This week's match should be...

[Rik E Boy]

Victoria vs. AUSTRALIA

Forget this Americanised 'Dream Team' or 'All Star' bull5hit.

This concept could work if they marketed it a little differently. The Vics would always rally behind the big V but who amongst us is going to rally behind the traditional white jumper of a 'Dream Team'? Answer: **** ALL.

This concept could actually work if instead of an insipid white jumper, the 'Dream Team' could be called Australia and wear the Green and Gold. Bang instant tradition and thus solving an age old problem our code has...who would Australia play against? The Vics.

This concept marketed in such a way would be more palatable for those football fans outside of Victoria and a State of Origin format for it would mean it would work on the road. The only place a 'Dream Team' vs. Victoria match would work would be in Melbourne.

The Vics on the other hand aren't exactly left out of the picture as the Big V would live on and the rest of us can enjoy watching the mighty Aussies defeat the evil Mexicans!

regards,

REB

[MightyEagles]

It should have been SA v Vic. At least we'll have the SANFL v VFL match in about 3 weeks.

[Rik E Boy]

It should have been SA v Vic. At least we'll have the SANFL v VFL match in about 3 weeks.

No, that concept is well past its use by date. What about the other states? You've just done to the rest of the Australia what the Vics have done to you with that call.

No, bring on AUSTRALIA.

regards,

REB

[JK]

Not bad Richard, not bad at all.

[Dogwatcher]

Bollocks.
So, you'll have Victorians being unable to play for Australia...
Sure the Big V is pretty important, but playing for your country (and not just seven of the states and territories) is the ultimate.

[JK]

Im not a fan of the dream team deal either, in fact I have quite a few issues with the whole concept (especially the coaches - Surely there's a conflict of interest there and who is to suggest they have been the best coaches of the last 150 years?).

Your point is correct DW, I guess I was viewing it as a "Rest Of" kind of option.

[Dogwatcher]

Surely there's a conflict of interest there and who is to suggest they have been the best coaches of the last 150 years?).

Maybe Ted Whitten snr could coach eh CP?

Your point is correct DW, I guess I was viewing it as a "Rest Of" kind of option.

It is already a "rest of" kind of option.

I'm still unsure of how I feel about this game.
I'm hoping that it proves to be a winning concept, but one which reveals the desire for SOO is still there.

A better option, I believe, would be an East v West match up if it can't be SOO.
Qld, NSW, ACT, Vic v Tas, SA, WA, NT, Irish

[evans01]

i just dont see the point of the whole exercise.............its either a "full-on"
state of origin series of its nothing................................

i wonder how the ticket sales are going???

[JK]

Surely there's a conflict of interest there and who is to suggest they have been the best coaches of the last 150 years?).

Maybe Ted Whitten snr could coach eh CP?

Hmmm ... I might leave that one alone.

My point is, that I have no doubt Bomber and Choco would do the right thing, but the fact remains it leaves them open to scrutiny over selection or use of their own players or even those of upcoming opponents ... Scrutiny that wouldn't exist if say Sheedy and Blight were the coaches, or Walls and Cornes (for example).

[Dogwatcher]

That's a good point.

[Psyber]

Im not a fan of the dream team deal either, in fact I have quite a few issues with the whole concept (especially the coaches - Surely there's a conflict of interest there and who is to suggest they have been the best coaches of the last 150 years?).

Your point is correct DW, I guess I was viewing it as a "Rest Of" kind of option.

I'm not a fan of the US style "Dream Team" terminology, and I do think the whole thing is a bit unexciting. I'd probably watch the match if it were the best thing on TV at the time, but that's about it.

I do agree that coaches with no conflict of interest may have been a good idea.

[Dutchy]

Dream Team aint an American term, if anything isnt it a Aussie term (aboriginal)

American sports use All stars....

[Psyber]

Dream Team aint an American term, if anything isnt it a Aussie term (aboriginal)
American sports use All stars....

Dream Team = Dream Time??

[Dutchy]

Dream Team aint an American term, if anything isnt it a Aussie term (aboriginal)
American sports use All stars....

Dream Team = Dream Time??

Spot on...

[Hondo]

Wasn't the term "Dream Team" first used when the US were able to pick their Pro basketball players in their Olympic team in 1992 or so and Jordan, Johnson and co got together for the first time?

That's why I don't like the term being used this weekend. A dream team would be the all-Australian team, not a "rest-of" team

The problem with a East v West is that it's not as good at cranking up the passion as a Victoria v the Rest - at least for the Melbourne fans given its being played at the G. This way, hopefully the Victorians jump on board their team and rest of us get fired up to beat them.

Even tho I would have preferred proper SOO I understand that trying to accomodate 7 states and territories was unworkable in 1 weekend. Even on this site, despite all the anger at the final concept, no-one came up with a workable SOO concept unless it left some states out or involved 10,000 matches over a 10 week carnival.

Getting the best 44 players in the land on the field at the one time is the best way to do it IMO.

[rod_rooster]

The best solution would've been to accept that it can't be done properly therefore not do it at all.

[Dogwatcher]

Wasn't the term "Dream Team" first used when the US were able to pick their Pro basketball players in their Olympic team in 1992 or so and Jordan, Johnson and co got together for the first time?

correct.

[Dutchy]

still cant see the "ameicanised" connection

[Dogwatcher]

The first thing I think of when I think of The Dream Team is the American basketball team.
I think many Australians - particularly those who know their sport - would be the same.

[Rik E Boy]

still cant see the "ameicanised" connection

The first time I heard the term 'dream team' it was in connection to the US Olympic Basketball team as mentioned by other posters.

What I can't see is the problem of Victorian players not being able to play for Australia. We aren't talking about an international code here. We are talking about a representative side that represents the rest of Australia against the home state of the code.

It could work.

regards,

REB