AFL stars including Nic Naitanui, Patrick Dangerfield and Max Gawn have backed a proposed pre-season All-Star match to raise funds for the Australian bushfire disaster.
A blockbuster fixture between a Victorian side and All Stars line-up has been mooted amongst AFL stakeholders to be held at Marvel Stadium on Friday February 28.
The trio of stars have taken to social media offering to play in the match, with Naitanui even inviting Sydney superstar Lance Franklin to join, although Buddy will be unavailable after undergoing knee surgery.
Bring it back 💯 https://t.co/X0z4p8cOnj
— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) January 7, 2020
Clubs contacted by AFL.com.au have thrown their support behind the idea which would see a cap of up to four players from each individual club take part.
The match is set to coincide with the second weekend of the Marsh Community Series, with players selected in the one-off match to sit out their club's fixtures that weekend.
Talks are ongoing to have Essendon's trip to face West Coast at Lathlain Park – also scheduled for February 28 – to be moved to the night before on Thursday February 27. Neither the Eagles nor Bombers have a match the weekend prior which would allow the shift.
Greater Western Sydney hosts Sydney and Carlton travel west to play Fremantle on February 29, while Richmond faces Collingwood a day later in Wangaratta.
The last All-Star match of its kind was played between Victoria and Dream Team line-up at the MCG in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the game.
Packed MCG with the champions of the game, on May 10th 2008 the Vics took on the Dream Team
More than 69,000 fans attended as Carlton superstar Brendan Fevola bagged six goals in Victoria's 17-point win over a Franklin (four goals) inspired Dream Team.
Players across the competition have been touched by the bushfire disaster that has torn through communities across the nation in recent weeks.