Cricket
Motorsport
Basketball test
League - Test
Combat Sports
Netball
Football
Big AFL names headline star-studded Kabaddi squad confirmed by Campbell Brown
Andrew Slevison • November 11th, 2024 4:14 pm
Campbell Brown has assembled a star-studded team to represent Australia in popular Indian sport Kabaddi next month.
The AFL-heavy Australian team will take on a pro Kabaddi outfit on December 28 at John Cain Arena which coincides with Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India.
Brown, who will coach the team, has called on some former teammates and opponents including Sydney champion Josh Kennedy.
The Hawthorn premiership player captained Australia in the Kabaddi World Cup in India in 2016.
“A big day for Australian sport as a nation,” Brown said on SENTrack.
“Australians love their sport, it doesn’t matter whether it’s football, cricket, badminton, boxing, hockey, they really get behind their national side.
“I’ve got no doubt they’ll do it again on the 28th of December. I was at John Cain Arena for a press conference with the Premier, Jacinta Allan, where she announced that Australia would be playing a pro Kabaddi team.
“We’re ready to rock and roll. I’ve got Josh Kennedy, he’s my captain. I’ll hand over the captaincy to him.
“He will represent Australia in Kabaddi with aplomb, just like I did eight years ago in 2016 over there in Ahmedabad.”
Two Olympians, past and present, will also be involved with rumours that former track and field star John Steffensen will be on the list.
“I’ve also got a couple of Olympians up my sleeve, just in case I need them for a bit of gold medal experience,” he added.
“There’s going to be 12,000 people on Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test. The Indian fans will watch Virat Kohli bat and then waltz across the footbridge and participate in their second favourite sport behind cricket, which is Kabaddi.
“It will be a great evening of entertainment.”
The former AFL players confirmed to play for Australia in Kabaddi:
Campbell Brown (coach)Josh P. Kennedy (captain)Dyson HeppellMarc MurphyDan HanneberyMichael HibberdTrent McKenzieLiam Shiels
Pro Kabaddi Melbourne Raid takes place at John Cain Arena in Melbourne on December 28.
The Aussie team will play in the curtain riser prior to the main event between two teams from the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).
Tickets are on sale from November 12.
