The NRL State of Origin series has an immense following each and every year, why not the AFL?
I have an idea that I proposed about 20 years ago and that was actually published in the West Australian and I see don’t see any reasons for it to fail.
The first objective is staging an Origin series is to give it relevance. I don’t follow cricket anymore but back in the day, when the West Indies, England and Australia (and the other strong nations of course) would contest the one-day tri-series, it was exciting and entertaining.
But ask a person a year down the track about that series, most people would need to be reminded of which teams actually played, let alone who won. There was no relevance to the games, they were merely revenue-raising events to support the Test series, as they are today along with T20.
So the AFL Origin needs to have relevance. It needs to be remembered otherwise it is doomed.
In an AFL Origin the state teams would be formed as is normally the case by state of birth. Players born in the ACT would represent NSW. The Northern Territory players could form a team in their own right or the players could be zoned to WA, SA and Queensland. But that is a matter of debate for the powers to be. The crux of my idea lies in the format of the series.
Each year a weekend is set aside for Origin, possibly aligned within the bye weeks.
For convenience, let’s say that the NT players are representing other states in this scenario. We would then have Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland.
(Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
These states would be rated one to six based on the previous Origin series but for the first series a little common sense would be required.
It is, however, something that would also have to be determined in a logical way because the first three or four years of such a series would be greatly influenced by the decisions.
The series would consist of the top ranked team playing the second ranked team, as well as three versus four and five versus six.
The winner of the one versus two game is the AFL champion state. The loser of that game is demoted to third-ranked status for the series the following year.
The same applies to the three versus four game and the five versus six game where the winner is promoted one ranking position and the loser is demoted one position. In the case of the sixth-ranked team losing, they obviously remain in sixth position.
The following year the same system is in place and over time the possibility of any state winning the championship is real.
No doubt the three big states would dominate but the opportunity is there for any state to win. I am thinking here of Tasmania in the ’60s when it was absolutely a creditable scenario.
As stated, the series would be played over a weekend and each game would have stand-alone status on Friday night and Saturday afternoon and night with perhaps the championship game played on the Saturday night.
I know that I would have an interest in AFL State of Origin in such a format because there is a stake in place.
Matty
Roar Rookie
It can be revived, anything is possible if there is the drive for it. Despite what many of the cynics write when they comment on these posts the majority of AFL fans respect and admire the concept, the 2008 and 2020 revivals both sell outs are clear evidence people are prepared to support it and in both occasions no major injuries happened as everybody was trying their best to avoid it and they got it right with a higher interchange. State Rivalry is very much alive especially in light of recent events. The AFL not making the most of this opportunity is like finding a gold mine but opting not to mine it.
Sean
Guest
Would there be as enough hatred between the states? Reason why NRL origin works. Is the constant hatred of NSW by QLD.... Before origin started .. between 1908-81 (the one off games in 1980-81)interstate matches were played by where you loved.,..and with rich Sydney clubs snapping up the best players in QLD..it was basically the kangaroos vs the best of the QLD cup ....no wonder the maroons were fired up when they got their players back in 1980...do any of the AFL states have that kind of hatred?0
Matt Bolin
Guest
I would love to see that, I really enjoyed the 2020 state of origin match for bushfire relief, it was sold out and had people hi fiving me through the streets of the cbd because victoria won, I would relish at seeing the state on state version.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
You may call it arrogance. You are entitled to your opinion but it is not fact and it is based on nothing other than your opinion. The record speaks for itself. It seems to me to be inevitable that the state with the greatest population density and with more teams than the rest of the states combined, is always going to have an advantage over other states by sheer wait of numbers. Over 50% of all AFL players are from Victoria alone. This will, IMO always make it somewhat Victorian centric for the forseeable future, for good or bad. If that is arrogance, so be it.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
I rate Qld state of origin teams and institution as one of the best in the world, right up there with the All Blacks, and West Indies Cricket of the 1970s/80s. What I love about Qld is their humility and groundedness despite the great success they have. This is in stark contrast to nsw who given the slightest sniff of a victory are arrogant and over the top. Meninga's run as coach is now the stuff of legend and folklore.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
I rate QLD SOO teams/institution as one of the best in the world, right up there with the All Blacks, and West Indies Cricket of the 1970s/80s. What I love about QLD SOO is their humility and groundedness despite the great success they have. This is in stark contrast to NSW who given the slightest sniff of a victory are arrogant and generally moronic. Meninga's run as coach is now the stuff of legend and folklore.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
I remember that 1977 game. It was in October after the completed season when traditionally Vic players were half tanked or hung over. But W.A had a heap of champions in their team and playing the Vics was like the ultimate grand final, so the W.A boys were primed and pumped. Basil Campbell cleaned up Don Scott early on. Basil is another Tiwi Islander and was a human cannon ball, he set the scene for the rest of the match and W.A ran all over the Vics as they were just too good. The usual scenario as I recall it was that if games were played in Melbourne Vics would win easily. Hence to help keep the concept alive games were rarely played in Melbourne. Plus Melbournians didn’t support it in big numbers. Priority was always the VFL premiership, as it generally was for players and coaches too. Apart from that initial match in October, games away from Melbourne would usually result in a margin a goal or 2 and in front of packed crowds. W.A and S.A crowds were enthusiastic and it was the pinnacle to beat Victoria. So games away from Victoria’s home ground were actively promoted by the League. Despite Teddy Whitten doing his best to try to whip up some parochialism for a few years the concept was never as strong in Victoria and did die it’s natural death in the shadow of winning the premiership. Teddy’s phrase of “we stuck it up em” got some mileage and he almost single handedly kept the concept alive in Victoria for a while. I think when he was on his last legs the League gave Teddy and Vic an origin game at the G. People did come in droves to honour and farewell a Legend of the game and Vics slaughtered the opposition on their home turf. As for narcissists, that’s usually people who have quite an insular worldview with a raging inferiority complex compensated by delusions of grandeur. Might be one or two in South Aus.
The Recalcitrant
Guest
Even before the state of origin concept came in the late 1970s to football noone was that excited by it. When it came in, Victoria used to always play away during the 1980s in order to get a crowd in Adelaide and Perth. As soon as the national competition came in, SoO was rendered irrelevent. The players are already groaning about playing 22 rounds plus finals. You see it once or twice and you get over it. Play more rounds of serious home and away footy before that state crap.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
NRL qualification for SOO is a bit of a mish mash. They want all the best players playing so they are happy to having Fijian, Samoan, Tongan, PNG & a couple Kiwis. Greg Inglis & Israel Folau were born in NSW but played for Qld. If the AFL brings in Origin matches in any format I hope they have strict guidelines.
Seymorebutts
Guest
Well I think the win loss record between the big three sides is actually even as one other poster pointed out. Gotta admit, even as a Sandgroper I always liked the Big V jumper.. thats actually the strip my club side in Perth used to wear, though we had black instead of navy blue. ;]
Seymorebutts
Guest
Dont forget the sharks.. thats another selling point! ha ha
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It's a moot point
Mooty
Roar Rookie
Love your handle Hedley, wish I’d come up with that
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Ha! I am originally from Shepparton! Good to see our reputation for intelligent conversation endures :laughing:
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
I would love to see it - I still wear a Big V jumper when my FNQ workplace has "wear your favourite team jumper" days. Unfortunately Victoria is so far ahead of the next level states - SA and WA - not to mention the vast gulf between Vic and the other, smaller states, that it would be a mismatch for the ages. Even diehard supporters and Origin lovers like myself would struggle to get excited about the regular 20 goal victories for Victoria that would inevitably result. GO AHEAD, CHANGE MY MIND :laughing:
Gary
Roar Rookie
The Roar editors should force contributers to read all responses from the previous year's AFL SoO articles and then ask them if they think their article adds value to the "discussion"... and even then they should have their "status" changed from "Rookie"/ "Expert" etc to " Dunce".
Willie
Roar Rookie
I for one really miss State of Origin. As an expat South Australian living in NSW, I get a taste of what the AFL is missing every year. It is intense and it is special. I don't watch NRL often, but I always watch Origin. Of course it so much easier for the NRL because their game is primarily played from grass roots in two states, and as we have seen during Covid there is no love lost been those two states. Strategically the AFL chose to focus on building the game of AFL nationally and they have made genuine progress in that. Strategy involves making choices, and unfortunately State of Origin was the price paid. On a slightly unrelated note, one thing that really irks me is that 2 clubs have assumed ownership of AFL on ANZAC day. It's as if Diggers only came from Victoria. A traditional derby game every ANZAC day between Port & Crows, WCE & Freo, Brisbane & Gold Coast, as well as between the Victorian pairs of team on rotation each year, would be fairer and more engaging on ANZAC Day for everyone.
Willie
Roar Rookie
Perhaps SAs greatest win. No state of origin rules in those days.
Willie
Roar Rookie
I think the some player from Adelaide was Neil Kerley, and let me tell you, he was some player, especially against the Vics. He and Teddy were actually good mates.
Nat
Roar Guru
Why? What are you afraid of? Both Union and League have been playing these 'cultural' games for years and they've been awesome and well supported. NZ Moari All Blacks have been around much longer. Do you think it is devisive to celebrate a particular culture in a game like this? What are your thoughts on Indigenous round then?