STATE versus state.
Mate versus mate.
OK, that's ripped from rugby league State of Origin, but it was the clear message from the Dream Team as they prepare for war against the Big V on Saturday night at the MCG in the Hall of Fame Tribute Match.
Just a day or so after Victoria's Luke Power claimed he was worried about fellow Lion Jamie Charman's elbows, and Charman said the real concern should actually be Deep Heat in his undies, the Dream Team was on the attack again.
Budding Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin left the world in no doubt where he stood on the issue, playfully questioning the credentials of Hawks teammate Campbell Brown, who has a well-deserved and hard-earned reputation for being one of the toughest around.
"I'll still have to put my head over the ball, but I'd say if it came his way, and I put my hip into his head, he'd probably s--- himself," Franklin said with a laugh. "Let's stir him up a bit, shall we?"
Geelong's former wildman Cameron Mooney, who was suspended a record number of times in 2006 before getting his act together to be a vital part of last year's premiership team, is also on a hunting mission.
"If you look at these three boys [Franklin and Matthews Richardson and Pavlich] I think I'm last in line, so I don't think I'll get Scarlo [Matthew Scarlett] – hard luck, boys – but look, there's every chance I might get Dash [Darren Milburn] or I might get Scarlett at some point, but I've played a lot of practice matches against the boys for the last few years.
"It's very enjoyable, and I've been looking for an excuse to whack Dasha, so…" [journalist] "How do you think you'll go against him?"
"Well, hopefully I'll just get to whack him first," Mooney joked.
And the Geelong forward wasn't letting up, next taking aim at the entire Victorian team.
"I grew up in New South Wales (in Wagga Wagga), and I watched a lot of State of Origin football with the rugby (league), and used to love all that kind of stuff. As they say: Mate versus mate, who cares really?
"I've grown up hating Victoria, so this has been one of the biggest weeks of my life as far as football goes, so I'm very excited.
"I've had two of the best days of my career, just getting to know all these different blokes, and I've thoroughly enjoyed it, so I desperately want to win on Saturday night."
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Tribute Match are selling fast. Get your tickets online from the ticketmaster website, via phone on 1300 136 122 or by visiting a ticketmaster outlet.