From 1979 until 1999, Victoria and South Australia played some classic State of Origin matches, and most of them which have gone into football legend.
But what if the all-time greats of Victorian football matched up against the best the Croweaters had to offer in a ‘dream’ State of Origin game?
Here are the two teams:
VICTORIA
B: Gary Ayres Jack Reagan Geoff Southby
HB: Bruce Doull Ted Whitten (c) Peter Knights
C: Keith Greig Greg Williams Doug Hawkins
HF: Wayne Johnston Dermott Brereton Gary Ablett snr
F: Gordon Coventry Tony Lockett Kevin Bartlett
R: Simon Madden Ron Barassi Leigh Matthews
INT: Kelvin Moore Dale Weightman Gary Dempsey Paul Salmon
COACH: Norm Smith
Asst. Coach: Kevin Sheedy
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
B:Ben Hart Greg Phillips Bernie Smith
HB: Nigel Smart Mark Riccuito Walter Scott
C: John Cahill Russell Ebert(c) Greg Anderson
HF:Malcolm Blight Steve Kernahan Andrew McLeod
F: Rick Davies Scott Hodges Darren Jarman
R: Peter Carey Barrie Robran John Platten
INT: Michael Aish Garry McIntosh Linsay Head Neil Kerley
COACH: Fos Williams
Asst Coach: Graham Cornes
Umpires: Murray Ducker (SA), Ian Robinson (Vic)
If these two teams were to play a game against each other (either at Football Park or the MCG), who’d win and why?
alan
Guest
why cant we have a state of origin like they do in RUGVY LEAGUE it is a terrific spectacle. They get massive crowds and big tv audiences. I think the AFL should bring state of origin in as a round robin type of thing. The Rugby League state of origin brings out the passion of the people and they love it.
Jason Cave
Guest
The reason why Scott Hodges was selected for South Australia was because he and Rick Davies both kicked 150 goals in a season in the SANFL.
Pippinu
Roar Guru
Hodges ahead of Modra - that's quite funny.
Michael C
Guest
Grenville Dietrich for mine..... btw - Modra did his best work with Freo - - or, within the township of Fremantle....
Redb
Roar Guru
A 5 team tournament featuring the following might be interesting: Vic SA WA NSW/ACT QLD NT arent that far off in their own right either, Tasmania?? Redb
simonjzw
Roar Pro
2 great teams and what a match it would be. I give victory to the Vics because I think their backline covers the opposition forward line better. And that's without SOS (must be injured)
Bill
Guest
I'm a Port man but even I can't understand how you can't understand how you can have Hodges at full forward ahead of MODRA.
Lucas B
Guest
What about Banger Harvey in the guts for the Vics... a two time brownlow medalist and a few time EJ whitten medal winner... I think he was a bit stiff.
Michael C
Guest
SoO died a natural death during the '90s. I went to the 'G to see Vic vs WA, and the WA side was about 85% Eagles. Likewise the SA side being about 85% Crows. There was no longer this 'mystery' of a Kernahan, signed up to come over the next year, and this is our first real look at him. The SoO used to be the mature age draft camp!!! Now though, with 2 clubs firmly established in both WA and SA, the draft well established, and soon to be 4 clubs north of the Murray - - a SoO carnival at least once every 4 years would be brilliant. We've discussed a bit that QLD has about 50 players in the AFL. In the NRL SoO there was about 80 eligible QLD players for their selectors to choose from. Roy Masters recently wrote an article about the 'Play at home' factor with the NRL. Given each side has a list of 25 - that provides 3 QLD NRL sides about 75 places. With 2 QLD AFL sides, that'll allow up to 80 places - they won't all be local, and many local QLD lads prefer to head to Melbourne and are very much reluctant to head home. Either way - it'd be great to give them the chance to represent their state. Early in the year I was looking at potential SoO squads - and since then, a whole new batch of rookies and other first year players have established themselves.
Michael C
Guest
Jason - Not a bad Vic line up when you can leave out Schimma (and Boomer - the reigning EJ Whitten medalist!!).
albatross
Roar Pro
It is a great mystery to me as to why the AFL did not persist with SoO. A six team comp was and indeed is a credible proposition and the PR opportunities are limitless. I suppose it's becasue the clubs are too insular and the season is a very long one.