Dual Brownlow Medalist Adam Goodes and former All-Australian Ryan O’Keefe will fly the Bloods’ flag on the Victorian team while co-captains Craig Bolton and Brett Kirk, as well as Irishman Tadhg Kennelly, will don the Dream Team guernsey.
Goodes says he’s honoured to be selected in the preliminary squad.
“It is great to be selected in a squad of 40 to play in a great stand-alone game with the best players in our competition.”
O’Keefe is delighted to be joining his Bloods’ team mate on the extended Victorian squad.
“I am wrapped, excited and feel privileged to be named in this squad and I hope I get the opportunity to play in the game when the team is reduced to 25,” he said.
Selection to the Dream Team squad is a big coup for premiership player Tadhg Kennelly who, after managing just 13 games in an injury interrupted 2007 season, has had an electrifying start to the year with 25 touches in round one against St Kilda and 24 disposals in the round three victory over Brisbane.
“It is fantastic and would be an honour should I be selected to run out alongside and against the best players in the competition,” he said.
Newly appointed co-captain Craig Bolton is equally pleased with his selection.
“I think it is great concept and if it turns out that I get the opportunity to play I would very much enjoy and look forward to the experience,” he said.
The players make up a squad of 40 players per side, who will congregate at the MCG for training in the week leading up to the clash.
The final teams of 25 (18 plus seven interchange players) will be named the day before the game.
The Victorian squad was selected by coach Mark Thompson, assistant coach Kevin Sheedy and captain Jonathan Brown, while opposing coach Mark Williams, assistant coach Neale Daniher and skipper Andrew McLeod selected the Dream Team representatives.
