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Having listened to the weeks of build-up, and then to be sitting there on the couch last night watching rugby league’s first State of Origin of 2013, you can understand why the AFL’s chief executive Andrew Demetriou admitted he is envious of the event.
Like rugby league or not, there is so much to enjoy about the State of Origin.
It is the game at it’s very best, add the passion of both players and fans, the pride players and fans have for their State, and the unity the contest brings, with supporters of bitter club enemies, coming together to cheer for their State.
Wouldn’t you like that in AFL again?
I know, I know, club football is more important, and imagine all the uproar and angst if one of your team’s stars was injured in a State of Origin clash.
That’s a reality in league’s Origin too, and when it happens to a player from your club, you cringe, briefly vent your anger and disappointment, ask why has Origin football cost your team, and then move on. It’s all part of the game, and Origin football is such a huge part of that game now.
And it’s important to all. Only two clubs can make it to the grand final each season, but through Origin, you all get the chance be part of a showcase game, and possibly celebrate a major win each year.
But the only way it works in league (and the reason why it eventually died out in AFL) is because players all desperately want to play, and club’s respect the significance of the series, its importance to the players, and they would never stand in the way of any player taking part.
Naturally no club wants to lose one of their stars – and it’s only star players who play in the game – but they accept the contests are an important part of the season’s calendar.
It’s been a long time since the last Origin game back in 1999, and I realise it’s not likely to ever happen again with the exception of perhaps one off matches to celebrate special occasions, such as the 2008 Victoria-Dream Team clash for the 150th birthday of the game.
In fact Demetriou spoke earlier this year about it and he didn’t think it would ever be back on the schedule.
He said: “As a viewer of sport at the national level, we’ve got the Australian cricket team, the Socceroos, the Wallabies. At state level, you can’t get a better contest than (rugby league) State of Origin. It’s an incredible event and the envy of all. The way the two states engage, the ratings, it’s all fantastic.
“Our game has great club-versus-club football. That’s our strength. Sometimes it’s OK to acknowledge these are our strengths and these are our weaknesses.”
So why can’t we work on the weaknesses? Why can’t we try Origin football again? After all, the concept began in Australian rules football. Why not get it back?
Everyone gets a bye around this time of the year, why not give them all the weekend off, and have an Origin game? Or even tinker with the concept.
What about a Victoria versus The Rest origin game? Or even forget about the origin part, and just go with the Big V (made up of players from the 10 Victorian clubs) against The Rest (players from the other eight teams)?
Or here’s a thought, what about we have a Victorian team made up of players from their 10 clubs, a NSW-Queensland team made up of Swans and Giants, Suns and Lions players, Western Australia (Eagles and Dockers) and South Australia (Crows and Port players)?
I can hear readers already screaming, we don’t need change, Everything is working well as it is?
And it is working well, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try different (everything old can be new again) things.
Why? As someone from a rugby league state, I can testify there is something very special about State of Origin.
Sure you have your own team, but Origin means a whole lot.
You may despise a player from a certain club, but once he pulls on that Blue or Maroon jumper of your state, you’ll cheer your lungs out for him and his teammates.
It’s your team, your State, and while we often know before the pre-season has ended, that our team probably won’t be there in September, we all know we’ll have a team to cheer loudly for, and be proud of, come Origin time.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.