A bevy of retired Swans will dust off the boots and pull the socks up for tonight’s Ray White EJ Whitten Legends Game.

The annual tribute to AFL champion E.J ‘Teddy’ Whitten will feature a throng of former Swans in Tadhg Kennelly, Michael O’Loughlin, Jared Crouch, Lewis Roberts-Thomson, Troy Luff, Warwick Capper and Peter Everitt.

Kennelly, O’Loughlin, Crouch, LRT and Luff will pull on the All-Stars jumper and take on Everitt in the ‘Big V’ at Etihad Stadium while Capper has the running duties.

The red and white will be also represented off the field with South Melbourne/Sydney legend Bob Skilton appointed as Victoria’s Director of Football.

Twenty years has passed since the death of the man known as Mr Football, with the match used to honour Whitten and promote men’s health throughout the country.

Skilton, an ambassador for the E.J Whitten Foundation, coached Victoria in the 1996 inaugural match and has been involved in the marquee event ever since.

“Teddy and I were best of mates,” Skilton said.

“It’s an absolute privilege to be involved and remember Ted and what Ted Whitten Jnr has done for men’s health in this country.

“We all knew Ted was ill but didn’t know why. We had never heard of prostate cancer back then let alone seek a check-up.

“Thanks to the foundation and awareness there are a lot of blokes with us now that might not have been.”

Skilton, who will be on the sidelines watching on, believes “surprise packets” Kennelly and O’Loughlin are as fit as when they played and will be ones to watch.

“Mickey O’ manages to keep up with the Academy kids just fine, so I reckon he’ll go alright,” he added.

Gates open 6pm for pre-game entertainment with the first bounce scheduled at 7:45pm.

For those in Melbourne, tickets are available via Ticketmaster or alternatively the replay of the game can be watched in NSW at 11.30pm on GEM.