A star studded alumni of AFL greats including Glenn Archer, Matthew Lloyd, Brendan Fevola, Michael O'Loughlin, Dermott Brereton and newly retired 'rookies' Jeff Farmer, Justin Koschitzke, Andrew Embley and Daniel Kerr will pull on the boots for another chance at footy glory when they line up for the State-of-Origin showdown between Victoria and the All Stars in the annual Ray White EJ Whitten Legends Game at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday 1 July.
Amongst the honour roll of 50 former AFL greats is Scotty West, Ben Graham, Campbell Brown, David Rodan and Brent Guerra, who are lining up for the Vics and feeling the pressure to make it four wins on the trot for the Big V under new coach Rex Hunt.
In an AFL first, All-Stars Director of Football, Terry Daniher has promoted runner Shane Crawford to Captain/Coach and has employed new recruits Chance Bateman, Jamie Charman, Sam Lonergan, Brad Miller and Michael Osborne to join the All Star ranks of Troy Luff, Mal Michael, Nick Daffy and Peter Burgoyne.
Crawford has announced Abbey Holmes, who made AFL history this year by becoming the first woman to kick 100 goals in a season, is his secret weapon to combat Big Fev and Lloydy along with Gold Logie winning co-host Karl Stefanovic of the Nine Network’s Today.
Newly crowned IBF Middleweight champion, Sam Soliman is swapping his boxing gloves for footy boots and comedian Dave Hughes is also set to make his Ray White EJ Whitten Legends Game debut alongside two local footy heroes, who have been selected from a nationwide search of amateur players. Legends Game crowd favourite, Warwick Capper returns to the field as a runner and is threatening to wear his leopard skin shorts! The Block’s Steve O’Donnell (Vic) and Nine News sports presenter Corey Norris (All Stars) round out the teams.
The AFL legends play out four quarters of fiercely contested footy with all the showmanship and skills that made them greats of the game and with affordable ticket prices the game offers unmatched value and entertainment but it is for a serious cause.
Played in memory of AFL’s “Mr Football” Teddy Whitten, who lost his life to prostate cancer, the Ray White EJ Whitten Legends Game raises money for prostate cancer research and seeks to bring mens health issues to the fore. In particular the statistic that 20,000 new cases are diagnosed in Australia each year and close to 3,300 Aussie men will die from the disease every year, which equals the number of women who die from breast cancer annually.
Since Mr Football's death in 1995, the EJ Whitten Foundation has aimed to increase national awareness and promote early detection, as well as contributing to a range of prostate cancer research programs throughout Australia.
With a few hand-picked sporting identities and celebrities taking it up to the AFL greats on the field, fantastic pre-game and half time entertainment, and family-friendly pricing; the Ray White EJ Whitten Legends Game is Australia's most thrilling event on the footy fixture.
2014 RAY WHITE EJ WHITTEN LEGENDS GAME
WHEN: Tuesday 1 July 2014
TIME: Gates open 6pm for pre-game entertainment. First bounce at 7:45pm
VENUE: Etihad Stadium, 740 Bourke Street Docklands Victoria
COST: Children 6 and under free, Children 7-15 years $9.50, Concession $9.50, Adults $18 and Family $48
at the gate or through Ticketmaster*. *Ticketmaster Booking fees apply DETAILS: www.legendsgame.com.au ; www.facebook.com/legendsgame
MEDIA ENQUIRIES - MICHAELA HALL 0419 113 633 | MICHAELA.HALL@BIGPOND.COM
