The NRL’s showcase matches of the season are the three State of Origin battles, but the AFL is still hesitant to do it themselves. And it’s simple to tell why.
Game 1 of Origin was a fight of attrition and much to the delight of NSW fans, they won the fight.
Along the way, injuries were aplenty and NRL clubs will feel the wrath of these injuries in the coming weeks.
Possible injuries is the main reason the AFL won’t have an Origin Series, especially in the middle of the home-and-away season.
Could you imagine the backlash if Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Steve Johnson all got injured playing for their state instead of their team, which has paid them millions over the years?
This is the equivalent of what has happened to Melbourne Storm. They have lost their three superstars in Cameron Smith, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk for an extended period of time, especially Cronk, who has been ruled out for at least two months.
This has put a huge dent in Melbourne’s finals hopes, let alone Premiership aspirations. They will now have to look to their younger players to keep them afloat in June.
Yes, the fans want AFL State of Origin, but the logistics and risks involved are too big to ignore. I’m sure your opinion of Origin would be dampened if your team lost one of its best players for a large period of time.
One thought is to put the AFL Origin series after the premiership season has been completed. This has many issues too.
AFL players are pushed to their limits all season long, and need a break from footy to reload for the next year. Also, the players are on a strict pre-season program that monitors workload. Having three full games of tough football in the midst of that throws all consistency out the window.
The AFL will have to continue to weigh up the pros and cons of State of Origin, because there are many reasons they would want it.
Like always, the money the AFL could generate from having a full MCG would be huge. This shows the careful consideration the AFL has done in deciding not to bring back Origin. They must be enticed with the money, but they are also very wary of the backlash from fans if their favourite team gets struck with injuries.
Like most AFL fans, I would love to see Origin back on the calendar, but I just don’t think the risks associated with it are worth it. Just because it works in the NRL doesn’t mean the success would translate into the AFL arena.
Maybe it’s best just to choose Blue or Maroon and enjoy the toughness of NRL Origin, and look forward to the AFL’s showcase match on the last Saturday of September – the grand final.
Australian Football Fan
Guest
BRING BACK STATE OF ORIGIN IT WAS AWESOME!!!
E-Meter
Guest
The Vics never recovered from NSW beating them against all odds in 1990. The big sooks never recovered from it.
Chappelli
Guest
The Vics killed SOO. They didn't want their players unavailable for 'their' teams. SOO in NRL works because there is only 2 states. When VFL teams wouldn't let players go for games that didn't involve Victoria. So it became SANFL v WAFL V TFL state leagues. They couldn't handle the fact that SA and WA won so many games. The Victorians are truly more arrogant than NSWelshman. AS a Croweater I barrack for QLD in NRL SOO. Why? Because NSW did to QLD what Vic did to SA, WA and Tas in the years prior to SOO happening. They Vics would have more SA, WA and TAS players than homegrown Vics and beat the living crap out of the other teams and then had the unmitigated temerity, arrogance and big headedness to say they were the best. And QLD and NSW ppl didn't even know that SA, WA and TAS and NT played Footy; such was this Vic arrogance. You can tell a Vic.......but not very much. As Vic Richardson said to Ian, "Whatever you do son, don't captain like a Victorian!"
Muz
Guest
Mate it's been pointed out a dozen times with examples that that is not how it works. As someone else said Qld, which has less males to choose from than NSW, has just won 8 NRL SOO's in a row. Small countries like Uruguay, Croatia, Portugal, Bosnia punch well above their weight. You seem to be the only bloke on here that doesn't see to understand that in this case it's not a matter of numbers. If it were the case then China would win the world cup and India would be the best Test playing cricket nation in the world. They aint. I'm no AFL fan. I only came here to read the comments but I find it bizarre that you blokes don't want to see your best players honoured by being selected to play representative footy. You can have your "All Australian team" selections but they're on paper only. Who can they test their skills against? How great would it be to see players from separate states come together, under a different coach, new tactics maybe and try and knock off some of the big guns. Way back in the 80's I think there were a few SOO AFL games and from memory they were great. You blokes are being shortsighted. You'll never understand the pride of being selected to do battle against another country so the SOO concept is the next best thing. You should embrace it with open arms. But hey, it's your game so whatever.
Ted
Guest
Col, you're delusional mate. Clearly if there is a bigger pool of players to pick from the chances are you will have a better team than a smaller pool - commonsense mate. Occasionally you will get an exception to that rule - but overwhelmingly the rule will apply.
Col in paradise
Guest
Love it Tad..great ...toss in Pyne and you cover it all....
Col in paradise
Guest
Skill and natural talent is random..not linear..therefore popuation has minimal bering on the talent level each side may end up with….thats the difference between Geelong and Melbourne!!!….. How about a 2 week knockout mid season of all States instead of the stupid split rounds……say WA SA VIC QLD/NT NSW/ACT..mmm Tasmania – do they go solo or be part of the Vic side?…or replace the NAB cup with it…. But dont see it working these days…..even better than states maybe Metro (Cities) Vs Country (Regional)….one game…be interesting….see the country regional boys whip the city slickers
Col in paradise
Guest
Skill and natural talent is random..not linear..therefore popuation has minimal bering on the talent level each side may end up with....thats the difference between Geelong and Melbourne!!!..... How about a 2 week knockout mid season of all States instead of the stupid split rounds......say WA SA VIC QLD/NT NSW/ACT..mmm Tasmania - do they go solo or be part of the Vic side?...or replace the NAB cup with it.... But dont see it working these days.....even better than states maybe Metro (Cities) Vs Country (Regional)....one game...be interesting....see the country regional boys whip the city slickers...
Tom
Guest
Well said Axle
Tom
Guest
4,500,000 is more accurate and it eats every AFL fan up. NRL SOO is a great sporting product acknowledged world wide.
Minz
Guest
The data I've seen shows Aussie rules has the highest injury rate of any of the footy codes played in Australia, so your insinuation about the injury behaviours of AFL players vs NRL players seems likely inaccurate. Pretty sure Origin's not a go-er for Aussie rules because people just didn't go for it last time they played it. Inter-state and then origin games were played for ages in Aussie rules, but with the onset of a national competition, consumer demand fell off. People just weren't that interested - when you've already got a tribal club culture, the state thing feels a bit made-up, IMO.
The_pedge
Guest
Just out of curiosity what would QLD's origin team look like? Fullback- Merrett CHF- Riewoldt FF - Tippett Rover - Beams Just a few that came straight to mind
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
I think this would be a bad idea. The NRL and its fans would laugh out loud at an AFL game between Qld and NSW. They would majorly struggle to get crowds and there would be a lot of players playing that certainly aren't household names. A no go for me.
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
Agree with this. Population often has no bearing on the result of games. Larger nations/states may have a couple of million more people to choose from, but in reality, you're only picking a team of 22 (in the AFL), and 99.999% of those people definitely wouldn't be considered.
roosters14
Guest
No international league just sells out 75k stadiums in England.... Last November hint hint. International rl gets okay crowds given the lack of respect many of the games commentators and administrators in Australia have for it. Eden park, Canberra, etihad, old Trafford, wembley, milenium stadium, suncorp and so on all have hosted international rl in the past 3 years and had sellouts or at least dam good crowds in the circumstances. Once origin is over and I do resent partly its affect on a third of the season its full focus on the run to the finals which at the moment looks compelling as know one has a clue who will make up the 8
Hayley Wildes
Roar Pro
I personally think the best options, forgetting all the problem associated with Origin, could be: Vic v All Stars. Or have Vic v SA, SA v WA, and then WA v Vic.
Deep Thinker
Guest
Absolutely right.
Moff
Guest
Tend to agree. AfFL players can move along way from home and developing loyalty to an interstate side could be negated if the best players were playing for their home state. The desire to see the best compete however is strong. A shortened season every four years with a carnival at the end played across all of the states as a mini comp maybe a draw card if all clubs can share equally from the proceeds.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
Or Uruguay beating the Socceroos, having a total population about a sixth of the size of Australia's.
Dalgety Carrington
Guest
State of Origin concept was originated by Aussie Rules, by WA specifically, because there was a very long standing tradition of State games and in those games expat West Aussies would end up playing for Victoria against WA.