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Irony is a wonderful source of humour. It’s ironic that Aussie rules, which invented State of Origin, or rather an Aussie rules fan in Western Australia did, has let the concept lapse whereas rugby league, which copied it, has made the concept their own.
Ironic that the ARL roadshows rugby league in Victoria with a NSW v QLD State of Origin game.
Perhaps then it is now ironic that the success of league State of Origin, and it’s place on the sporting calendar, could be the catalyst for the reinvigoration of a traditional Aussie rules State of Origin.
Have we missed it enough?
Should the best of Victoria put on the Big V jumper and show the try-hards from SA and WA how to play the game?
In 2008, the AFL celebrated 150 years of football by putting on an exhibition match between a representative Victorian side versus the rest (dream team).
It was a pretty good game, with plenty of skill, goals and flair, as the best Aussie rules players were on the same ground at the same time.
There was some passion for the Big V in the 70,000 strong crowd, but really most of us would prefer the Croweaters were given a chance to knock us off or the Sandgropers from the west.
I can remember 90,000 attending a Victoria v South Australia game at the MCG about 15 years ago.
There was still some passion for State of Origin, but already the concept was showing signs of weakness as club loyalties crept into the thinking of players, coaches and club administrators.
The best players soon found an ankle problem or pesky hamstring to keep them on the sidelines. Without the best players it is pointless. If the players don’t care, why should we?
The Big V used to mean something, and I think the current crop of players are perhaps more mindful of the opportunity that representing your state presents.
Our NSW counterparts pretend that we in Victoria have less passion than our sister states for the concept.
If Victoria lost, it was because our best players weren’t available or we didn’t care enough.
The concept which was thought of in WA has always meant a little more to folk from SA and WA.
However, the youth of today don’t think like that. A glance around the 70,000 at the Victoria dream team game last year revealed a very young crowd, keen to cheer on their state.
They’re a parochial lot, these Gen Y’s.
As the AFL experiments with the international rules concept, it really should re-consider State of Origin.
Perhaps one match a year, and it has to be Victoria v South Australia for the first one, then rotate after that. A carnival?
Do we want to see the Big V again? Absolutely yes.
Disclaimer: I realise for South Australians or Western Australians this may be a painful experience.
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