THE AFL’s only four 400-game players head the bill for the third annual Cardinia Casey Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch in August.
Kangaroos star Brent ‘Boomer’ Harvey, who is set to break Michael Tuck’s all-time games record later in the season, officially launched the 2016 event at the Cardinia Cultural Centre last week.
He announced to lunch sponsors and supporters that Tuck would be joined as special guests on Friday 19 August by Richmond great Kevin Bartlett and recently retired Essendon champion Dustin Fletcher.
Those three will take centre stage at the 2016 lunch, along with comedian and MC Dave O’Neil, and Harvey will reappear on the day through a video link, to complete the ‘awesome foursome’ line-up.
Harvey explained that he could not attend the Cardinia Cultural Centre lunch, as he will be flying out with team-mates that afternoon to take on Sydney in Hobart the following day.
“I would have loved to have been there, but we fly out that day,” he told guests at the launch.
Harvey engaged in an enlightening and humorous Q&A session with MC Brian Paynter, an edited version of which will be presented at the 19 August lunch.
Cardinia Casey Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch chairman Garry Howe said the organising committee was thrilled to have attracted such a quality line-up for its third event.
He said it was a real coup to have all 400-game players involved in the lunch.
“If Boomer’s entrée performance is any indication, it is going to be a very satisfying main course for our patrons this year,” he said.
Michael Tuck, from Berwick, currently holds the AFL games record of 426.
If Harvey remains injury-free and plays every game in the lead-up, he will equal Tuck’s record in round 18 against Collingwood and break it the following week against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night 30 July, two weeks before the Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch.
“We hope to have another chat with Boomer after he breaks the record to play at the lunch as well,” Howe said.
To fit in with the theme, the Cardinia Casey Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch can fit only 400 people and there will be high demand for seats.
“I suggest people get in early if they want to come to the lunch this year, as we expect to sell out,” Howe said.
The first two Cardinia Casey Biggest Ever Blokes Lunches have raised a combined $130,000 for prostate cancer awareness and research initiatives.
Tickets are $110 or $1100 for a table of 10. To book contact Mr Howe on 0407 203 525 or email garry.howe@starnewsgroup .com.au or book directly at trybooking.com/187571
