A huge line-up of AFL stars has been confirmed for the 24th annual E.J. Whitten Legends Game on Friday 30 August at AAMI Park.
Now an annual football institution, the game attracts some of the biggest stars in AFL/VFL history, with this year’s squads amassing 9,144 goals, 8,561 games, 71 All Australian selections, 30 AFL Premierships and six Brownlow Medals between them.
Debutants include ex-Fremantle tagger Ryan Crowley, Western Bulldogs favourites Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd, Essendon utility Nathan Lovett-Murray and Carlton and North Melbourne goal kicking machine Jarrad Waite for Victoria, while Andrew Krakouer will don All Stars colours for the first time.
Former Brownlow Medallist and 250-game superstar, Adam Cooney said he was looking forward to the traditional state-based rivalry and honouring the late, great Ted Whitten Snr.
“Obviously I played for both the Bulldogs and Essendon but as a born and bred South Australian I’m all about the All Stars. It’s an honour to join such a long-standing tradition and support the E.J. Whitten Foundation and men’s health issues,” Cooney said.
It’s set to be an old-fashioned shoot-out with champion goalkickers leading the way.
Dermott Brereton will coach the Victorians with Brendan Fevola as captain, while Wayne Carey will be at the helm for the All Stars with last year’s E.J. Whitten Medal winner Andrew Jarman skippering the visitors.
Returning favourites include Brent Harvey, Cameron Ling, Campbell Brown, Jimmy Bartel and Matthew Richardson.
Held during the AFL’s Celebration of Football week, the much-loved E.J. Whitten Legends Game shines a light on the importance of early detection and treatment of men’s health issues and is a major fundraiser for the E.J. Whitten Foundation.
Since its inception, the E.J. Whitten foundation has raised over $13.5 million for men’s health awareness programs and prostate cancer research and treatment.
The E.J. Whitten Legends Game will be broadcast from 7.30pm EST by the Seven Network, 7Mate and Foxtel, and via the Telstra AFL Live Pass and Kayo. Tickets via ticketek.com.au.
Full squads for the 2019 E.J. Whitten Legends Game:
Victoria
Coach: Dermott Brereton
Captain: Brendon Fevola
Anthony Koutoufides
Bob Murphy
Brad Johnson
Ben Dixon
Brent Harvey
Cameron Ling
Campbell Brown
Daniel Harford
Jarrad Waite
Jimmy Bartel
Josh Gibson
Matthew Boyd
Nathan Lovett-Murray
Ryan Crowley
Travis Cloke
Stephen Milne
All Stars
Coach: Wayne Carey
Captain: Andrew Jarman
Adam Cooney
Alan Didak
Andrew Krakouer
Andrew McLeod
Brad Green
Daniel Kerr
Gavin Wanganeen
Glen Jakovich
Justin Koschitzke
Leon Davis
Mark Ricciuto
Matthew Richardson
Scott Cummings