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That's where you have to be mindful of the frequency in which these state games are played. The novelty will likely die pretty quickly if you play it every year. Every second year might be the way to go.
If this Victoria v WA match does go ahead in February, then we're going to get some clarity on the eligibility rules. Will Ashcroft would likely make a best 23 squad for Victoria so if he's not selected then that obviously means he's been classed as a Queenslander. We'll also find out if Charlie Cameron is considered a West Aussie because he live in WA from ages 17-19, as opposed to the first 17 years he lived in Queensland. I suspect both will be classed as Queenslanders and won't compete in the SoO match in February, even though both should warrant selection if they were eligible for those states.
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I tend to agree, but all the media talk so far whether SoO will or won't be bought back has been around Vic/SA/WA which IMO is short sighted as there is potential for the non traditional states to be involved in their own right.
Having the Ashcroft brothers playing for Queensland feels like the right thing to do. It would certainly be great for the competitiveness of a SoO competition considering how strong Victoria is regardless of whether the Ashcrofts are in the team AND how much weaker Queensland would be without the Ashcrofts. If SoO 2026 is a success then scheduling a 2027 edition with SA v Victoria and NSW v Queensland would be a great way to follow up and turn it into more of a national competition.
Pretty sure Xharlie and Wil would be Queenslanders under the rules that changed early-to-mid 1990s (1993?) so players only had one state. Levi might just scrape as a Vic instead.
www.afl.com.au
The AFL should throw a NSW vs QLD one in as well. I feel like both teams would be quite even and it would do well. SA and WA should rotate each year, but i think the AFL will use this to see if there's interest in expanding it.
Not mecessarilu, the old rules were based on the samne age - but only on where you LIVED. This is how Tom Hawkins played for All-Stars *NSW) despite his Victorian schooling in that age bracket.Looks like a State of Origin announcement is imminent and it's as we expected - WA v Victoria @ Perth Stadium on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Interestingly, Andrew Dillon provided clarity on the likely eligibility rules by stating "I think it will be about where you spent the most substantial part of your teenage years, which is what it has been historically."
So this means both Ashcroft boys would be eligible to represent Victoria, but Charlie Cameron wouldn't be eligible to respresent Western Australia as he spent the majority of his teenage years in Queensland. It'll be interesting to see how they view a player like Lachie Weller who lived in Tasmania from the ages of 13-15.5 and in Queensland from ages 15.5-18.5 before being drafted to the Fremantle. I'd assume that rules him in the Queensland category due to spending a few more months up north, but who knows.
Also, the article seems to suggest boarders would potentially be eligible to represent the state they boarded in. That means a player like Daniel Rioli, who is very clearly NOT Victorian and is a loud + proud Northern Territorian, would be eligible to represent the Big V because he started boarding school in Ballarat at 14 years of age. Surely that won't be allowed...
No change to father-son rule, State of Origin announcement 'soon'
The return of State of Origin is gathering pace
AFL’s big State of Origin ruling
Under the AFL’s State of Origin eligibility rules, some of the game’s biggest stars could represent unexpected states when the game returns in 2026.au.news.yahoo.com
Problem is, the Ashcrofts weren't boarders. They actually relocated the whole family to Melbourne in Will's 15th year.
You'd think they would find a way to ensure the Ashcrofts end up in a maroon jumper if they are thinking about the future of this concept. It would be so easy for Victoria to replace the Ashcrofts given their depth. Queensland would be significantly disadvantaged without these two born and bred Queenslanders in the team.
Surely it should be what state you were born in. You know, state of origin.
I thought one boarded briefly before the move. Anyway, yes, it is possible one would be Victorian and one Queenslander due to the ages when the family moved. I can't recall the ages used in the final version of old SoO rules - once players had one state only.
Looks like a State of Origin announcement is imminent and it's as we expected - WA v Victoria @ Perth Stadium on Saturday, February 14, 2026. Interestingly, Andrew Dillon provided clarity on the likely eligibility rules by stating "I think it will be about where you spent the most substantial part of your teenage years, which is what it has been historically."
So this means both Ashcroft boys would be eligible to represent Victoria, but Charlie Cameron wouldn't be eligible to respresent Western Australia as he spent the majority of his teenage years in Queensland. It'll be interesting to see how they view a player like Lachie Weller who lived in Tasmania from the ages of 13-15.5 and in Queensland from ages 15.5-18.5 before being drafted to the Fremantle. I'd assume that rules him in the Queensland category due to spending a few more months up north, but who knows.
Also, the article seems to suggest boarders would potentially be eligible to represent the state they boarded in. That means a player like Daniel Rioli, who is very clearly NOT Victorian and is a loud + proud Northern Territorian, would be eligible to represent the Big V because he started boarding school in Ballarat at 14 years of age. Surely that won't be allowed...
No change to father-son rule, State of Origin announcement 'soon'
The return of State of Origin is gathering paceAFL’s big State of Origin ruling
Under the AFL’s State of Origin eligibility rules, some of the game’s biggest stars could represent unexpected states when the game returns in 2026.
There may be an technicality at play that I hadn't considered. It would appear Will Ashcroft returned to Queensland in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic cancelling all junior footy in Victoria and he played some junior footy for Morningside in the lower levels of the QAFL. So that would mean he spent all his years between 0-14, part of his 15th and part of his 16th years in Queensland. Surely that qualifies him as a Queenslander...
Does Wil Powell make the team?
Darcy Cameron
Yeah it's a bit rough on Tassie, but at least they're getting an AFL team rightttttt
