Brown hopes to join AFL Fame game - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Brown hopes to join AFL Fame game

By Sam Lienert 04/05/2008 12:33:08 PM Comments (0)

Victorian captain Jonathan Brown remains hopeful of playing in Saturday night's AFL Hall of Fame game, despite being part of a long and star-studded injury list.

The Victorian squad have already lost Luke Hodge, who damaged a hamstring playing for Hawthorn against Collingwood at the MCG Saturday.

Geelong star Gary Ablett is also in serious doubt, after pulling out of Saturday's match against Brisbane with a calf injury.

But Brown, who was a late withdrawal from the same game, rated himself a good chance to return for Saturday night's match against the Dream Team, despite the misgivings of Brisbane coach Leigh Matthews.

"I had a tight quad, I didn't quite get through the fitness test (Saturday) morning, I probably pulled up short by a day or two," Brown told the Nine Network.

"So I'm still pretty confident of making the game next week and I'll do everything I can to get up for it.

"I've spoken to Leigh about it and I've said to him that I'll approach it like a normal game.

"He just said to make sure I go through the tests thoroughly and make sure I'm fit and healthy to play.

"I'm obviously honoured to be the captain of Victoria, but even if I wasn't captain I think it's a great opportunity for the players and we should be doing everything we can to get up for the game."

Matthews last week said that "if you don't play this weekend you don't play the Hall of Fame game", although he was not referring specifically to Brown.

Hodge is expected to be out for at least three weeks.

The Dream Team has fared just as badly on the injury front, with St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt hurting the medial ligament in his left knee when he was thrown to the ground by Richmond's Luke McGuane in Saturday night's match at Telstra Dome.

Riewoldt will need scans, with the possibility he also sustained bone damage, but appears certain to be out for at least two or three weeks.

Gun Brisbane midfielder Simon Black is also certain to miss next Saturday night's match.

Matthews said Black was in the early stages of osteitis pubis and would need at least "a few weeks off".

The Dream Team was already missing star Port Adelaide utility Chad Cornes, who fractured a finger last weekend.

Hawthorn midfielder Chance Bateman will also be out after withdrawing from Saturday's match with a cracked bone in his hand.

And West Coast ruckman Dean Cox is in doubt, after playing with a broken bone in his foot in recent weeks.

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