Harvey and Fletcher to light up footy field in EJ Whitten Legends Game

FOOTY’S biggest names are set to take the field at Eithad Stadium tonight for the most star-studded EJ Whitten Legends Game yet. Here’s the teams.

North Melbourne legend Brent ‘Boomer’ Harvey and Essendon great Dustin Fletcher. Picture: Tony Gough

THEY played a combined 832 AFL games, tasted premiership success and won All-Australian selection before both hanging up the boots among the best players for their team.

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But North Melbourne legend Brent “Boomer’’ Harvey and Essendon great Dustin Fletcher have never played side-by-side wearing the famed Big V jumper — until now.

Harvey and Fletcher are the star Victorian recruits for tonight’s EJ Whitten Legends Game at Etihad Stadium.

Former North Melbourne champion Brent Harvey. Picture: Alex Coppel

Essendon great Dustin Fletcher. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

AFL games record holder Harvey was best on ground in the last State of Origin match when Ted Whitten famously farewelled an adoring MCG crowd in 1999. “It’s a great thrill,’’ Harvey said.

Incredibly, aged 42, it will be the first time Fletcher has played in the Big V jumper.

“Steve Silvagni was obviously the best full back going around for a while and I think I got into a squad a couple of times but never got a go,’’ he said.

“I’m 42 now so it’s good to finally pull on the Big V ... so I’m looking forward to having a kick with some former teammates and some other great players.’’

Both said they would like to see State of Origin return, to rival NRL’s NSW-Queensland clash.

The match will also screen on Channel 7 from 7.30pm.

EJ Whitten Legends Game teams:

SQUADS

VICTORIA

Jonathan Brown (Captain)

Ben Johnson

Brent Montgomery

Campbell Brown

Chris Johnson

Chris Newman

Dustin Fletcher

Heath Scotland

Joel Smith

Lindsay Gilbee

Mark Graham

Ted Richards

Andrew Thompson

Anthony Koutoufides

Austinn Jones

Brent Harvey

Damian Monkhorst

Daniel Harford

Jimmy Bartel

Jude Bolton

Luke Ball

Luke Power

Nick Dal Santo

Paul Dimattina

Paul Licuria

Scott West

Wayne Schwass

Adem Yze

Brad Johnson

Matt Spangher

Tony Brown

Coach: Tim Watson

Assistant coach: Danny Frawley

Assistant coach: Robert DiPierdomenico

ALL-STARS

Luke Darcy (Captain)

Ash McGrath

Ben Holland

Brent Staker

Brian Lake

Daniel Southern

Karl Langdon

Martin Pike

Richard Champion

Sam Fisher

Tadhg Kennelly

Troy Luff

Adam Cooney

Adam Schneider

Adrian Fletcher

Alan Didak

Andrew Embley

Andrew McLeod

Clark Keating

Kane Cornes

Paul Hasleby

Peter Bell

Shaun McManus

Simon Black

Cameron Mooney

Leon Davis

Mark Williams (Hawthorn, Essendon)

Scott Cummings

Shaun Smith

Phil Matera

Troy Chaplin

Coach: Wayne Carey

Assistant coach: Glen Jakovich