Origin in a shortened 2020 AFL & NRL

[Kwality]

There can be no doubt that the 9 is looking at an NRL Origin Series late in the year if the opportunity is there. Its the biggest money earner & regularly fills 3 of the 5 top sports telecasts Australia wide.

Suggestion from Jako out of Perth that a similar tournament should be considered by the AFL if any sort of meaningful club comp can be held
West Coast great Glen Jakovich urges AFL to stage ‘serious’ State of Origin series if time runs out for 2020 AFL season

Mark DuffieldThe West Australia

A serous comp not an All Stars training run hit out that was an insult to the concept of Origin & its history pre expansion.
Perhaps someone can put in a bit of detail from behind the paywall.

Carnivals of old between 4 teams were completed in 10 days, I'd prefer 6 teams but want every player to have the opportunity to play.
There was pride on the line not like the All Stars hit out earlier this year.

Be interesting to see whether the AFL/7 see it as a viable alternative & what stadiums might be available. All Australian guernseys at stake.

 

[footyfan1978]

If you had no football until October it would be a plan C for seven to eight week style championship.
Vic
WA
SA
NSW
Qld
Tas

Play each other once then 6th game as follows:
Then 1 v 2 for grand final spot in home state
and 3 v 4 on same weekend to play loser

Next game is virtual prelim final of winner of 3 v 4 plays loser of 1 v 2
That winner plays the leading state in a championship title decider in leading state's home state.

 

[RUNVS]

If you had no football until October it would be a plan C for seven to eight week style championship.
Vic
WA
SA
NSW
Qld
Tas

Play each other once then 6th game as follows:
Then 1 v 2 for grand final spot in home state
and 3 v 4 on same weekend to play loser

Next game is virtual prelim final of winner of 3 v 4 plays loser of 1 v 2
That winner plays the leading state in a championship title decider in leading state's home state.

It would be a good plan C as you could easily extract a few months of football out of Origin. Tasmania should not have its own team though as they don't have enough AFL players to be of a proper standard.

 

[Kwality]

It would be a good plan C as you could easily extract a few months of football out of Origin. Tasmania should not have its own team though as they don't have enough AFL players to be of a proper standard.

Thats why the NRL/9 know its a winner for them.

 

[Kwality]

If you had no football until October it would be a plan C for seven to eight week style championship.
Vic
WA
SA
NSW
Qld
Tas

Play each other once then 6th game as follows:
Then 1 v 2 for grand final spot in home state
and 3 v 4 on same weekend to play loser

Next game is virtual prelim final of winner of 3 v 4 plays loser of 1 v 2
That winner plays the leading state in a championship title decider in leading state's home state.

Would it extract max value for TV, it'd be another FIXture for mine, not sure how to max the value - the NRL version will be short & sweet all big national ratings winners for the TV partners, versus plenty of content for the AFL/7 ?

 

[footyfan1978]

It would be a good plan C as you could easily extract a few months of football out of Origin. Tasmania should not have its own team though as they don't have enough AFL players to be of a proper standard.

"Proper standard" is some meaningless term in this context. If there is no AFL club season you just get the best 22 players available from each state to take part. That is actually the whole idea of if to have all the states take part. You get the best 22 Tassie players from within the AFL and in their local leagues to take part. I want to know how good each state is. This is best way to find out.

 

[RUNVS]

"Proper standard" is some meaningless term in this context. If there is no AFL club season you just get the best 22 players available from each state to take part. That is actually the whole idea of if to have all the states take part. You get the best 22 Tassie players from within the AFL and in their local leagues to take part. I want to know how good each state is. This is best way to find out.

I mean in the context that they would get smashed by every other State of Origin team. They would even get destroyed by Queensland. There would be no natural matchup for them.

 

[Kwality]

It would be a good plan C as you could easily extract a few months of football out of Origin. Tasmania should not have its own team though as they don't have enough AFL players to be of a proper standard.

The NT talent need a chance to compete.

 

[footyfan1978]

I mean in the context that they would get smashed by every other State of Origin team. They would even get destroyed by Queensland. There would be no natural matchup for them.

They not even played so how would you even know if your guess is even close to the mark.
If you go down that line of thinking, there is no reason to have NSW in it either.
Big V just playing a best of rest with your way of thinking and no other state rep teams.
Either you have all states in it, or not have it at all....

 

[Kwality]

They not even played so how would you even know if your guess is even close to the mark.
If you go down that line of thinking, there is no reason to have NSW in it either.
Big V just playing a best of rest with your way of thinking and no other state rep teams.
Either you have all states in it, or not have it at all....

Remember any such comp would have ratings in mind, & beltings arent likely to rate beyond the home market.

 

[longsuffreosupp]

Combine Tas with NT and ACT?

 

[footyfan1978]

Remember any such comp would have ratings in mind, & beltings arent likely to rate beyond the home market.

Does not sound worth doing if it only about tv ratings at that time of year.
Not a fan of state of origin footy except about three weekends before club seasons start.
The more I think about , it does it no justice having it later this year if compromising on the pure footy aspect of it, so not worth even doing then.
Have it and do it properly or not do it at all.

 

[RUNVS]

Have a tier system

Group 1
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia

Group 2
NSW/ACT
Queensland/NT

Group 1 each team plays each other twice, group 2 both teams play each other three times, and then at the end the winner of group 2 plays against the loser of group 1.

 

[Kwality]

Does not sound worth doing if it only about tv ratings at that time of year.
Not a fan of state of origin footy except about three weekends before club seasons start.
The more I think about , it does it no justice having it later this year if compromising on the pure footy aspect of it, so not worth even doing then.
Have it and do it properly or not do it at all.

Playing the GF at a neutral venue would not be well received by HQ.

As for doing it right with 6 teams playing 5 games is an unlikely scenario, IF Origin were to be an option, 3-4 weeks tops imho.

 

[JackFlash]

Fair dinkum, people are going stir crazy!

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Have a tier system

Group 1
Victoria
Western Australia
South Australia

Group 2
NSW/ACT
Queensland/NT

Group 1 each team plays each other twice, group 2 both teams play each other three times, and then at the end the winner of group 2 plays against the loser of group 1.

A tiered system could start with NSW v Qld to decide who goes into division 1.

Then:
Vic, WA, SA, (probably) NSW

Qld, Tas, NT

The problem is the viewing numbers for division two would be very low, so Seven/Fox wouldn't want it. NT and Tas would have some of their best players outside the AFL system - but so what. The AFL is one compeition in the sport if Australian Football. State of Origin would be another.
NSW might be easy fodder for NSW and WA too, but it means the big (footy) markets all get a game each round.

Not that I think there will be time for even that to happen this year, but things are unpredictable.

 

[Kwality]

A tiered system could start with NSW v Qld to decide who goes into division 1.

Then:
Vic, WA, SA, (probably) NSW

Qld, Tas, NT

The problem is the viewing numbers for division two would be very low, so Seven/Fox wouldn't want it. NT and Tas would have some of their best players outside the AFL system - but so what. The AFL is one compeition in the sport if Australian Football. State of Origin would be another.
NSW might be easy fodder for NSW and WA too, but it means the big (footy) markets all get a game each round.

Not that I think there will be time for even that to happen this year, but things are unpredictable.

Time is the reason Origin will be a winner for the NRL & 9, only take a fortnight.

The Aussie footy carnivals of old were 4 teams over 10 days.

Its a 'go to' option when any 2020 team comp is beyond hope, if 9 get League up, 7 will be looking to the AFL,

 

[Kwality]

Seems the hope for some sort of club premiership is still on the NRL agenda:

Quote
'A September 1 competition restart would see the Suncorp decider held on Boxing Day, with financial forecasts projecting a $30 million profit for the code from that game alone.

The ARL Commission is exploring a historic grand final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium this season as part of a State of Origin-style best-of-three series decider that would deliver the NRL an extra $30 million in funding.
As revealed by The Australian on Tuesday, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has fielded a proposal for the NRL to host three grand finals — including one at Queensland’s home of rugby league — to generate extra cash for the code amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The concept will be passed to the newly-formed innovation committee, which will map out strategic events for the NRL premiership this year.

Under the blueprint Suncorp Stadium would host game two of a three-game grand final series.'

Under the NRL’s revised return-to-play schedules, a September 1 resumption would see the grand final played on December 20 at the SCG.'

 

[RUNVS]

Seems the hope for some sort of club premiership is still on the NRL agenda:

Quote
'A September 1 competition restart would see the Suncorp decider held on Boxing Day, with financial forecasts projecting a $30 million profit for the code from that game alone.

The ARL Commission is exploring a historic grand final at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium this season as part of a State of Origin-style best-of-three series decider that would deliver the NRL an extra $30 million in funding.
As revealed by The Australian on Tuesday, ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys has fielded a proposal for the NRL to host three grand finals — including one at Queensland’s home of rugby league — to generate extra cash for the code amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The concept will be passed to the newly-formed innovation committee, which will map out strategic events for the NRL premiership this year.

Under the blueprint Suncorp Stadium would host game two of a three-game grand final series.'

Under the NRL’s revised return-to-play schedules, a September 1 resumption would see the grand final played on December 20 at the SCG.'

Only works if things have settled down by September. I imagine the AFL has similar plans in the works.

 

[Kwality]

Only works if things have settled down by September. I imagine the AFL has similar plans in the works.

Agreed.
If its a September start finish Xmas, what sort of a mess does that make of 2021,why drag the pain out?

Cant help but believe these comments by the NRL are PR.

 

[juss]

If we didn't get a season and we only had limited weeks to play footy, than an origin style comp or series could really make sense and would actually be pretty cool to watch.

The risk is even higher though for clubs releasing players. If there was no AFL in 2020, why the hell would Richmond want to release Dusty in September for a few origin games and risk him doing his knee and missing the entire 2021 season?

 

[juss]

Agreed.
If its a September start finish Xmas, what sort of a mess does that make of 2021,why drag the pain out?

Cant help but believe these comments by the NRL are PR.

Not actually that much. Shortened preseason, and shortened break. (Effectively this period is forced leave).
Take January off, preseason runs Feb/March, preseason games first weeks of April, season begins in mid/late April, and at worst we have a late October grand final. That's very doable and barely an inconvenience based on what we are dealing with now.

 

[RUNVS]

If we didn't get a season and we only had limited weeks to play footy, than an origin style comp or series could really make sense and would actually be pretty cool to watch.

The risk is even higher though for clubs releasing players. If there was no AFL in 2020, why the hell would Richmond want to release Dusty in September for a few origin games and risk him doing his knee and missing the entire 2021 season?

Well the risk of him doing an injury that is long enough to affect the 2021 season is minimal and there could be benefits as well as it means these players are actually playing a few games, rather than not playing a single game of football in almost a year.

 

[RUNVS]

Not actually that much. Shortened preseason, and shortened break. (Effectively this period is forced leave).
Take January off, preseason runs Feb/March, preseason games first weeks of April, season begins in mid/late April, and at worst we have a late October grand final. That's very doable and barely an inconvenience based on what we are dealing with now.

Super easy. Barely an inconvenience.

 

[Kwality]

If we didn't get a season and we only had limited weeks to play footy, than an origin style comp or series could really make sense and would actually be pretty cool to watch.

The risk is even higher though for clubs releasing players. If there was no AFL in 2020, why the hell would Richmond want to release Dusty in September for a few origin games and risk him doing his knee and missing the entire 2021 season?

These are challenging times for the game, if the NRL/9 get Origin off, the pressure from 7 on the AFL will be enormous & an All Stars game wont cut it, IMHO of course.
The passion of NRL Origin is the reason it is regularly 3 of the top 5 highest rating national programs - passion was very obviously missing from the AFL All Stars game, it was a feature of Origin in the pre national comp days.

This is a one off for the AFL footy & it will only come about if any sort of meaningful season can be resurrected, but most of all it will be the pressure from 7 given the AFL is in breach of its contract.