Kennelly honoured

TADHG KENNELLY’S remarkable Australian success story continued yesterday when it was revealed that the Irishman would be representing an AFL ‘Dream Team’ for an Allstar match against the state of Victoria next month.

The game is one of a number of events designed to celebrate the AFL’s 150th anniversary and it will take place at the fabled Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 10. A crowd of 70,000 is expected to take in the fixture.

The Listowel native — who has been in superb form the Swans this season — is the only non-Australian to be named in the 40-man squad and the news comes as confirmation that he has recovered from a frustrating period during an injury-plagued 2007 season last year.

Players from South Australia and Western Australia dominate the panel to face Victoria — the game’s traditional stronghold — with a handful also coming from New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland.

Players on the Dream Team will wear the shape of their state of origin on their white ‘jumpers’ while Kennelly will sport a symbol in the shape of Ireland on his, should he survive the final cut of 15 players before the actual match.

“It is fantastic and would be an honour should I be selected to run out alongside and against the best players in the competition,” said Kennelly who is one of five Sydney Swans players to make the preliminary selection.