Well the game sure was a spectacle. The best of the best lining up against each other in a classic Victoria (dubbed the Big V) vs the Allstars/Dream Team. Players like Judd, Jonathan Brown, Fevola, Cox, Goodwin, Cooney and so many more talented professionals, made up the two teams that went head to head on Saturday night at the MCG. For all the hype, all the history, and all the talent, who would take the honours. Would it be the ever so proud Big V? Or would the outsiders in the Dream Team reign supreme.
Well the game delivered everything we hoped for, well almost anything. Team-mates like Buddy Franklin and Trent Croad, Cam Mooney and Mathew Scarlett became opponents and intent on being a part of the winning team.
The Big V however, ran out victorious in a high scoring, close affair. Brendan Fevola won the man of the match honours, and with 6 goals to his name why wouldn’t he?
The Dream Team started magnificently scoring the first few goals of the game and seemed to be the team working together the best. However the Vics were let down by early inaccuracy and didn’t seem to adjust for a while. Fortunately halfway through the first quarter they were able to fire and cut the margin to just ten points at the first break.
In the second quarter the Big V came to life. They outplayed the Dream Team and managed to put on real pressure on their opponents. Judd, Chapman and Power started to find the footy and the other class midfielders were working well together and delivering the ball into the forward line with precision to Fevola and Brown who were able to convert. The Dream Team was struggling and surrendered the lead midway through the term and didn’t look like getting it back. The much talked about talented forward line of the Dream wasn’t clicking as well as Mark Williams would have liked.
In the second half, the Vics kicked accurately and put real scoreboard pressure on the Dream Team who were unable to convert on many occasions. Buddy Franklin was lively but could only manage 4.5 for the game. It was still a close game however and the Dream were giving it all they had. In the end though it was too much for them and they lost the game by points.
The Vics had a lot more to play for. They had a long history of success and the pressure on the players to perform would have been more intense than that on the Dream Team. The Dream played well, but I don’t believe that they had as much reason to win, and may have not been hungry enough. But the main problem I saw with them, is that they seemed to be maybe too talented. There were a lot of show ponies in that team, and not enough hard, in and under workers. Maybe they were too good to be true. But the Vics were very good. They played well together and the pride in their state was demonstrated by Brent Harvey’s celebration after slotting a goal in the final quarter. He proudly showed his jumper to the fans and pumped his fists in the air. Yes they are proud to be Victorian. And they deserve to be applauded for their efforts.
My one question is, should State of Origin return for good? I think yes. But it should be state against state. Give us West and South Australians, Queenslanders and Tasmanians a shot. After all it is the national game is it not? It’s about state pride. And it’s most definitely not all about Victoria.
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May 12th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Yawn!!
The game was a joke. It was obvious that the Dream Team was going to loose. No passion or pride in the jumper and poor team choice with Mooney and Pavlich totally playing like rubbish. No way they should have played. The Big Vs midfield totally dominated and if it was not for the quick start by the Dream Team the result would have even been worse.
Mike Malthouse who never played stars when coaching WA now has his number one ruckman and one of his best players possibly missing 10 weeks. Kerr almost broke his leg and shudders went through the Crows and Swans camp when Burton and Bolton were lucky to escape serious injury.
Even the Big V lacked passion not to mention the lack in the crowd with only 69 odd thousand turning out.
I only saw one piece of passion in the whole game and that was through Brent Harvey. No EJ Whitten medal either?? What a croc!
I doubt we will see anything like this again and I for one will not be disappointed.
Oh and we will not comment on Tens telecast
Jermayns last blog post..Home Before Dark – Neil Diamond
May 12th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Jermayn, did you watch the game? There was certainly some passion in the Big V jumper! Mooney played on the best back man in the league in Scarlett and was never going to get a touch when he lined up on him. Pavlich was OK and deserved his spot. Who else should have taken his place? The Dream Team were all over the Vics in the first quarter and should have kicked on from there but didn’t.
After listening to the players after the game and league officials, I think you will see a return of the State Games in some capacity in the near future.
May 12th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
@Ando – Yeah I watched the game and yes even though the BIG V showed more passion for their jumper than the Dream Team it was still MUCH MUCH less than the 80s and 90s.
I dont know if you noticed but every time Pavlich touched the ball after 1/4 time, he turned it over and was well beaten by Robert Murphy and provided a real lack of contest. Mooney should have know better than anyone what Scarletts game is, so why not sacrifice his own game to limit his effectiveness?
I do personally hope that we will see some actual state of origin but I doubt it. If it happens it will be every 3-5 years I would say. Then actually have ‘every’ state play in a mini carnival with two leagues (A and B) and the bottom team or two of A drop down into B with the winner of B go into A.
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May 15th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
I think definitely the Big V had an advantage that they were playing for their actual State.
Was the game a flop?
The answer is no.
For a match to have 70,000 at the game and a further 700,000 + viewers.
The top 50 players in the A.F.L is worth seeing. I think peoples’ expectations on the game were a lot higher ( they usually are ).
The general consensus I got from people I asked, was that they were left wanting more and that something was lacking. Obviously being a one off ‘exhibition’ match-what could you expect?!
It was more a celebration of 150 years of football than anything else.
Would people want to see a real State of Origin series?
YES
Would players and coaches commit to it if it were given a reasonable time in the season’s schedule?
YES
Would people flock to see the best players in their states battle it out?
YES
And the games would definitely not lack any passion.