Matthew Pavlich admits his dreams of playing for South Australia in an AFL State Of Origin format are fading fast.
The Fremantle captain and AFL Players Association vice president hopes the league can resume some sort of representative format.
The thorny issue was on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the 18 club captains with the AFL Commission and executive.
While the State Of Origin series is the highlight of the NRL season, there are no representative games in the AFL.
The players association insists there is overwhelming support from its members.
One suggestion is that rather than State Of Origin, the AFL holds some sort of All-Star game during the pre-season.
Pavlich was born and bred in SA, but has played his entire AFL career with the Dockers.
Asked about an alternative All-Star idea, Pavlich said: “It’s a pretty good idea, I don’t mind it – I would be happy to explore it a bit further.
“But State Of Origin would be my vote.”
The 32-year-old also admits his time is running out to wear the SA jumper in a match.
“I’m holding out hope, but probably not,” he said.
Pavlich concedes there are significant stumbling blocks in the game for any form of representative competition.
“Everyone would love it to go ahead – the public, the players and the AFL themselves,” he said.
“But the major stumbling (blocks) most people see is the timing of it, when it is, and the format.
“They are pretty big stumbling blocks unfortunately that we’re going to have to resolve at some point.”
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