Ex-AFL greats to lead Kabaddi summer showcase

It’s game on for the former AFL greats who are pulling on the green and gold to represent Australia in the December tournament of one of India’s most popular sports, Kabaddi.

Former AFL players are taking part in the Kabaddi exhibition match at John Cain Arena in December. Picture: Supplied

It’s game on for the former AFL greats who are pulling on the green and gold to represent Australia against some of India’s top Kabaddi players in the inaugural Melbourne Raid tournament.

The Sunday Herald Sun can exclusively reveal the first look at the Aussie Raiders team, led by Josh Kennedy, coached by Campbell Brown, and consisting of Michael Hibberd, Liam Shiels, Billy Gowers, Brett Deledio, Dan Hannebery, Marc Murphy and Dyson Heppell.

With Kabaddi, the second biggest sport in India behind cricket, being a new game for the footy aces they are going hard in training.

Former AFL footballers Campbell Brown and Josh Kennedy will play in the Kabaddi tournament. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Former Sydney Swans star Hannebery ended up with a black eye thanks to Hibberd after the team’s first hit out.

“As soon as we did the first session we knew it was game on. It has been super intense,” he said.

“After that first night we had a couple of injuries, people were struggling with a few ailments, I had a black eye and I think someone else drew blood and that is when we were like, ‘Right, we need a massage therapist, we need physio, we need some more mats’.

“We want to be able to put on a show not just for the Australian and Victorian fans, but we want to be able to put on a show for the Indian population and pay respect to a game that is cultural and important to the Indian community.”

Former Sydney Swans star Hannebery. Picture: Michael Klein

Hannebery said the team was quickly getting a grip on the game.

‘I think Josh Kennedy is taking it the most seriously,” he said.

“He has got the knee pads on in every training session.

“Dyson Heppell has been to most sessions, but he has been on the massage table the whole time so he has not done a lot.

“Michael Hibberd, he is the guy you don’t want to come up against. He is super aggressive and he is still super fit. Between him and Josh, they are probably going to be our best players and they are putting on quite a show at training.”

The Aussie Raiders will go up against an Indian team of pro Kabaddi players as the curtain raiser to a pro Kabaddi all stars game between two Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) teams at John Cain Arena on December 28.

Hannebery promised a high energy, high intensity game with great atmosphere.

“I actually am a little bit nervous,” he said.

“I have been watching some highlights (from the PKL) and the players are super athletic.

“They are big and powerful and they have super agility and are quick and nifty. It has probably been a good thing to see some of their elite players in action because the intensity and matter of urgency in training has gone up.”