A carnivale for AFL State of Origin
Roar Pro
By Michael C, 16 Apr 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, Rugby League, State Of Origin
Once upon a time, there were interstate ‘carnival’ events of Australian Football. It would be great to restart these events, probably once every four years.
It’s hard to do State of Origin as a one-off when there are more than just two States playing AFL. The NRL has no problems on this front.
The AFL, of course, had tried for a ‘Big Four’ with the Allies, an ill-fated concept that looked half okay on paper (had they been able to assemble Carey, Dunstall, Voss, and Richardson on the one paddock at the same time).
At any rate, this year, counting rookies, we have almost fifty Queensland players, and about thirty-six NSW lads. There are only twenty-five from Tasmania and twenty from the Northern Territory.
A reasonable two tier carnival could be held, similar to under age events, broken up along something like this: Vic Country, Vic Metro, SA, WA. And then QLD, NSW-ACT, NT, and Tassie.
Although, splitting the Big V may not be ideal.
There’s every chance that in the not too distant future, Queensland might be able to elevate to Group One, and that an international side might be able to compete in Group Two.
This season there are ten ‘internationals’ listed. Nine are from Ireland (even after Kennelly and Coney returned home from Sydney) and Mike Pyke at the Swans.
We now have two from PNG up at GC17 in the TAC Cup.
That’s half a team!
The lightening progress of guys like Clarke and Quinn in recent years, as well as the progress of Pyke (will he be picked this week?) shows there’s no reason why a broader pool of talent can’t be seriously looked at now that AFL clubs have better development facilities and personnel.
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Redb said | April 16th 2009 @ 9:38am | Report comment
The development of the game in QLD gives them the right to claim the 4th state in their own right, we don’t need the allies.
You could strengthen QLD further by allowing NT and PNG players in their squads. This is not pure State of Origin but as time goes on and many more ply their trade in QLD and the Gold Coast in particular, it could work. NT Thunder are now in the QAFL it wont be long perhaps when a PNG team is admitted as well to the QAFL.
VIC, SA, WA and QLD could stand alone. Not sure how we cater for NSW/ACT and Tasmania , maybe it’s just better to let all 6 States play in a carnival. At the moment msot NT players would identify with SA and WA than QLD so maybe it should be absed on developpment paths for these guys. In the future, NT Thunder will attract the best and they now play in the QAFL.
Redb
Pippinu said | April 16th 2009 @ 10:33am | Report comment
Interstate footy has had its day – there has been less of a need for it since the game went national – I’m pretty sure the Kommissars don’t have a real interest in reviving it – and I don’t think the public care enough about it.
Michael C said | April 16th 2009 @ 11:22am | Report comment
A potential NSW SoO squad -
B. D.Solomon (Broken Hill North), L.Barry (Deniliquin), P.Bevan (Western Suburbs)
HB. R.Houlihan (Corowa), C.Bolton (Eastlake), D.Addison (St.George)
C. D.Cross (Albury), L.Hayes (Pennant Hills), M.McVeigh (Pennant Hills)
HF. T.Walker (Broken Hill North), C.Mooney (Turvey Park), J.Koschitzke (Brocklesby)
F. C.Bird (Nelson Bay), T.Hawkins (Finley), A.Schneider (Osborne)
Foll. H.McIntosh (Lavington), B.Kirk (North Albury)
Rov. J.McVeigh (Pennant Hills)
Int from : B.Staker (West Broken Hill), L.Roberts-Thomson (North Shore), K.Jack (Pennant Hills), B.McGlynn (Wentworth),
E.Barlow (Bega), R.Davis (North Shore), H.Playfair (North Shore), M.Suckling (Wagga Tigers),
with about 10 rookies in the wings.
It’s a tight fit, but, a valid 2nd division SoO squad.
Michael C said | April 16th 2009 @ 11:29am | Report comment
for QLD – the options are much broader (and deeper depth in the ruck!)
B. J.Drummond (Northern Eagles), D.Merrertt (Southport), A.Raines (Southport)
HB. D.Pratt (Northern Eagles), L.McGuane (Broadbeach), S.Gilbert (Southport)
C. R.Petterd (Broadbeach), C.Stiller (Northern Eagles), J.McDonald (Mt. Gravatt)
HF. M.Hahn (Northern Eagles), N.Riewoldt (Southport), B.Miller (Mt.Gravatt)
F. J.Akermanis (Mayne), D.Hale (Broadbeach), R.Hooper (Ipswich)
Foll. B.Hudson (Mt. Gravatt), M.Osborne (Labrador)
Rov. D.Armitage (Morningside)
Int from : C.Dempsey (Morningside), T.Williams (Morningside), D.Beams (Southport), G.Urquhart (Morningside),
J.Charman (Northern Eagles), B.Renouf (Southport), J.White (Southport), J.Spencer (Redlands), J.Harbrow (Cairns),
B.Moran (Southport), K.Tippett (Southport), S.Harding (Morningside), A.Proud (Mt. Gravatt), S.Hampson (Mt.Gravatt),
B.Whitecross (Zillmere)
with another doezen or so rookies etc.
The question is, would this QLD side just be lambs to the slaughter vs a WA, SA and Vic divisional grouping?
Michael C said | April 16th 2009 @ 1:45pm | Report comment
btw -
the historical reality of SoO interstate Aust Footy carnivals is of poor crowds, despite good footy on offer.
This history most likely dictates that the AFL would NOT seek to venture down this path.
sheek said | April 16th 2009 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
In the recent past, the AFL have pooh-poohed the idea of returning to SOO on the argument that we now have interstate clashes weekly, with teams based in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane & Sydney.
I kinda like the concept, though.
Michael C said | April 16th 2009 @ 3:48pm | Report comment
Sheek -
conceptually it holds promise, doesn’t it – but, would the people care enough to sustain it.
I guess, instead of a round robin, just have seedings, so,
in Div 1
Vic (1) vs QLD (4), SA (2) vs WA (3)
winner 1 v 4 plays winner 2 v 3 in fnal
losers play in a relegation match
and likewise in Div 2
NSW/ACT (1) vs ‘the world’ (4), Tas (2) vs NT (3)
(actually, merge the ‘world’ with ACT, that’d be a nice ‘diplomatic’ synergy!)
The potential of course that if we can sustain an 18 team comp, with min 2 clubs from 4 states plus Victoria, then, there’s an argument for the ‘state’ to get represented by a single ‘origin’ side. And more so, as players will be spread further and wider than ever before.
That, and perhaps over the next 10 years, no reason why not that there may be a dozen kids from PNG and RSA along with the willing Irish lads. Clubs will be more keen to explore those options that skirt the fringes of the draft.
Timmuh said | April 17th 2009 @ 9:17pm | Report comment
It would be great to hold in the post-season.
Have the rubbish International Rules games v Ireland one year, Origin the next.
It could work something like:
Year 1
Week1:
SA (2) v Vic (1)
Qld (4) v WA (3)
ACT (8) v NT (5)
Tas (7) v NSW(6)
Week 2:
Game 5 : Loser Game 1 v Winner Game 2
Game 6 : Winner Game 3 v Winner Game 4
Year 2
Aus v Ire
Year 3
FINAL: Winner Game 1 v Winner Game 5
QUALIFIER: Loser Game 2 v Winner Game 6
Year 4
Ire v Aus
Tas and ACT don’t need to field all AFL level players, they have guys running around in the SANFL, VFL, etc that can make up a team.
Michael C said | April 19th 2009 @ 8:25pm | Report comment
Timmuh -
that’s a very important fact, the 2nd tier players from Tas etc – - there’s enough kids who are turned over each year, that, could retain the potential lure of a SoO match – and so, return to the SANFL or whereever – - and may yet assist in pushing for a 2nd chance at AFL level.
QLD for example, from 2007, whatever happened to Marcus Allan (son of Gubby), Wayde Mills and Gavin Grose – may not be on the AFL scene anymore, but, may still be playing good footy somewhere.
Tassie could look towards Barry Brooks, Andrew Lee and Sam Iles, even Heath Neville and Todd Grima.
That’s where, in some respects, the Div 2 type squads would offer up the odd ‘special’ story, and match of a ‘lifetime’ for some players.