The AFL indigenous All Stars were given a towelling by a pretty committed Bomber line up and lost in the end by 50 points.

The Melbourne contingent of Aaron Davey and Byron Pickett were fairly quiet. The Flash provided a scare when he limped off with an ankle injury early in the second half, but was he back by the end of the third term. He kicked the AIAS' first goal from an angle in the first quarter but was by no means prominent. His brother Alwyn kicked a goal for the Bombers and looked quite lievely but he's smaller than the Flash. Pickett was quiet early, then did a few hard things in the third quarter and finally tapered off.

There was nothing much to write home about and it's not much of a pointer to the season although from Melbourne's point of view I have to say that we never learn. Davey injured his ankle in match practice earlier in the week and should have been left home as a precaution in much the same way that the Swans withdrew Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin and a few of the better players from other clubs did likewise.

Jeez that makes me angry. We left Wrecker at home despite the fact that he's been training, why not do the same with the flash? He's too important.

The worst thing is he'll probably play against the Hawks in 2 weeks. If he's got an ankle, rest him until the Saints match I say. We had a number of players do things like this last year where they had complaints, but looked to recover and keep getting up week after week. Lo and behold at the end of an indifferent year (or worse) it's discovered that player X injured himself in pre-season training or in some exhibition, or even in the early rounds. If Aaron shows any signs of being hindered in a fortnight, I'm gonna be [censored].

I guess I should not have expected too much, but it was not a great spectacle.

The indiginous all stars had one training run before the game and as a team looked second tier to Essendon. Though I underestand this is the first time that Essendon had won against them? Thank goodness Davey's ankle was not badly injured. Yes players can equally get injured in a practice game, but the game would have then been put on for a team goal - ie improving and working on set plays etc.

I also accept it is great for Darwin to get to see the game to encourage local talent to keep going. The local competition is an excellent recruiting area for the AFL. I am just not convinced that putting our players - or from any club I guess - at risk?

One other thing I noticed is the indiginous player seemed to a man to be of the slighter body type to the larger ruck/tall forward/tall defender all of whom have big AFL bodies. I remebering wincing at one time seeing Davy in a pack of 4 or 5 up forward going for the ball when he normally would have Nietz/miller etc splitting the pack or at least taking the big defender. Again exposong the players to potential injury.

Am I being too precious?

I guess I should not have expected too much, but it was not a great spectacle.

The indiginous all stars had one training run before the game and as a team looked second tier to Essendon. Though I underestand this is the first time that Essendon had won against them? Thank goodness Davey's ankle was not badly injured. Yes players can equally get injured in a practice game, but the game would have then been put on for a team goal - ie improving and working on set plays etc.

I also accept it is great for Darwin to get to see the game to encourage local talent to keep going. The local competition is an excellent recruiting area for the AFL. I am just not convinced that putting our players - or from any club I guess - at risk?

One other thing I noticed is the indiginous player seemed to a man to be of the slighter body type to the larger ruck/tall forward/tall defender all of whom have big AFL bodies. I remebering wincing at one time seeing Davy in a pack of 4 or 5 up forward going for the ball when he normally would have Nietz/miller etc splitting the pack or at least taking the big defender. Again exposong the players to potential injury.

Am I being too precious?

I'm not happy about Aaron Davey playing when he hurt his ankle in training a couple of days earlier. The Swans did the right thing by their star players and made sure they stayed out of the picture in what was an exhibition match at best. That's with all due respect to the indigenous community and the people of Darwin. If you want to treat this game seriously, then play it in the middle of the season and penalise players who pull out with minor injuries by making them stand out the following week when 4 points are at stake as well.

FWIW

I don't think Essendon would be that happy with the game last night either.

They would have been hoping for a good hit out against an oppostion that could at least challenge them in most areas of the ground. What they got was almost literally a team of midfielders and flankers to play against.

I started laughing as soon as I saw Darryl White starting in the ruck, and I didn't think I could laugh any harder until I saw that Aaron Davey and Andrew Krakour seemed to be the key forwards.

I'd settle down about the Davey "ankle". At training he did a minor twist, came off and didn't even receive medical treatment on the day. He was walking quite happily when he left training.

When GOTO and I asked him if it would keep him out of the Darwin match he said "no way". The All Stars love playing in that game. I believe Roos when he said Goodes and O'Laughlin were very upset about missing out.

Ankles can happen anytime. Coughlin did his knee in a shower.

Flash will receive the appropriate medical care when he gets back. I reckon people are getting their knickers in a knot.

Rest davey through out the NAB cup and bring on Daniel Hayes!

I watched the game last night too, and for the first quarter at least it did appear as if Davey and Krakouer were playing as the leading 'traditional' forwards.

The sight of Davey leaping up on a lead, it going over his head and being smashed away by Mal Michael and/or Dustin Fletcher was laughable.

His goal from deep on the bounadry line was a gem though. As for Pickett, he didnt seem to start on the ground, but the times that he was on he looked his

usual swooping, menacing self.

There's no question this game means a lot to the indigenous players, Jeff Farmer was unavailable because of injury, but paid his own way just to be there.

The game was scrappy and fairly uninspiring, but it was the first competitive game of the year so I wasnt gonna miss it!

I'm not happy about Aaron Davey playing when he hurt his ankle in training a couple of days earlier. The Swans did the right thing by their star players and made sure they stayed out of the picture in what was an exhibition match at best. That's with all due respect to the indigenous community and the people of Darwin. If you want to treat this game seriously, then play it in the middle of the season and penalise players who pull out with minor injuries by making them stand out the following week when 4 points are at stake as well.

Carm down. Aarons fine. Dont worry about what could have happend

Just one thing for those who watched the game last night, does pickett look in good shape?

Just one thing for those who watched the game last night, does pickett look in good shape?

same as 06

same as 06

Agreed. Compared to most of the other aboriginal boys, he looked stupendously overweight. But most of those boys however are stick-thin. His impact on the game was minimal, but glimpses of the '06 model Pickett were definitely evident. He's not overweight, and yet he doesn't look trim and terrific either.

Just one thing for those who watched the game last night, does pickett look in good shape?

Great shape.... if he was a woman about to give birth!

Davey on the other hand looked magnificant. His upper arms, or 'guns' if you like, really stood out.

When you compare him to the scrawny kid who burst onto the scene two years ago, it's like they are two different people.

Great shape.... if he was a woman about to give birth!

Davey on the other hand looked magnificant. His upper arms, or 'guns' if you like, really stood out.

When you compare him to the scrawny kid who burst onto the scene two years ago, it's like they are two different people.

Pickett doesent need to be thin...but needs to loose some weight. However he helped us last year with his weight so i couldnt care less if hes still looking a little overweight