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Originally Posted by AFL.com
'City' versus 'Country' matches are a long-standing tradition in rugby league in New South Wales, and they're an important stepping stone to State of Origin Selection.
They're not a tradition in Australian Football, but tonight's rugby league match in Gosford got us thinking - how would a Victorian Country Selection go against the city slickers from Melbourne?
We commissioned Sportal's Matt Burgan, who was born and bred in the 'burbs, and Bren O'Brien who hails from Port Fairy to select their best City and Country Origin teams.
Matt Burgan's City XX11
B: Chris Johnson (Brisbane Lions), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Austinn Jones (St Kilda)
HB: Adam McPhee (Essendon), Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane Lions), Rohan Smith (Western Bulldogs)
C: Shannon Grant (Kangaroos), Scott West (Western Bulldogs), Luke Ball (St Kilda)
HF: Chris Judd (West Coast), Matthew Lloyd (Essendon), Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)
F: Brent Harvey (Kangaroos), David Neitz (Melbourne), Brendan Fevola (Carlton)
FOLL: Jeff White (Melbourne), Adam Simpson (Kangaroos), Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
I/C: Peter Everitt (Hawthorn), Cameron Bruce (Melbourne), Heath Scotland (Carlton), Kane Johnson (Richmond)
Matt's team explained:
For starters, there’s no chance of picking Voss, Hird or Buckley. They’re from Queensland, the ACT and the Northern Territory respectively.
But there’s still a plethora of talent to choose from out of Victoria. How about Fraser Gehrig – the competition’s leading goalkicker, Jonathan Brown – a three-time premiership centre half-forward who is still only 22 and Nathan Brown – the dynamic forward/midfielder?
Nope. Still can’t take any of them. They’re country lads. So who is up for grabs?
Well, don’t worry, the city slickers known as Victorian Metropolitan is still an awesome line-up that would be the envy of any AFL coach.
Picked from the clubs these players were originally recruited from, this Vic Metro side oozes talent – premiership players, a dual Brownlow Medallist, best-and-fairest winners, All-Australian and Coleman Medallists.
This composition has been selected on the basis of form from the opening six rounds of the AFL season and is akin to the New South Wales city versus country clash that is a strong tradition in rugby league.
As expected, the majority of the players are selected from Melbourne-based clubs, due to the vast amount of Victorians playing at these clubs, but the Brisbane Lions have been represented via Chris Johnson and Justin Leppitsch and West Coast by Chris Judd.
Collingwood and Geelong are the only two Melbourne-based sides to not have a representative, mainly due to the lack of in-form players eligible from this region.
Essendon, Kangaroos, Melbourne, St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs are all represented with three players each in this side, which is the most from any AFL club.
Two captains were chosen in this side – Melbourne’s David Neitz and the Kangaroos Adam Simpson – and both are having outstanding seasons.
Interestingly, two players – St Kilda’s Austinn Jones and Carlton’s Brendan Fevola – hail from the same club, Beaconsfield, while there is a strong representative from players in the northern and western suburbs.
Bren O’Brien's Country XX11
B: D. Milburn (Geel/Kilmore) M.Scarlett (Geel/St Josephs), W.Campbell (Rich/Golden Sq)
HB: L Colbert (Kang/South Bendigo), S.Lucas (Ess/Camperdown), J.Smith (Haw/Yarrawonga)
C: N.Lappin (Bris/Chiltern) J.Johnson (Ess/Kilmore), A.Yze (Melb/ Shepparton)
HB: N.Brown (Rich/Bendigo) J.Brown (Bris/Sth Warrnambool), C.Tarrant (Coll, Mildura)
F: G.Ablett (Geel/Modawarre), F.Gehrig (St K/Wodonga), M.Lappin (Carl/Chiltern)
Foll: A.Goodes (Syd/Horsham) C.Ling (Geel/St Josephs), S.Hart (Bris/Shepparton)
Int: J.Fraser (Coll/Mansfield), C.Grant (Bulldogs/Daylesford) A.Stevens (Kang/Shepparton), B. Hall (Syd/Broadford)
Bren's team explained:
The half-forward line is undoubtedly the standout of what is a sensational Country team.
The bench boasts Josh Fraser, a superb back up for the athletic Goodes in the ruck, Grant who provides key defensive cover for Scarlett and Lucas, while Stevens would fit into a midfield rotation with the likes of Ling, Hart, Nigel Lappin and Johnson. And then there's Barry Hall to slot in up forward.
They say they breed them bigger in the country and I would have to agree given the difficulty in coming up with two ruckmen, but injuries to Steven King and Matthew Primus made it easier.
The easiest pick was no doubt Jonathan Brown, and with his namesake Nathan and Tarrant slotted along side of him, the match up for any defence would be a nightmare.
Picking two genuine pockets along side Gehrig, balances the forward line out, giving a couple of players, a well as Brown, the opportunity to crumb.
Lappin and Yze, specialist wingers, were easy to fit in, while Johnson’s strength in the middle of the ground won him the nod over Stevens. The pace of the centre trio compliments the selection of Ling and Hart as followers. That duo may lack leg speed, but their ferocious attack on the ball and stamina puts them in.
The half back line was a simple proposition with the only contention being Lucas at centre-half back ahead of Grant. Given Grant’s injury problems and Lucas’s adaptation to the role of defender in the last 24 months, the Essendon man won the day.
Milburn is a genuine back pocket payer, with the ability to mind a small forward, Scarlett is a tower of strength at the back, while Campbell, together with Smith, create play from defence. Colbert fits in nicely as he possesses the height and strength to take a third tall forward.
Apologies to Shannon Watt, Ben Dixon, Troy Makepeace, Nick Dal Santo, Matt Maguire and Shane O’Bree, who all made my final squad, but couldn’t find a place for, not even on the bench. Fitness doubts made Luke Hodge, Matthew Primus and Steven King unavailable for selection.
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