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However star Tim Kelly reportedly won’t take part in the match, with West Coast set to keep its prized recruit in Perth to focus on Round 1.
The AFL will release both the Victorian and All-Stars squads on Tuesday afternoon, with Martin reportedly set to be one of several Lions players to feature.
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In an extensive report on Monday night, The Age named several star players that are expected — and not expected — to line up in the February 28 clash at Marvel Stadium.
The two teams can now pick as many players as they want from the eight-man lists clubs recently put forward after the AFL binned the previous three-player limit. However at least one player from all 18 teams must feature across the two sides.
The selection tweak came after Damien Hardwick and John Longmire, who’ll coach Victoria and the All-Stars respectively, struggled to pick their teams with the initial restrictions.
“There was some really good discussion, especially along the lines of there’s only meant to be three players for either side. It was really tough to try and figure out what’s the best plan to put in place for that,” Hardwick told AFL Media.
“People are going to want to come to watch the very best play, so (we asked): ‘Can we push the envelope a little bit and get more players from certain sides to lend us their talent?’
“The great thing from our point of view is every coach has said, ‘yeah absolutely, no worries, the players are that keen to play and we wouldn’t want to stand in their way, so whatever you need you’ve got’ — which is terrific.”
With Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn recently injuring his knee, Martin looms as Victoria’s No. 1 ruckman for the game. However he might be the only Lion on the Victorian team, with the likes of Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron, Harris Andrews and Dayne Zorko all likely All-Stars inclusions.
Martin, 33, played a key role in Brisbane’s sudden surge up the ladder in 2019, playing in all 24 games and averaging 16.4 disposals and 4.8 clearances.
He’d like ruck against Pies big man Brodie Grundy, who’s set to spearhead the All-Stars’ on-ball brigade. It was suggested by The Age that Collingwood veterans Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, as well as gun defender Darcy Moore, would feature for Victoria.
Richmond superstar Dustin Martin was the first player picked for Victoria — and he certainly won’t be the only Tiger across the two squads, with Tom Lynch (Victoria) and Jack Riewoldt (All-Stars) tipped to play.
“I’d love to play, I’ve just got to get picked,” Riewoldt said earlier this month.
“From my conversations with (Dustin Martin) he’s really keen to play too. I think he’s pretty keen to play at full-forward and kick a big bag of goals.
“I think all players are jumping out of their skins to be a part of the game.”
However a few stars won’t take part in the game.
After his big trade from Geelong to West Coast, Kelly won’t travel to Melbourne for the game, while star Giant Toby Greene is an unlikely starter.
The Age reported only one player from Fremantle, Melbourne and Gold Coast would be selected for the match.
Fremantle’s likely sole member would be Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe, who’d be part of the All-Stars line-up. He could be joined by Carlton co-captain Patrick Cripps, while Geelong champion Patrick Dangerfield is a likely starter for Victoria.
The two sides’ coaching panels have also been confirmed
Victoria: Damien Hardwick (senior coach), Alastair Clarkson, Adam Kingsley, Robert Harvey, Dean Solomon
All-Stars: John Longmire (senior coach), Stuart Dew, Michael Voss, Mark McVeigh, Joel Corey, Dean Cox
— with AAP