All Stars more professional: Motlop
Daniel Motlop is better qualified than most to reflect on the growth of the AFL Indigenous All Stars concept, as he prepares to start another season after finishing the 2010 campaign out of favour.
The mercurial Port Adelaide forward ended last year in the SANFL following a year dogged by injury and off-field issues.
He played just nine senior games and was suspended for one match after leaving the team hotel ahead of a clash with Melbourne in Darwin last May.
Despite being the subject of plenty of trade week talk, the 28-year-old remained at Port Adelaide.
A new year offers a chance for a fresh start back in the All Stars fold he knows so well.
On Tuesday he was named one of two vice-captains, along with Aaron Davey, under skipper Adam Goodes.
Motlop 28, has a long association with the team, even acting as a water boy for its very first game in 1994 in Darwin.
"It's got a lot more professional," Motlop told reporters in Sydney.
"All the boys come down and we do clinics and also seminars as well and it just teaches the young boys and we give them a bit of feedback."
Asked what advice he was offering to the many young players in the indigenous camp, Motlop said: "They are going to have come through soon one day and be role models as well.
"That's why it's good to come to these camps and they can see us and how we talk and they will step up next time."
Motlop is clearly highly regarded by some of the younger squad members, including Greater Western Sydney key position player Curtly Hampton.
"The camp has been great and being one of the youngest boys here it's pretty exciting, Hampton said.
"Most of the boys, especially Daniel (Motlop) I've looked up to ever since I was a little boy."
The All Stars named a strong squad to take on an under-strength Richmond in Alice Springs on Friday night, although Hawthorn's Lance Franklin and Shaun Burgoyne and Gold Coast's Jarrod Harbrow were notable absentees.
All Stars squad: Tony Armstrong, Graham Johncock (Adelaide), Sam Sheldon (Brisbane), Andrew Walker, Chris Yarran, Eddie Betts (Carlton), Patrick Ryder, Leroy Jetta, Alwyn Davey, Courtenay Dempsey (Essendon), Mathew Stokes (Geelong), Curtly Hampton, Gerald Ugle (Greater Western Sydney), Harley Bennell (Gold Coast), Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Liam Jurrah, Jamie Bennell, Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Matt Campbell, Lindsay Thomas, Daniel Wells, Cruize Garlett (North Melbourne), Daniel Motlop, Marlon Motlop, Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide), Lewis Jetta, Byron Sumner, Adam Goodes (Sydney), Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (West Coast Eagles), Nathan Djerrkura, Liam Jones, Zephaniah Skinner (Western Bulldogs)
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