HERE’S a shock headline: PORT, CROWS STARS DON’T HATE EACH OTHER.
It might not be as exciting as some of the angst-drenched Showdown-related headlines of the past, but it is apparently the truth.
One of the tantalising aspects of the Dream Team concept is that it brings players from implacably opposed clubs onto the one side. When it comes to two-team towns like Perth and Adelaide, this is like getting the Hatfields and McCoys along to the same hoe-down.
West Coast’s Darren Glass and Dean Cox must bond with Fremantle’s Matthew Pavlich and Luke McPharlin.
The Adelaide Crows have seven players in the Dream Team: Andrew McLeod, Nathan Bassett, Nathan Bock, Brett Burton, Simon Goodwin, Graham Johncock and Ben Rutten.
Port Adelaide has four – Peter Burgoyne, Shaun Burgoyne, Kane Cornes, Daniel Motlop – plus coach Mark Williams.
Surely this must lead to fist fights and dressing room aggro?
Sadly for those who want to believe footballers despise everyone who doesn’t wear their club’s colours, the truth is somewhat different.
“We’re rapt at this opportunity,” Crows captain Simon Goodwin says. “The chance doesn’t come often that you get to represent a Dream Team and play with opposition guys.
“Port Adelaide is obviously a team we have an immense rivalry against, but to be coached by their coach and play with some of their players will be a great experience.
“We certainly admire the guys who play at Port Adelaide, some of the immense talent they’ve got and obviously they are really well coached, so to get first-hand experience of the way they are coached will be a great experience for us.”
Port flyer Peter Burgoyne is equally generous about the Crows. “We do know each other as individuals, we talk to each other,” he says. “The rivalry is something people like to build up.
“You do dislike each other on the field but on the streets you’re civil to each other. In this game we’re teammates so we have to become mates and really embrace each other. As it is, Graham (Johncock) is my cousin, we grew up together in Port Lincoln, I played state footy with Ben (Rutten), and I know a few of the other (Adelaide) boys. It will be great.”
Rock-like Adelaide defender Johncock also says that playing alongside rather than against the Crows’ cross-town rivals will be a pleasure. “I get along really well with the Port boys, see a lot of Shaun and Peter Burgoyne and Daniel Motlop, so I’m really looking forward to playing with them,” he says.
“But it is also great playing with Matty Pavlich and guys of that calibre from other clubs. It should be a really good contest on Saturday. I’m looking forward to it.”
