Crows and All-Stars to play in Darwin next year
ADELAIDE has been confirmed as next year's opponents for the Indigenous All-Stars match in Darwin.
The AFL announced the details on Friday. The match will be a night game on Saturday, February 7, at Marrara Oval.
With Adelaide's Indigenous stocks currently at six, it will again raise the issue of 'club versus countrymen' which had arisen for the first time in 2007 when several Aboriginal Bombers opted to play for Essendon. In that match, the Bombers defeated the All-Stars by 50 points, the first team to do so in the history of the bi-annual concept match.
This match, which will be Adelaide's first against the composite side, will be the fifth time* AFL clubs have played against a side made up of Indigenous players from the 16 AFL clubs.
Collingwood (1994), Carlton (2003), Western Bulldogs (2005) and Essendon (2007) were the others.
Crows coach Neil Craig said the match will be the perfect preparation for his side.
"These games have always been of a high standard and will fit in to our program very well," Craig told AFC.com.au.
"Darwin has a high number of Crows supporters and it will give us an opportunity to play in front of them. We are looking forward to the game."
The last All-Stars match in Darwin attracted near 14,000 people and was the first time the concept team had lost.
Tickets are expected to go on sale later this month. AboriginalFootball will keep you posted on that score.
* The 1983 Aboriginal All-Stars v Richmond match at Mildura was technically the first 'All-Stars' match, although it is not recognised as such by the AFL. (See the link at: All-Stars > 1983 for more details on that match.)
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Last Modified on 09/11/2008 23:55