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In two years, with the introduction of Gold Coast and Western Sydney, the AFL will have two teams in every mainland state. It is likely that it will be the only code to achieve this in the next five or ten years.
The NRL is heavily based in NSW and QLD, with only one team from Victoria, and no teams in SA or WA. The Super 14 rugby competition next year will have only one team in four of the five states.
The A League is close, but with a bias towards NSW and QLD, will have two teams in Victoria but still only one team in both SA and WA.
Ever since the AFL became the AFL, state football has been vexed by its ties to a traditional past. Victoria, SA and WA are all capable of playing fully competitive State of Origin football.
Sure Queensland is progressing well and is already capable of easily beating traditional footy state Tasmania. But to include Queensland leaves New South Wales totally out of the picture.
The AFL should bring back the Big V and sock it to the Croweaters and Sandgropers. Play State of Origin every two or three years, but in other years, why not try something different.
There are no rules that state football has to be origin only. In the professional era, players represent cities, why not the State as well?
Many AFL fans think the pre-season NAB Cup is doomed or the last Saturday in September is way too early to give up football worship.
I agree.
Other codes are spreading their seasons, the AFL is no longer hamstrung by ground availability due to cricket (MCG), we have venues such Etihad, ANZ Stadium, the new Carrara ground on the Gold Coast and, of course, AAMI and Subiaco, which don’t have any cricket.
The AFL calendar could be expanded with the introduction of a State Vs State Premiership, combining teams as follows:
NSW: Sydney and Western Sydney.
SA: Adelaide and Port Adelaide
WA: West Coast and Fremantle
QLD: Brisbane and Gold Coast.
VIC: Two highest finishing Vic clubs
It’s already apparent that state based teams are attracting more and more local talent. NSW and QLD will have their own football academies and zones, whilst even with the draft, many kids from a certain state end up with a home team.
Super Rugby and domestic Twenty20 teams feature players that do not come from that state, in any case.
Fans of the competing teams will love to see their stars play. It was highly apparent at the 2008 Tribute game between Victoria and the Dreamteam that fans heavily supported their own players, and even wore their club colours with a Victorian scarf, for example.
If you’re a Lions fan and half the players in the QLD team are from the Lions, why not support it?
AFL clubs in all States are near each other, with only one regional team in Geelong, which has heavy support in Melbourne and is only 50 minutes away, meaning good access for most fans.
The format is up for debate, but with five state teams, it’s compact and easily run over two-three weeks, either pre or post season. Colours would be state colours, equal number of players from each team, played every one or two years.
The AFL will need the clubs’ full support and make the bottom line attractive for clubs and players. It should be packaged with the TV networks to attract extra revenue for the game and players.
The prize is top AFL State, The AFL Cup.
So there you have it. Now, who would win?
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February 9th 2010 @ 7:32am
oikee said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:32am | Report comment
Forget about who would win, you are getting like rugby union, starting to bore the punters, What is this NAB cup thinggy anyhow, ? A pre-season what? trail games, ? waste of time? read the writing on the wall, to many games either side of seasonal footy loses interest amounst fans.
Rugby league only has trail games, with a club challenge that is hard to play for the team, and now a all stars game, anything over or above that is hard graft, season punishing.
Have alook at what rugby union are doing, and losing support i might add, i mentioned this on their site early last year, they are playing to many international games, people are losing interest, same will happen to AFL, you have a 7-9 month calender, lets not flog the horse man.
You want to turn fans off, make the season longer,.
Just let the normal comp create the rivalries Redb, Gold Coast verses Brisbane clash will become a rivalry on its own, we dont need out of season clashes to bore us any more. Your sounding more like sheedy every day, sprouting a whole load of Ballony…
February 9th 2010 @ 8:17am
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:17am | Report comment
I doubt it would be boring to AFL fans.
Take the best players from Geelong and St Kilda and put them in the same team – now that would be a football team.
I’m talking about subsituting for the NAB Cup not adding to it and also on a 1 or 2 year basis, so not every year.
One year could be SOO Victoria v South Australia, QLD v Western Australia.
The next year could be the AFL Cup, etc
No doubt the rivalries will be created over time in local derbies, but there are many players you watch from other teams that you’d like to see in your team. eg: QLD might have Fevola, Brown, K Hunt and Ablett in the same team.
Redb
February 10th 2010 @ 5:06pm
oikee said | February 10th 2010 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
I dough it would be boring to AFL fans, look, 10 years ago i was a cricket fan, and never watched a game sinse, dont think you cant bore me redb, you are now. Genaration Y is not so discerning. They will just go to the beach.
February 9th 2010 @ 7:44am
Dan Dresden said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:44am | Report comment
You might fool AFL fans with this, but it won’t work in NSW or Queensland. Origin, Six Nations, Test cricket etc all mean something as these teams represent their origin.
State cricket teams import players from across the states but Sheffield Shield is dead as a concept, and that is what you’re looking to recreate.
You want the two AFL teams in each state to be rivals, but then you somehow expect the fans to all come together and support the combined team.
Be happy with what the AFL is and don’t mess with it. Do you see the NFL adding another competition to fill a supposed void or take an opportunity? The NFL is only a 17 weeks season. It’s damaging the product to over do it.
February 10th 2010 @ 2:41pm
Beast-A-Tron said | February 10th 2010 @ 2:41pm | Report comment
Still waiting for that source regarding Sheedys’ comments.
February 10th 2010 @ 5:16pm
oikee said | February 10th 2010 @ 5:16pm | Report comment
Thank you Dan, Redb, take notice, outside Melbourne, and your other Braindead states, people have lives. Cricket is boring us, your MCG crowds are bored, and it wont be long before afl follows the same path. Bore us and your finished my friend, we no longer wish for boring.I only live once, and i am not getting any younger. My next 4 trips are to England, World Cups and other pleasures.
I wont be hanging around for a fake interstate rivalry, Origin Yes, other garbage no. Why do you think rugby league is protecting origin, and introducing something different.? They know Origin is a Jewel, dont tarnish it, and they need to move on, think me up something exciting, not dross.
Now i am not getting Narky, i just want something new. Go your hardest. Yes, i am old school hope you can take the verbal punishment. Also i just read somwhere that aussie tell it straight, i am keeping up that tradition.
February 9th 2010 @ 7:51am
LK said | February 9th 2010 @ 7:51am | Report comment
So what happens to players from the lower placed Vic teams? What if Gary Ablett Jnr is traded to the Gold Coast in that off season? Does he play for Vic or Qld? I guess it means Jono Brown plays for Qld and Buddy plays for Victoria. Hmmm, I’m not sure that I like it.
As a relative new comer to AFL from a northern state, I’m a little baffled by why State of Origin (or variations) keep on getting promoted. If you want more football why not shoot for a full two round home and away season? A 30 week season could be achieved by shortening the NAB Cup, removing the bye week and a few other adjustments.
February 9th 2010 @ 8:12am
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:12am | Report comment
“So what happens to players from the lower placed Vic teams?”
They don’t get to play in the State AFL Cup, but could play pre season challenge matches in country areas. if post season nothing.
“What if Gary Ablett Jnr is traded to the Gold Coast in that off season? Does he play for Vic or Qld?”
This is not an origin concept , if Ablett is with GC he will play for QLD.
“As a relative new comer to AFL from a northern state, I’m a little baffled by why State of Origin (or variations) keep on getting promoted”
Yes that’s right, hence why I said the AFL and fans are vexed by the issue. AFL SOO is not as successful as RL SOO, but that doesnt mean the AFL cant play to its strengths, which is a two team State market.
“A 30 week season could be achieved by shortening the NAB Cup, removing the bye week and a few other adjustments.”
By the time you add finals, it’s over 38 weeks (34 weeks for 18 teams to play each other twice), there is a problem with availability of grounds like the MCG, SCG and Gabba and the AFL Players Assoc would be concerned about the length of the season which would need to extended by 3 months.
Redb
February 9th 2010 @ 8:07am
M1tch said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:07am | Report comment
Didnt AFL fans vote with their feet years ago?
February 9th 2010 @ 8:12am
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:12am | Report comment
Almost 70,000 turned up the last time to see the Big V. Times have changed.
February 9th 2010 @ 8:15am
Michael C said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:15am | Report comment
unofficially, Eagles and Dockers fans will – even in a crap season – take delight at least from finishing above the other on the ladder – or, managing a win over the other in a virtual grand final.
That’s fine – that’s ‘natural’ and not contrived (and not ticketed to draw more money from pockets).
btw – LK re State of Origin – those of us that grew up during the 1980s heyday of SoO in Australian Football kinda lament for it – - and would love to see something, something to get the Big V back, ‘cos, J.Brown just looked superb as captain of the Big V,
and it’d be great to see Pav as captain of SA.
February 9th 2010 @ 8:37am
Jay said | February 9th 2010 @ 8:37am | Report comment
If they AFL have a rep season – I think the better idea is to stick with a Victoria v ‘Rest of the World’ type game based on player origin.
the idea of merging teams to represent states could also work, but you may have the odd players playing for different states in different years, which would be absurd to say the least.
February 9th 2010 @ 12:30pm
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
the problem with the Victoria versus Dreamteam game is the fans in other states did not feel represented at all.
February 9th 2010 @ 10:50am
Republican said | February 9th 2010 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Redb
Where does the ACT, Tassie and the NT fit in all of this?
February 9th 2010 @ 12:29pm
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:29pm | Report comment
With regard to the AFL State Cup based on where teams are located I think you can work this out.
ACT, NT and Tassie could be part of a wider State of Origin Carnival – say every 4 years.
Redb
February 9th 2010 @ 12:37pm
sheek said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Red,
My understanding why the state-of-origin was sidelined, was precisely because the game had gone national with clubs in each of Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Sydney & Brisbane.
Besides which, AFL/VFL players didn’t like the idea of playing against club team-mates (unlike their NRL cousins).
Your concept, which I presume isn’t S-O-O, works better in terms of not having club team-mates clash. I’m a big fan of the state/provincial concept, but the way the AFL is set up, & with their crowded season, I simply can’t see this type of concept getting off the ground.
February 9th 2010 @ 12:53pm
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
No doubt the biggest barrier is the clubs agreement. i think there is room in the season for a short tournament (replacing the NAB Cup).
February 9th 2010 @ 12:48pm
Baz35 said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:48pm | Report comment
Silly Idea, sorry
The beauty of a two team state is that you have a natural arch-rivalry…merging teams will undermine this and would be poorly supported anyway…plus Victoria would maintain a huge advantage anyway (i.e. 2/10 rather than 2/2)…
I think there is scope for an origin tournament once every few years….maybe you have a five year rule so as that a player can become “naturalised” once they’ve played in NSW for more than 5 years….if the crowds are shyte in NSW cos they are getting thrashed then play their matches Albury of something…
February 9th 2010 @ 12:51pm
Redb said | February 9th 2010 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Fair enough.
The idea isn’t looking break down the derbies but even if you take State of Origin, the very concept of cheering on players from teams you hate still exists doesnt it?
February 9th 2010 @ 1:17pm
sheek said | February 9th 2010 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
I still think the S-O-O has merit. I also don’t understand why players are so wussy about playing against team-mates. Maybe they’re more concerned about being shown up by a club team-mate?
In any case, you could have an arrangement as follows:
Year 1 – Div 1 – Vic v SA/NT; Div 2 -NSW/ACT v Tas.
Year 2 – Div 1 – Vic v WA; Div 2 – NSW/ACT v Qld.
Year 3 – Div 1 – SA/NT v WA; Div 2 – Tas v Qld.
Probably not ideal, but it means players have to appear for their respective states only twice every 3 years. Besides, this is perhaps the best program likely to get the clubs agreement. Minimalist…..
February 10th 2010 @ 1:25pm
Redb said | February 10th 2010 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Could work, but I dont thinks its necessary to combine SA and NT, as NT would be as strong as Tassie.
February 10th 2010 @ 1:44pm
Redb said | February 10th 2010 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
just to add to that comment, a combined QLD and NT team would be very powerful, perhaps good enough to SA, WA or Vic. The NT Thunder currently play in the QAFL state comp.