

The face of State of Origin football was Ted Whitten. He believed passionately in the game, particularly in the Victorian team and proudly represented them on 29 occasions in roles ranging from player to captain, captain-coach and then Chairman of Selectors. Prostate cancer took Ted from us in August, 1995. If he had known more about the illness and its ramifications he may have still been with us today.
The EJ Whitten Legends game commemorates the memory of EJ and raises funds in support of Prostate Cancer research. It was launched in 1996 by Baker Smith Management and, now in its fourteenth year, is firmly established as a major fixture on the Australian sporting calendar. After playing at Whitten Oval, Shell Stadium and Optus Oval, the annual match is now hosted at Etihad Stadium.
The Legends Game is based on a State of Origin format (Victoria vs All Stars) and features recently retired champions of Australian Rules Football. Baker Smith Management donates twenty percent of the proceeds from the game to The EJ Whitten Foundation in support of Prostate cancer research and awareness. To date, the event has raised over $900,000 for the Foundation.
For the Australian Rules supporter the Legends Game represents a unique opportunity to 'turn back the clock' and re-live those magic moments featuring some of the greatest names that the sport has ever known.