Just seven AFL players will feature in Saturday’s grand final sprint, breaking the tradition of having runners from all 18 clubs.<\/p>\n
Beau McCreery (Magpies), Nick Blakey (Swans), Toby Greene (Giants), Jed Walter (Suns), Maurice Rioli (Tigers), Jack Higgins (Saints) and Murphy Reid (Dockers) will run against Olympic boxer Harry Garside at half-time of the AFL grand final, while rising athletics star Gout Gout will fire the starter gun.<\/p>\n
Traditionally, players from each of the 18 AFL teams \u2014 including the two teams playing \u2014 would compete in heats prior to the game before the final is run at half-time.<\/p>\n
McCreery won last year’s final from St Kilda’s Darcy Wilson.<\/p>\n
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Olympic boxer Harry Garside will also be running. (Getty Images: PA Images\/Adam Davy)<\/p>\n
The sprint has been run consistently since 2002, and was first held in 1979.<\/p>\n
Hawthorn’s Geoff Ablett, the uncle of Suns and Cats champ Gary Ablett Jr, holds the record for most victories with four, while Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield won the sprint three times while playing for Adelaide.<\/p>\n
“It would’ve been great to be playing on Saturday but I’m excited to be part of the biggest day on the AFL calendar racing,” Greene said in a statement released by the AFL.<\/p>\n
“Can’t wait to go up against Harry, and hopefully the boys can impress Gout.”<\/p>\n
The junior club of the winning runner will be awarded $5,000.<\/p>\n