TonyK
CibbuanoState carnival the way to go: Kennett
May 12th 2008 03:05
HAWTHORN President Jeff Kennett has labelled the AFL Hall of Fame game "more like touch football than real football" and believes true State of Origin is needed if representative games are to become a permanent fixture in the AFL calendar.
As reported in today's Age, Kennett said his ideal scenario would be an interstate carnival the week after the grand final, with teams representing all states, as well as possibly an indigenous side.
"I think there'd be a lot more passion," Kennett said.
"You could share it around the country so that ... you could have one (match) in Western Australia and you could have one in Adelaide.
"You wouldn't be able to cover all states every year, but you could rotate them, so I think to do it properly you'd need it to be an annual event."
Kennett also said he was against any future representative matches being held in-season,
citing the risk of potentially losing key players.
"It always concerns me when my players or any club's players are involved in a game for which they're not playing for points," he said.
"Because we pay them well, their goal, their mission in any one year is to win a premiership.
"And when you see them doing something else that puts them physically at risk, of course you are concerned.
"I can understand how this morning (Collingwood president) Eddie McGuire must be terribly disappointed at (the knee injury) to Josh Fraser, all for nothing."
Kennett felt the Dream Team concept, made up from the best non-Victorian players, engendered little passion - with no rivalry between the combined team and Victoria it meant fans did not care whether the home side won or lost.
"I'm not sure the Dream Team competition is the best.
"I think if the AFL achieves its goal over time, and I hope they do, and that is to have AFL more vigorously represented in all states of Australia, then I like the concept of a proper state carnival."
Kennett said the carnival should include a team from Tasmania - where the Hawks play four home games - and perhaps an indigenous side, with shortened knockout games ahead of a full length final.
"It may be that you have a real dream team which is made up of an Aboriginal side," he said.
"We've got enough members from the indigenous community now, you might have trouble with a couple of positions, but your Northern Territory team for instance might be a team of indigenous players."
As reported in today's Age, Kennett said his ideal scenario would be an interstate carnival the week after the grand final, with teams representing all states, as well as possibly an indigenous side.
"I think there'd be a lot more passion," Kennett said.
"You could share it around the country so that ... you could have one (match) in Western Australia and you could have one in Adelaide.
"You wouldn't be able to cover all states every year, but you could rotate them, so I think to do it properly you'd need it to be an annual event."
Kennett also said he was against any future representative matches being held in-season,
citing the risk of potentially losing key players.
"It always concerns me when my players or any club's players are involved in a game for which they're not playing for points," he said.
"Because we pay them well, their goal, their mission in any one year is to win a premiership.
"And when you see them doing something else that puts them physically at risk, of course you are concerned.
"I can understand how this morning (Collingwood president) Eddie McGuire must be terribly disappointed at (the knee injury) to Josh Fraser, all for nothing."
Kennett felt the Dream Team concept, made up from the best non-Victorian players, engendered little passion - with no rivalry between the combined team and Victoria it meant fans did not care whether the home side won or lost.
"I'm not sure the Dream Team competition is the best.
"I think if the AFL achieves its goal over time, and I hope they do, and that is to have AFL more vigorously represented in all states of Australia, then I like the concept of a proper state carnival."
Kennett said the carnival should include a team from Tasmania - where the Hawks play four home games - and perhaps an indigenous side, with shortened knockout games ahead of a full length final.
"It may be that you have a real dream team which is made up of an Aboriginal side," he said.
"We've got enough members from the indigenous community now, you might have trouble with a couple of positions, but your Northern Territory team for instance might be a team of indigenous players."
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