It wasn’t surprising to hear the AFL announce the home-and-away-season will be moved a week earlier in 2014 with each team getting a second bye.
Given the players have been wanting a second bye for ages, such a decision seemed inevitable.
But there were other aspects to yesterday’s changes to the AFL’s season structure that were a tad less expected.
The NAB Cup has been shortened to two weeks. “Representative footy” is likely to fill the void.
This is also something players have wanted, although to say the move was unexpected is selling it well short.
Andrew Demetriou said as recently as April it wasn’t something he was keen on.
“Our game has great club-versus-club football,” he said. “That’s our strength. Sometimes it’s OK to acknowledge these are our strengths and these are our weaknesses.”
It’s a fine argument, but one few sports around the world subscribe to.
The only unfortunate bit is that it’s not clear what form of “representative footy” will get up.
The two options most talked about are State of Origin or the player-driven “All Star Game” idea.
There remains the possibility of a compromise solution along the lines of 2008’s Victoria against the Dream Team clash. However, if the AFL truly want the concept of rep footy to survive, that game gives out some strong lessons.
The crowd and TV ratings were solid, but if there was a way to measure passion it would reveal that the game not being “real Origin” hurt.
Who could blame the people of South and Western Australia for not feeling a connection with a thrown-together Dream Team, or even being turned off by another example of what they might term Victorian arrogance?
Victorians couldn’t even brag about their win to friends interstate because they hadn’t really beaten them, as such.
That 2008 example should serve as a vote against any form of merged team that doesn’t immediately incite passion into large amounts of people.
We just can’t have another Victoria versus the rest. It’s half-baked representative footy.
East versus West would be less than half.
The only way for rep footy to be brought back and for it to actually work is through State of Origin. And the only way for State of Origin to work is if the AFL go full tilt.
To that, the mechanism I introduced here on The Roar two years ago (which you can view in the image below) is the only way to go. I don’t say that to toot my own horn, it’s just that if we’ve only got one week of the calendar to work with there’s not much room for an alternative.
The idea is to have a system of promotion and relegation, with Victoria and Western Australia starting at the top and other states having the opportunity to work their way up to the top game and fight to be the champion state.
Some would disagree with rep footy returning to the fixture. My colleague Cam Rose has written a lengthy response to my views on the topic which I encourage you to read for a balanced view.
But with the AFL moving on the issue, the debate must now shift to how best to go about it.
The thought of a Western Australian team with the best talls in the land – a spine that would be chosen from Darren Glass, Luke McPharlin, Michael Johnson, Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Harry Taylor, Josh Kennedy and Buddy Franklin – going up against the midfield-heavy Vics should be enough to convince any fair-minded footy fan.
There’s simply no way that an All-Star or Dream Team arrangement can compare.
Bringing back Origin is the way to go.
Shouts Chen
Guest
I had a feeling that The State of Origin must be played once every 2 months during the afl home and away season. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Philsport
Guest
I agree with your article and proposed format Michael. Good stuff. Only thing of question is, why can't Qld and NT merge, like NSW and ACT have? This would nullify the 7th team issue. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
checkside
Guest
State of Origin unfortunately died with the great Ted Whitten. If the Victorians are not interested it will just not happen. Pride in the "big V" jumper never really did compare with the players who played for SA or WA and that's what Ted tried to do as it really meant something back then. The clubs don't want it due to fear of injury to their best players and that's fair enough with damage to a campaign to win the flag. Don't ask Andrew, he can't even sort out Essendon. WA started the State or Origin concept and SA did give it a shot in the arm in the 80s by giving the Victorians a consistent belting - but in Melbourne it's all about money, and drugs. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
SOO works perfectly with Rugby League simply because there are only two opponents. No compromises, no third team, no point in arguing for a similar contest for Australian Rules. We've been over this same ground many times.
yewonk
Guest
what you want is two teams with near equal skill and talent to face each other. the best vs the best. afl state of orign wont bring that. but you could in theory invent two rep teams by which players are chosen (should they get the opportunity to play) at the start otheir afl careers alternative drafts picks or some such equal distribution. best of three.
Bill C
Guest
The AFL should at least give this concept some serious consideration.
Bill C
Guest
Qld and NT could combine and be called, Queensland and Northern Territory AFL Side or "QANTAS". ................no, it would never take off. See what I did there? :D
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
NSW/ACT is up to 51 - http://aflnswact.com.au/index.php?id=253
albatross
Roar Pro
>> The NT players could join SA given the historical links between the two regions. That would also avoid having a team with the abbreviation "QNT"
Bondy
Guest
I agree it has to be with the full consent of the players AR makes the valid point with Ablett, is the concept to rival the NRL and HAL though?, if you want rep footy you'll have to devalue your comp and I can't see that happening, anythings worth a shot though. AR when Van Persie played for Arsenal he was injured for three years on and off constantly ,no continuity to his career all the while when fit he'd go and represent his nation only to have the same injuries or new ones flare up and more club time was lost (at the expense of the club mind you$$$) there are risks to rep footy.
Ben
Guest
Great idea, I really like the regulation and promotion system as it gives meaning to each game every year. The only change I would make to what you have proposed is to take out NT, as it is not a state. Although I would imagine that NT would be one of the more passionate team given the lack of AFL presence in the NT. The NT players could join SA given the historical links between the two regions. With only six teams is would mean that a team would not have to sit out every year. This would build continuity in the concept and each state would be able to continually plan for the next year, rather than having to sit out one year, which could kill the concept in that state. It would be interesting to see how many AFL players could potentially be available for each team. The only summary I could find on the number of players from each state was on a forum from 2004. Back them NSW/ACT had 28 players, QLD - 22, TAS - 20, NT - 17. It would be interesting to know what the current numbers are.
Robert More
Guest
This system sounds good, but I'd make one change. Get rid of the Bye. Either split NSW and ACT or combine QLD and NT and run a two division set up, with one cross over game each year. For example: 2014 Victoria vs. South Australia Western Australia vs. Tasmania QLD/NT vs. NSW/ACT 2015 South Australia vs. Western Australia NSW/ACT vs. Victoria Tasmania vs. QLD/NT 2016 Western Australia vs. Victoria South Australia vs. QLD/NT NSW/ACT vs. Tasmania This way all the states get represented and eliminates the chances of the smaller states suffering humiliating defeats at the hands of the more powerful states
Samual Johnson
Guest
I give it a year to live. Footy largely is about tribalism, if you want to want exhibition games you can go down to club training, for free.
Jason Cave
Guest
I have a book at home called Ron Barassi's Football Book 1977. In it, he picks two teams, a Victorian side to play against what he called 'the Interstaters', a combination of interstate players who played in the VFL up to 1977.
Simoc
Guest
From previously W.A I would only be interested in playing and thumping Victoria. I'm pretty sure S.A is only interested in thumping the Vics and I don't think the Vics are interested at all. Nowdays it's much more fun giving those Eagles yet another clip over the ear.
Mark B
Guest
I like the All Star concept and wold hope this goes the whole weekend, Drafted 2013 v Drafted 2012 the No1 draft choice and see how good. Maybe include the Whitten Cup or the interstate versions Slowdown and the Mainwaring and skills comp. Speccies, torps and Bannana goals
Matt P
Guest
The fact the Vic team didn't name Dane Swan says enough about the two states playing stocks
Matt P
Guest
They would get flogged in the game
Matt P
Guest
Sorry but you are wrong, I remember being at the EJ state of origin game with my whole family, seeing him go round the ground on his last legs then the Victoria come out and smash the crow eaters was great. The problem is that Victoria simply got too good for SA and WA, the TAC Cup, VFL and larger . and the other states are not really good enough to compete with WA and SA, meaning that there are no natural games with the exception of SA vs WA and that game would be missing a whole raft of great players who come from Victoria
Brian
Guest
Not a bad team but compare it to the Vic team http://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-premiership/state-of-origin-is-back-sort-of-who-would-wear-the-big-v-in-your-victoria-origin-team/story-e6frf3e3-1226654442689#.Uh71lNJmjTo Would anyone really back WA to win?