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.
Chappelli
Guest
Vics killed SOO. SA and WA and TAS fans would always like it. I think SA and WA have won the same amount of games as Vic in SOO '77-99. Vics don't like this. ATM the SA born Crows would have very little representation in an SA SOO team of current players. They are playing in other teams. So how does this fit with the 'mantra' that we have SOO every week?????????? Have the divisions like someone said b4. But first game would be Vic v SA and WA v Tas as Div 1 and 2 games. Qld v NSW and ACT v NT and go up or down accoding to win or loss. Div one winners "Champions of Oz". Something NRL could NEVER replicate. Wagga or Rockhampton Under 23 would beat WA or SA or TAS state players in that constipated game.
Riley Fletcher
Guest
I think we must all understand, that NRL is a much more entertaining sport to watch, and it is a fundamental factor as to why SOO is so big.
marcus
Guest
I don't care about the Premiership being the ultimate goal. The fact is there should be room for both SOO and the GF. We should be proud of our States and the best players showcased for clubs and their supporters who won't win a Premiership for years. SOO was awesome in the 80's and early 90's.
Australian Rules
Guest
Because the introduction of West Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide etc...meant that there was less need for "which state is better?" State of Origin would now just be symbolic - it wouldn't really mean anything.
Jimbo
Guest
The state particpation rates for AF across the nation demonstrate quite clearly what code is more national than the other, AF at grass roots is 10 to 20 times bigger in Sydney and Brisbane than RL is in Perth, Adelaide or Melbourne. Week by week TV ratings also back this up, last night for EX Carlton V Essendon. 90k watched the AFL last night in Sydney and Brisbane (Syd 36k Bri 54k ) , add to that 312k watched on fox, so a fair % of those would have been in the northern states. Compare that to people in the southern states watching the NRL 22k (Mel 13k Ade 4k Per 5k) https://twitter.com/MediaweekAUS
GalaxyHop
Guest
11.8 Million = NSW and Queensland approximate aggregrate population. 9.8 Million = Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania approximate aggregate population. Yeah, you're right, way more national. It may ONLY be two states, but those two states have more people living there than all the others combined. Let's not forget the international aspect of rugby league as well.
The Link
Guest
Yes non-NRL players are eligible. Rules are more complicated now but as a general principle it's where you played your first game if senior (16's and over) footy. Been examples in the past, but one that sticks out was Alfie Langer 10 or so years ago who was selected and played SOO while playing in England.
Shmick
Guest
Forgive my ignorance, but are players from outside of the NRL system eligible to play in the SOO games? If so I apologise for lumping it in with the NRL.
The Link
Guest
Well any honest discussion should start with the easily observable point that RL SOO is not the NRL. RL SOO is anything but a 'sideshow'. Again, it's the biggest and best domestic rivalry in the country, with millions tuning in across the country, many of them from outside NSW and QLD. Far from existing to 'appease' NSW and QLD, the NRL has a genuine presence and heartlands in New Zealand and the ACT, so what areas would you like to 'forget' about for AFL coverage, SA, WA? And the facts point to no devaluing of the NRL GF, national ratings and interest have grown since 1980 when the RL SOO started. No ones saying AFL doesn't have the best national coverage or crowds, but RL in Australia is far from saturated and is just waking up from tearing itself asunder.
Tj from Jindalee
Guest
It also devalues the grand final IMO. As a sandgroper I could tell you who won the state of origin in the rugby but who won the grand final??buggered if I know. SOO seems bigger might as well scrap the league and just play origin lol
Timmuh
Roar Guru
The AFL are not going to snub NSW and Qld. I agree that post-season is the only tme but would structure it differently (two divisions, seven teams; Vic,SA,WA; Qld,NSW,Tas,NT; played every second year with IR in the other years). That debate has been had on this site too often though without a suitable format. The hunger just isn't there from the fan base (it is from some, but not from enough), and the clubs and league administration are deadset against it despite occasionally mouthing words of ambivelance. And International Rules has shown that clubs will still pull their players from post-season representative games.
Shmick
Guest
That may be true (is there actual data on rivalries?) Link, but your point highlights the fact that NRL exists purely to apease NSW & QLD fans. AFL - whilst still somewhat VIC-centric - is a much more evenly-spread national league that doesn't need a sideshow to attract large crowds. SOO was much more relevant to Australian Football back in the 1970s & 1980s when there were strong state rivalries between the VFL, SANFL & WAFL. Since the AFL was formed in 1990 the idea has become irrelevant to clubs and fans who ultimately want to win a flag. Think about it - being the number 1 club in the country is a much higher honor than being the number 1 state.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Trust me Deep Thinker, you don't want it or need it. Nobody does. People who are pro-AFL SOO are in love with some grand idea of what they think it is. It's like dreaming of a Ferrari and driving a Datsun.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
I'm guessing you're either young or not brought up in WA, SA or Vic...in the end some SOO games were lopsided (arguably for reasons of player availability) but over the longer term SOO were closely contested. There wouldn't be any 100 point drubbings...And while you're on drubbings, just remind me when it was that NSW last one the RL SOO?
Aide Vresme
Guest
SOO is perfect for Rugby league as it is is more gladiatorial game and its between two state teams. AFL because of its nature and the fact that there is more states that play it, is more suited to the round robin style of competition. At the end of the day they each cater to different sectors of the sporting market place which is a good thing.
The Link
Guest
You can add the ACT to NSW and QLD where league is No.1, but hey what's the nations capital between a few friends? If you don't understand RL State of Origin you don't understand Australian sporting culture. It is without question our greatest domestic sporting rivalry. 400k+ Victorians understood this by tuning in on Wednesday night.
fishes
Guest
I think it's a great idea. There aren't enough 100-point drubbings in the AFL's regular season.
fishes
Guest
No tribalism in the NRL? Pathetic post there, by anyone's standards.
fishes
Guest
haha
GoGWS
Roar Guru
Most people who rubbish the prospect of AFL SOO returning probably weren't footy fans through the late 1970s and 1980s, or they're RL supporters who just can't conceive that SOO actually meant just as much to many people in WA, SA and Vic as it does to RL supporters in NSW/QLD. SOO at its best in Aussie Rules was loved by the players and by many fans, and something was lost when it was lost to the game. I agree with all the comments about the difficulty of resurrecting SOO in AFL due to the power of AFL clubs, and the commitment of players to train, perform and do their weekly rehab so they maxmize the chance of success with their club teams. Club success is everything, and putting SOO above that just isn't going to happen. The AFL clubs, and the players for that matter, don't want to risk injury that could ruin their seasons. That's fair enough but plenty of players and fans would love to see it back (e.g. what Western Australian wouldn't love to see Buddy Franklin running amok against the Big V, and what WA player wouldn't want to be beside him when he did). And the AFL could spin some dollars from SOO so there's a commercial incentive as well. How to make SOO a reality again in the AFL is a much more difficult question. My ideas for a return of SOO in the AFL: - make it a post-season event (e.g. fortnight after the Grand Final) - involves teams from WA, SA and Vic - play one game every season - the winner of SOO last season defends against challenger, the loser of SOO last season sits out (i.e. every year WA, SA or Vic will sit out because they lost last year) Having one post season game means no disruption to an AFL club's season campaign. The risk of a star player incurring a serious injury in the SOO game remains but you have to give something to get something. The players would gain a lot - just seeing players like Brian Peake reminiscing about their SOO experience shows you what current AFL players are missing. By having an annual SOO rotating through WA, SA, Vic the star players of the competition get this extra experience and so do the fans. Over time if the SA/WA/Vic SOO succeeds it could be expanded by having another tier perhaps (QLD, NSW etc). I would like to see SOO return but I won't hold my breath.