Croad: I'm glad he's my Buddy

Sportal ©

Now Trent Croad knows what opposition defenders have to put up with every week.

The Hawthorn and Victoria defender was a relieved man after Saturday night's AFL Hall of Fame match against the Dream Team after his one-off experience of playing on champion team-mate Lance 'Buddy' Franklin.

The showdown between the two Hawks was one of the highlights of the clash to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Australian Rules football and Croad was more than pleased to escape with a draw from their individual contest while helping the Vics to a 17-point win.

Croad, who along with Kangaroos rover Brent Harvey was one of just two survivors from Victoria's last match in 1999, kept Franklin to four goals. If not for some inaccuracy, this year's favourite to win the Coleman Medal could have finished with a bigger bag and possibly steered his side to victory.

Afterwards Croad described his battle with Franklin as a great learning experience.

"I am glad he plays for Hawthorn, that's for sure," Croad told _Sportal_ after the match when asked about his battle with Franklin.

"He only kicked three on me (his other goal came on a different opponent) and I will take that any day."

Croad admitted it had been a tough night for him in defence.

"All you can is try to get into a contest with him where you have got half a chance because sometimes in these sorts of games (where the best are pitted against the best) the ball can come in very low and very fast."

"So sometimes being on the last line of defence can be a daunting place, particularly playing on someone like Lance."

Croad was delighted not only to keep Franklin to a respectable total but to chalk up a second win in the famed Big V jumper in the state team's long-awaited return.

"The last time (Victoria played) was 1999 so it's been a big gap and I was only a young punk then of 19."

"Boomer (Harvey) and I are the only survivors from that team and now I am a 28-year-old Dad so I have certainly have had two different spectrums (of playing for Victoria)."

"I have seen a lot of players come and go since then and I am lucky to still be here and this (second game for Victoria) was just a great experience."

And Croad believes that even at his age, he will only get better as a result of having played in such a match with the game's best players.

"It's good for us as players, we learn a bit about each other (as players) and it can only be a positive thing to play with guys of this calibre."