Cyril Rioli and Gary Ablett Jnr will lace up the boots once again for a cause close to the heart of the footy community, returning as the No.1 draft picks for this year’s Legends Game for Prostate Cancer on Thursday, 28 August at Marvel Stadium.
Rioli, the Hawthorn magician whose highlight reel is the stuff of AFL folklore, was snapped up by Shane Crawford and Nick Riewoldt for the All-Star team.
Across the aisle, Tim Watson and Luke Hodge claimed “The Little Master” Ablett for the Vics — an easy choice, according to the skipper.
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“We spoke long about this, but it was simple,” Hodge said. “I played with this bloke in primary school, and if we have him on our side, we will have to do less, so the two-time Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett Jnr will be our No.1 pick.”
‘The ultimate bums on seats player’
Crawford didn’t hold back in praising Rioli either, joking that he considered picking Kane Cornes just to tag Ablett, before opting for flair.
“Our number one pick, we want to have fun. We’ve gone the ultimate 'No.1 bums on seats player'. A player with one of the all-time great highlight reels in the history of the game, and that is Cyril Rioli,” Crawford said.
The event will mark 30 years since the passing of E.J. Whitten, whose legacy lives on in the match’s mission to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer.