The JLT Community Series and AFLX are just fancy ways for players to warm up. But the AFL could transform the lacklustre pre-season with one simple move.
The call for State of Origin at the start of the AFL year is growing louder and louder, and surely the noise has to start making waves within the offices of the AFL’s biggest powerbrokers.
The term State of Origin is synonymous with NRL, but the call to ‘bring back the biff’ in the AFL is gaining more and more traction every year.
The last State of Origin game was in 1999. The showcase event used to bring together the best players from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and an Alliance team from the rest of the country. The interstate rivalry brought biff and displayed the the best talent from each state talent.
Origin hasn’t existed for two decades, but fans have made their voice heard and called for the return of this marquee event.
In 2008 Victoria and a ‘Dream Team’ played off in a one-off match to honour the late great EJ Whitten and celebrate 150 years of Australian football.
Two current superstars – Scott Pendlebury and Gary Ablett – have led calls to bring back the Origin game, which represents a significant push.
The biggest question is when to play the game, and whether it will attract the fans once the concept is a reality.
The NRL has played its Origin games in the middle of the season every year, so there are no scheduling clashes finals fixtures come the pointy end of the season. With the AFL’s main venue being the prestigious MCG, pushing the grand final back would clash with the upcoming cricket season and cause headaches for everyone.
As for the crowd, the 2008 match drew 69,294 fanatical footy fans to the MCG. This wasn’t even an Origin clash, but saw the mighty Victorians face off against an All Stars team made up of interstate players. The game was a massive hit with fans and players, and started the calls to bring back the series.
On a more professional level, player recognition is at the top of the agenda with many players’ hard work not being chosen for All-Australian selection. However, an Origin series would mean more than just 22 players could be recognised for their contribution on the field that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
A state is a state is a state. So says my grandson. —– Then lets add in NT, Qld and NSW as they also have played SOO. —— So lets apportion Statehood to WA, SA & Vic= 3 states Tas= 0.666r of a State (as they are an actual Aussie Rules bastion) QLD= 0.4 (NRL stronghold) NSW= 0.4 (NRL stronghold) NT= 0.5 (AFL stronghold) 3 + 0.666 + 0.8 + 0.5 = 4.966 Rounding to 5 5 out 8 That’s over half. My grandson concurs. (No Koalas were hurt in these calculations)
BigBear
Roar Rookie
less than half the years that SOO has been played, and all of their inclusions irrelevant. Still, I'll concede you half a point. You're now up to 3.5 out of 8.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Tasmania had SOO representations in the following years 1) 78-81 inc, 2) 88-91 inc & 3) 93 9 games —– Einstein was my grandson
BigBear
Roar Rookie
Tassie has never had a SOO side, include QLD, NSW, ACT and NT. So we're looking at 3 of 8. Back to you Einstein
Timmuh
Roar Guru
The rules before the mid-90s were a joke. If the original state wasn't playing (or were a second tier state playing a second tier state) they could play for a non-original state. Pritchard was even picked for Victoria the same weekend that Tasmania played Victoria B. When the rules changed (1993?) they made a lot more sense, and players had only one state. SoO would be great, with real states (and NT). But practicality and broadcasters not wanting to show anything except Victorian games make it a non-starter. Finding a system that works with three teams so far ahead of the others isn't simple either.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
https://youtu.be/5h3OeL_Aek4 SA v WA SOO 1993, one of of many. I dunno if link works
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
4 states is not less than half. —- Also TLC is hardly SOO.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Fair enough
Cat
Roar Guru
He did say states and territories.
Cat
Roar Guru
Oh, I am plenty old enough, just not originally from these parts.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
NSW beat a 3rd grade Vic team.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Vic, SA, WA and Tas is 66% of the states!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Where you played your first gazetted game. —- Obviously you are not old enough to remember the Big V going around smashing the other states with 5 or 6, even up to 8, players of those states playing for the Big V. Gut turning.
Cat
Roar Guru
Which was?
Cat
Roar Guru
SoO works in League at destroying and undermining the actual competition too. Not everyone was born here. Not everyone was raised to hate other people just because they came from a different state. Personally the state rivalries to me are childish at best. Everyone loves an interstate player when they are playing for their chosen side, but when they go 'home' to represent a state side you suddenly hate them? It is ludicrous.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Under the same rules that SOO was played under!!!! Sheesh.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Sorry. Vic, SA and WA are all equal on the SOO ledger from my memory of seeing a final tally after SOO became defunct.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
SOO works in NRL because there is ONLY two sides. —— Victorians underestimate the ‘feeling’ that the SA, WA & Tas have against Victoria for raiding those state’s leagues back in the day. Lines on a map? Works for Qld and NSW.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
SOO started in 1977.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
As a Croweater, I'd love to see the Tassie jumper go around again.