E. J. Whitten Legends Game
| Company type | Charity event |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports, Charity |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Ted Whitten Jr. |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Australian rules football exhibition matches |
The Legends Game for Prostate Cancer, previously known as the E. J. Whitten Legends Game and currently titled the Four 'N Twenty Legends Game for Prostate Cancer due to sponsorship arrangements, is an annual charity all-star match of Australian rules football held in Australia. This event showcases retired prominent players alongside selected celebrities competing in a State of Origin-style contest between Victoria and an All-Stars team. Conducted yearly from 1996 through 2019, the game was played under the Superules format.
Originally celebrated as a popular sporting fixture, it gradually transformed into a sports entertainment spectacle with greater celebrity participation and predetermined outcomes. The event was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and is planned to recommence in 2025.
History
E. J. "Ted" Whitten, a legendary Footscray Football Club figure and one of the sport’s iconic players, played a crucial role in promoting State of Origin football through his media influence and enthusiasm. His farewell appearance in 1995 during the Victoria versus South Australia match remains a defining moment for Australian rules football. After his passing from prostate cancer that same year, interest in interstate football waned, culminating in the final game being held in 1999.
Ted Whitten Jr. founded a prostate cancer research organization bearing his father’s name, financially supported by proceeds from the annual Legends Game. The first match was hosted at Western Oval, the home ground of the Western Bulldogs, Whitten’s team. As attendance grew, the venue shifted to larger stadiums, with Docklands Stadium becoming the regular site starting in 2003.
In 2007, women competitors were introduced for the first time, making this one of the rare prominent mixed-gender sporting events. Prior to 2016, the game generated roughly A$1.2 million each year, contributing about $100,000 in profits to the foundation.
Between 2016 and 2020, broadcast rights were held by the Seven Network, which scheduled the match on a weekend between the final round of the premiership season and the beginning of finals. The game returned to Adelaide Oval in 2018—its first appearance there since 1999. In 2019, it adopted the AFLX format and took place at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.
Due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, the match was suspended throughout 2020 and 2021 and remained inactive up to 2024. It was announced in July 2025 that the event would resume as the Four 'N Twenty Legends Game for Prostate Cancer, preserving its traditional structure.
Highlights
This event is known for its lighthearted nature, featuring non-football personalities such as comedy duo Hamish & Andy, comedian Russell Gilbert, and fictional character Bryan "Strauchanie" Strauchan portrayed by Peter Helliar. Matches are frequently orchestrated by players, timekeepers, and umpires to guarantee thrilling conclusions, resulting in an average winning margin of only seven points and five draws; official wagering is not permitted.
Noteworthy moments include Strauchanie’s comedic efforts to win free kicks; a remarkable 75-metre barrel kick from Jimmy Bartel that resulted in a 10-point super goal; Jonathan Brown scoring a challenging pocket goal after the siren due to an umpire “missing” hearing it; Anthony Rocca’s powerful torpedo goal launched from inside the centre square; comedian Russell Gilbert swapping jerseys late in play to score for the opposing side—a recurring joke; Derek Kickett kicking over his head to achieve an improbable goal; and broadcaster Craig Hutchison’s celebrated “greatest goal in AFL history” during 2011 involving candy selling and a banana-shaped goal from nearly 40 metres that has garnered over 1.8 million views on YouTube.
Match outcomes
2025| Year | Venue | Scores | Attendance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | All-Stars | Winner | Margin (points) | |||
| 1996 | Whitten Oval, Footscray | 10.13 (73) | 13.9 (87) | All-Stars | 14 | |
| 1997 | Whitten Oval, Footscray | 10.11 (71) | 7.10 (52) | Victoria | 19 | |
| 1998 | Whitten Oval, Footscray | 8.6 (54) | 7.10 (52) | Victoria | 2 | |
| 1999 | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 7.12 (54) | 8.8 (56) | All-Stars | 2 | |
| 2000 | Shell Stadium, Geelong | 6.2 (38) | 5.8 (38) | Draw | 0 | |
| 2001 | Optus Oval, Melbourne | 6.11 (47) | 7.5 (47) | Draw — All-Stars triumphed by goal kickoff | 0 | |
| 2002 | Optus Oval, Melbourne | 10.3 (63) | 10.8 (68) | All-Stars | 5 | |
| 2003 | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 1.10.7 (76) | 3.6.12 (75) | Victoria | 1 | 18,611 |
| 2004 | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 3.7.7 (76) | 1.12.4 (85) | All-Stars | 9 | 18,301 |
| 2005 | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 3.9.6 (87) | 0.10.9 (69) | Victoria | 18 | ~13,000 |
| 2006 | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 1.12.7 (88) | 5.5.13 (88) | Draw — Victoria prevailed by goal kickoff | 0 | ~13,000 |
| 2007 | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 1.9.7 (70) | 0.13.7 (85) | All-Stars | 15 | 12,897 |
| 2008 | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 1.10.9 (78) | 0.12.8 (80) | All-Stars | 2 | 24,452 |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 0.13.9 (87) | 0.11.6 (72) | Victoria | 15 | 20,883 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 0.12.12 (84) | 2.11.7 (91) | All-Stars | 7 | 25,347 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 4.12.3 (111) | 2.13.7 (109) | Victoria | 2 | 25,086 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 1.15.3 (102) | 2.12.6 (96) | Victoria | 6 | 26,221 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 1.11.10 (85) | 0.12.7 (79) | Victoria | 6 | 24,087 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 0.15.6 (96) | 2.10.10 (88) | Victoria | 8 | 27,800 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 0.11.5 (71) | 2.11.11 (95) | All-Stars | 24 | 26,309 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 0.21.9 (135) | 2.17.15 (135) | Draw — Victoria succeeded by goal kickoff | 0 | 18,074 | |
| Etihad Stadium, Melbourne | 4.19.6 (156) | 0.24.11 (155) | Victoria | 1 | 13,106 | |
| Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 2.12.7 (97) | 1.15.10 (109) | All-Stars | 12 | 8,000 | |
| AAMI Park, Melbourne | 33.23 (275) | 31.17 (275) | Draw — Victoria prevailed by goal kickoff | 0 | 6,000 | |
Total victories: All-Stars: 11, Victoria: 12, Draws: 1
Largest winning margin: All-Stars by 24 points in the year 2015
Record highest combined score: Both sides matched a total of 275 points during the tied game in 2019
Lowest combined score recorded: Both teams scored just 38 points each in the draw of the year 2000
Players with most Man of the Match awards: John Platten and Matthew Lloyd each earned two accolades