The May 10, 2008 hole in the draw.

[Dogwatcher]

But then again - that's all very much off topic.

[Dutchy]

Campbell is still trying to show he is an AFL player hes only played 17 games.

Yet Davey has only played 18....guess it was that one more game that got him in the squad...

[Dogwatcher]

Yes, yes it was.

[fester69]

I'm pretty sure Tom Harley is in the Dream Team squad, but I agree, It's all a bit of a wank!

[Mr66]

I think they should remove suspensions for striking from the game to give it some passion.

That'd be the only way I'd be interested in the game.
Let Barry Hall play!

[Dutchy]

Game no tribute to North's players
By Stephen Rielly

April 16, 2008 AS A reflection of the AFL pecking order, the composition of the two 40-man squads for next month's Hall of Fame tribute match appears to represent the balance of power accurately.

Geelong, 2007 premier and undefeated favourite for 2008, has a high of 13 players selected across the two squads; eight in the Victorian camp and five more in the Dream Team combination drawn from the rest of the nation.

Lowly Melbourne, on the other hand, has one, Carlton two and Richmond three players chosen. On the surface of things, the parallels from the top of the ladder to the bottom roughly equate.

That is until North Melbourne is considered. The Kangaroos, last season's preliminary finalists who are sitting seventh, have just two players in the combined 80, one fewer than a Tigers' side that managed just three wins and a draw last year.

North captain Adam Simpson and Brent Harvey were the two from Arden Street to get the nod, which is one more than it was able to place in the 2007 All-Australian team. Harvey was that player.

If any sense of indignation was felt at North, it was for forward Corey Jones and ruckman Hamish McIntosh, although football operations chief Donald McDonald declined to comment other than to say: "The selectors had a job to do and that was out of our control. We're looking forward to Collingwood this week."

Victorians both, Jones and McIntosh were on the fringe of All-Australian selection last year. Jones, who kicked 46 goals in 2007, was knocked out by team-mate Nathan Thompson early in the first game of this season, but has kicked 12 goals in three since.

McIntosh, perhaps the best young ruckman last year and certainly the most improved, was widely regarded as one of the best players on the ground on Saturday when the Roos comfortably defeated a Melbourne side led in the ruck by Jeff White, 31, the Demons' sole selection in the Hall of Fame encounter.

If it can be said that the Roos will be under-represented at the MCG on May 10, when the teams meet as part of the celebration of the Australian game's 150th year, the same is not true for the growing influence of indigenous footballers on the national stage.

Eleven of the 80 players named share an indigenous background. Dream Team coach Mark Williams, a long time champion of indigenous footballers, has selected nine in his squad, including Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin and his own Port stars, Peter and Shaun Burgoyne.

"Having 10 Aboriginals in that group is just brilliant, with the history of the sport and the involvement and the development of Aboriginals in the game," Williams said.

"I read where one or two clubs in the past have been racist in regard to their selections. You can see right now there's no degree of that in our selection."

Essendon's legendary former coach Kevin Sheedy, who will assist Victorian and Geelong coach Mark Thompson during the game, said that he was expecting the match to be played with attacking intent.

"Somewhere between 15 and 20 goals (each)," Sheedy forecast.

"I'd be disappointed if it wasn't."

He believed the code needed a vehicle for the very best players to meet one another on a regular basis, although next month's match is for now a one-off.

He remembered attending a testimonial for the great Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, at Old Trafford several years ago that, he said, was an unforgettable occasion because of the wonderful players present to make it feel a truly unique.

"They brought the best players in from around the world to play the greatest players ever for United," Sheedy said.

[the joker]

Campbell is still trying to show he is an AFL player hes only played 17 games.

Yet Davey has only played 18....guess it was that one more game that got him in the squad...

i think davey has proven him self as an AFL footballer unlike matty campbell. and i think matty campbell is a great footballer being a north supporter. but you pick davey all day every day

[the joker]

Game no tribute to North's players
By Stephen Rielly

Poor north melbourne. why pick players that dont get a crowd . what was it 25000. in ten years when you have merged with melbourne you will be asking james. WHY DIDNT WE GO TO THE GOLD COAST the north melbourne football club lost money on the weekend with that piss poor crowd

[Wedgie]

Campbell is still trying to show he is an AFL player hes only played 17 games.

Yet Davey has only played 18....guess it was that one more game that got him in the squad...

i think davey has proven him self as an AFL footballer unlike matty campbell. and i think matty campbell is a great footballer being a north supporter. but you pick davey all day every day

Agreed fully and Im a HUGE Matty Campbell fan.

[Dutchy]

Campbell is still trying to show he is an AFL player hes only played 17 games.

Yet Davey has only played 18....guess it was that one more game that got him in the squad...

i think davey has proven him self as an AFL footballer unlike matty campbell. and i think matty campbell is a great footballer being a north supporter. but you pick davey all day every day

what a load of crap....

lets look at their stats, both averaging 14 disposals, but Campbell has more tackles and more goals this year than Davey....so how would you justify his selection over Campbell?

I reckon I might know.....Essendon getting more exposure maybe?

[the joker]

Campbell is still trying to show he is an AFL player hes only played 17 games.

Yet Davey has only played 18....guess it was that one more game that got him in the squad...

i think davey has proven him self as an AFL footballer unlike matty campbell. and i think matty campbell is a great footballer being a north supporter. but you pick davey all day every day

what a load of crap....

lets look at their stats, both averaging 14 disposals, but Campbell has more tackles and more goals this year than Davey....so how would you justify his selection over Campbell?

I reckon I might know.....Essendon getting more exposure maybe?

you are propably picked on last year as well as this year!. and anyway they picked davey so get on with it

[Dutchy]

You state he is a better player and deserves selection over Campbell so I would like to hear your thoughts to back that up?

Davey was injured for the last half of the season so how could he be picked on that form? all while Campbell was in a team that finished 3rd?

[the joker]

You state he is a better player and deserves selection over Campbell so I would like to hear your thoughts to back that up?

Davey was injured for the last half of the season so how could he be picked on that form? all while Campbell was in a team that finished 3rd?

well last year campbell was just a fringe small forward and davey was also but this year davey is having stints in the midfield. and the game vs the bulldogs he was also playing off the half back line. it doesent matter he made the 40 but will not make the 25

[Dutchy]

You state he is a better player and deserves selection over Campbell so I would like to hear your thoughts to back that up?

Davey was injured for the last half of the season so how could he be picked on that form? all while Campbell was in a team that finished 3rd?

well last year campbell was just a fringe small forward and davey was also but this year davey is having stints in the midfield. and the game vs the bulldogs he was also playing off the half back line. it doesent matter he made the 40 but will not make the 25

FFS.....Campbell has been playing midfield as well this year....maybe time to admit you havent seen Campbell play this year?

[the joker]

You state he is a better player and deserves selection over Campbell so I would like to hear your thoughts to back that up?

Davey was injured for the last half of the season so how could he be picked on that form? all while Campbell was in a team that finished 3rd?

well last year campbell was just a fringe small forward and davey was also but this year davey is having stints in the midfield. and the game vs the bulldogs he was also playing off the half back line. it doesent matter he made the 40 but will not make the 25

FFS.....Campbell has been playing midfield as well this year....maybe time to admit you havent seen Campbell play this year?

well thats wrong watched the games vs melb and the hawks and watched bits of other games and from what i have seen thomas and campbell have both just been playing up the ground at half forward. campbells engine isnt big enough to go in the midfield yet

[Dutchy]

well there you go...thomas has been playing in the midfield more than Campbell...both are averaging 14 possies per game, you not going to get those stats sitting in a forward pocket!

[smac]

Surprised you haven't been selected for the Allies, dutchy - certainly holding things up defensively for North Melbourne at the moment... Judging by another thread, holding down 2 spots at once as well.

[McAlmanac]

Campbell and Thomas were both superb on Saturday.

Wouldn't have picked either Davey or Campbell, despite them both being exciting players.

Sheedy raised the Alex Ferguson testimonial, but those matches are never fair dinkum. Hard to see this one being, either.