DARREN MONCRIEFF
Monday 28 July 2008
THERE have been no reasons given on why it took almost a decade for the AFL to stage another All-Stars game. Around mid- to late-2001, however, the Indigenous peak body ATSIC (which was abolished in 2005) and the AFL began working together to resurrect the concept.
The two organisations had arrived at a time and a place, and an opponent, for the third top-level All-Stars match: Carlton would play the team in Darwin in the pre-season of 2002. Factors beyond the AFL's control, however, forced it to abandon plans for the game. Marrara Oval was at the time undergoing a $2.1m redevelopment and the Blues were in trouble off the field.
Eventually, February 2003 was earmarked for the match.
Carlton were chosen as an opponent because they were assigned to the Northern Territory as part of the AFL's Community Camp program, where clubs visit regional areas in the pre-season to promote the game. The All-Stars and the Blues would play for the Syd Jackson Cup, named in honour of the Nyoongar Carlton premiership star of the early 1970s.
The All-Stars' 'Class of '94' took the reins for the 2003 team. Former Brisbane Bears and Footscray star Michael McLean, captain of the '94 team, and former West Coast dual premiership champion Chris Lewis, teamed up with other football luminaries in Mark Motlop, Michael Long and Russell Jeffrey as coaches and selectors. Their brief was much like that of their leaders in '94; assemble the best available current top-level Indigenous players in the country.
Among the assembled 2003 team were first-22 players, grand finalists, dual Norm Smith medallists, dual premiership players and a selection of unheralded rookies. Because of the latter, there were fears that the workload would be left to the few and would be over-powered, and that the team lacked the necessary height to counter the big men of Carlton. But no-one could have envisaged the carnage the All-Stars would inflict on the hapless Blues.
Just minutes into the game, captain Andrew McLeod received a slick handpass from Chris Johnson at half-forward and, with his trademark burst, let rip and threaded through a goal from just inside 50 for the first major of the match.
Inspired by their captain and the increasing volume of noise from the 17,500-strong crowd (an All Stars record), the All Stars never looked back and completely dismantled Carlton by a whopping 73 points, 19.16 (130) to 8.9 (57).
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 28/03/2012 23:48