PORT Adelaide would have five players pull on the South Australian state jumper if the AFL Players’ Association had its way.
Coinciding with NRL’s State of Origin foray into the home of Australian footy - the MCG - on Wednesday night, the AFL Players has named four State of Origin teams for a hypothetical 2015 competition.
Of course, state of origin footy hasn’t been played since 1999 (or 2008 if you count the loosely representative Vics versus the rest 'tribute match'), but the sentiment among the footballing public remains strong for a return to the old format.
The AFL Players SA team named on aflplayers.com.au features Justin Westhoff at centre half-back, Brad Ebert at centre, Chad Wingard on the half forward flank, Jay Schulz at full forward and Angus Monfries on the interchange bench.
The team also features Brodie Smith, Eddie Betts, Scott Thompson and Sam Jacobs (Adelaide Crows), Heath Grundy (Sydney), Corey Enright (Geelong), Sam Fisher (St Kilda), Shannon Hurn (West Coast), Shane Edwards (Richmond), Shaun Burgoyne, Paul Puopolo (Hawthorn), Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne), Matthew Pavlich, Lachie Neale (Fremantle), Bernie Vince (Melbourne) Brodie Grundy (Collingwood) and Bryce Gibbs (Carlton).
Robbie Gray was the only other Power player named in a representative team – on the half-forward flank for Victoria.
No Port Adelaide players were named in the Western Australia or Allies teams.
AFL Players 2015 state of origin teams
The Allies
FB: Jarrod Harbrow, Steven May, Dane Rampe
HB: Jarrad McVeigh, Sam Rowe, Jeremy Howe
C: Isaac Smith, David Armitage, Dayne Zorko
HF: Luke Breust, Nick Riewoldt, Cyril Rioli
FF: Taylor Walker, Tom Hawkins, Steven Motlop
Foll: Kurt Tippet, Dane Beams, Kieran Jack
I/C: Jack Riewoldt, Josh Bruce, Matthew Stokes, Lee Spurr
South Australia
FB: Brodie Smith, Heath Grundy, Corey Enright
HB: Sam Fisher, Justin Westhoff, Shannon Hurn
C: Shane Edwards, Brad Ebert, Shaun Burgoyne
HF: Lindsay Thomas, Matthew Pavlich, Chad Wingard
FF: Eddie Betts, Jay Schulz, Paul Puopolo
Foll: Sam Jacobs, Bernie Vince, Lachie Neale
I/C: Brodie Grundy, Scott Thompson, Angus Monfries, Bryce Gibbs
Victoria
FB: Josh Gibson, Daniel Talia, Heath Shaw
HB: Bob Murphy, Michael Hurley, Brett Deledio
C: Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker, Dylan Shiel
HF: Robbie Gray, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Shuey
FF: Jamie Elliott, Jeremy Cameron, Travis Cloke
Foll: Todd Goldstein, Scott Pendlebury, Trent Cotchin
I/C: Joel Selwood, Sam Mitchell, Jack Gunston, Patrick Dangerfield
Western Australia
FB: Alan Toovey, Alex Rance, Cale Hooker
HB: Sharrod Wellingham, Harry Taylor, Stephen Hill
C: Chris Masten, Andrew Swallow, Elliot Yeo
HF: Mark LeCras, Lance Franklin, Michael Walters
FF: Jesse Hogan, Josh Kennedy, Hayden Ballantyne
Foll: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Matt Priddis
I/C: Garrick Ibbotson, Brad Hill, Jeremy McGovern, Nic Natanui
