pavlich on. Brown off, Fevola on.
All quality, indeed.
Fevola led the Victorian attack wonderfully, but it was little Nathan Foley – who was matched up on Dream Team captain Andrew McLeod for part of the game – who got the Vics going out of the middle.
For the visitors, Peter Burgoyne was outstanding with 36 disposals, including 14 in the first term – a season high from any player. Franklin produced bursts of brilliance up forward.
Most fans’ biggest fear for the game was that their team’s players would be injured, but there were few to cause major concern.
West Coast’s Daniel Kerr left in the first quarter with a suspected cracked fibula. Sydney Swan Craig Bolton picked up a knock to the head, and Adelaide’s Brett Burton had his knees taped heavily at quarter time.
The first term was all Dream Team for the opening 20 minutes. Three goals in five minutes and five of the first six had them out to a 22-point lead and clearly in control, but two late goals to the hosts –including one after the siren from Fevola after clutching a screamer to his right shoulder – had the margin back to 10 at the break.
Goodes' quality shone through as Victoria nailed the next three goals to take the lead for the first time, before the teams swapped goals for the Vics to take an eight-point lead into half time.
When the Vics kicked three of the first four goals in the third term and got out to a 21-point lead it looked like the match was going to blow out, but two three-goal bursts to the Dream Team saw the margin at the last change five points to the visitors.
The Dream Team scored first in the last quarter for a two-goal lead, but then four goals to the Vics – including two to Fevola – put them two goals clear. The gap was narrowed to an even goal before a fine running goal to Brent Harvey and a party snap to Steve Johnson sealed the deal.
Victoria 3.6 9.8 14.9 21.11 (137)
Dream Team 5.4 8.6 15.8 18.12 (120)
GOALS
Victoria: Fevola 6, J. Brown 3, Harvey 3, S. Johnson 3, Bradshaw, Foley, Murphy, O'Keefe, Chapman, C. Brown
Dream Team: Franklin 4, Davis 3, Motlop 2, Burton 2, Goodwin 2, Stokes, Mooney, Richardson, Kirk, S. Burgoyne
BEST
Victoria: Fevola, Harvey, Goodes, Foley, Scarlett, Judd
Dream Team: P. Burgoyne, Franklin, Johncock, McLeod, Corey, K. Cornes
INJURIES
Victoria: tbc
Dream Team: Kerr (leg)
Reports: tbc
Umpires: Vozzo, Kennedy, Rosebury, McInerney
Official crowd: 69,294 at the MCG
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
