Victoria was playing South Australia in Adelaide that night. The excitement was tangible. I could feel the tingle in my legs as I imagined the best players from all of the clubs running out alongside one another. With all of that football dreaming swirling around in my head, I would kick the ball high up in the air once again and imagine myself as one of the Big V stars. Victoria v SA: Craig Bradley and Brad Johnson do battle in 1999. Credit:RAY KENNEDY In 2008, I had the honour of wearing the Big V for real in an exhibition team against the Dream Team. It was everything you would want that experience to be. The game was exhilarating. It was high scoring, fast and no one got seriously injured. But the style of the game was different to any that I played with the Bulldogs. It was like a cross between footy and basketball. There was defence, but it wasn’t manic; the skills were allowed to shine through. Like I said, I was an Origin kid and I loved my chance to play for my state, but I also acknowledge that it’s gone, in the traditional format anyway. I am starting to wonder, though, if this current crop of league footballers are prepared to bring it back, but with some of their preferred American flavouring.

There wasn't much in the way of defence in the 2008 representative game. Credit:Vince Caligiuri I’m too young to become a curmudgeon, so here is my attempt at what could bring representative football back into light. Grab a hot dog, put your flat peak on and do the Yankee Doodle. Step 1: The states of origin are gone. In their place, we have a simple format – two teams picked by two captains. For argument's sake, the captains would be Joel Selwood and Nat Fyfe. They are the leaders of the two All-Star teams. Team colours would be inspired by the LA Lakers/Boston Celtics. Step 2: Players have to nominate publicly to play. Through the AFLPA, players notify that they want to be available for selection for either team. There will be no club interference. Essentially, players will be re-drafted by either Fyfe or Selwood. A toss of the coin will decide the first selection, and Nat or Joel will have to decide whether to pick Buddy, Danger or Dusty with the first pick. A maximum of three teammates from their home clubs would apply. Step 3: Team selection will be televised by Fox Footy in a TV extravaganza. Think of how teams were picked in the schoolyard and then pump its veins full of razzle dazzle and hip hop beats as they roll out on stage after being picked.

Step 4: The game itself will be shorter. Twenty-minute quarters, under the roof. There will be a gentlemen’s agreement not to kill each other. At a stoppage, zones will be implemented. Two forwards must be inside the 50-metre line with their opponents, and another couple of pairs will start in the goal squares to avoid congestion. The players in the goal squares can’t leave until the ball crosses the 70-metre line (which will be added for this game only). The 2008 Dream Team in their state colours. Credit:Vince Caligiuri Step 5: During the quarter breaks, both sides will enter their three wild card entries for a mini-competition. They will be specifically chosen outside the competing 22 players. The captains need to pick three players with specific talents: 100-metre dash, longest kick, goal-kicking challenge. The results will be added to their team scores in a Duckworth-Lewis style system, weighted toward the team who is trailing. Step 6: Money, money, money. Players will be paid, clubs will be paid, junior football clubs will be paid. Corporate sponsors will pick up the bill. For example, if a player from your club is picked to play in the All-Stars game, the club will receive $20,000. If five West Coast players are picked, they pocket 100 grand, but if Carlton only have one player, they get 20 . Further, another $10,000 will go to the junior club of each player picked. Or the game could be played for charity. Just a thought.