News "State of Origin is back" - Eddie McGuire, March 2025

[Bjo187]

Vic Metro and Vic Country works for under 18s because you're not expecting fans to jump on board. Its there for an entirely different purpose.
Would Vics actually show any support for either split team any more than the rest of us would give flying toss about Allies or All-Stars? Even RL got rid of the City-Country game in NSW almost a decade ago. And that had a long tradition behind it before support collapsed.

I think it definitely would for country people, they'd probably be more passionate for it than a state side. Metro I'd be about the same as if it were a full state side. Maybe just personal opinion though.

The country team is very strong, stronger than s.a and w.a, could beat metro.

 

[The Tilt]

Victoria, SA and WA kind of... ... don't. It only really exists in sport, at least from a Vic point of view.

Really?! Fair enough, not so much from a Victorian point of view, but the anti-Victorian sentiment from WA and SA seems pretty intense.

 

[GC2015]

Really?! Fair enough, not so much from a Victorian point of view, but the anti-Victorian sentiment from WA and SA seems pretty intense.

Perth Stadium will undoubtedly sell out if it's WA v Victoria in SoO next year. 60,000 Sandgropers ready to kick a vic (even though that's more of an SA thing).

 

[iameviljez]

Really?! Fair enough, not so much from a Victorian point of view, but the anti-Victorian sentiment from WA and SA seems pretty intense.

Without wishing to be patronising, it's the classic big brother/little brother thing. Like NZ vs Australia at cricket.

 

[My_Username]

Then VIC vs VIC A

NT vs TAS

ACT can have a bye

Rotate every year.

Every state and territory involved. Victoria have two teams due to the number of players from there

Would you, and most SA football fans, get nearly as invested in SA being split into 2 relatively equal teams (metro and country) when they play smaller (in football terms) states?

I doubt it.

Now reflect on how having Vic fans invested in the idea is critical to the success of the concept (as with everything in the AFL...you can't piss off half the fanbase and expect to succeed).

 

[GC2015]

Without wishing to be patronising, it's the classic big brother/little brother thing. Like NZ vs Australia at cricket.

I'm betting SA footy fans will be incredibly jealous watching the Big V and the Sandgropers go head-to-head next year and will start negotiations to host their own SoO game at Adelaide Oval the following year.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Perth Stadium will undoubtedly sell out if it's WA v Victoria in SoO next year. 60,000 Sandgropers ready to kick a vic (even though that's more of an SA thing).

Its keeping it going, and what happens when its WA v SA or Qld v NSW that's a bigger issue.
Pre-season also means it will likely be poor skills; even by round one the footy is generally pretty poor; and if it remains on the calendar clubs will start pulling players.

I loved origin. I wish it could be a regaular thing. I just can't see it being allowed regularly by clubs, or remaining commercially attractive to rights holders, medium and long term. I seriously hope to be proven wrong.

 

[GC2015]

Its keeping it going, and what happens when its WA v SA or Qld v NSW that's a bigger issue.
Pre-season also means it will likely be poor skills; even by round one the footy is generally pretty poor; and if it remains on the calendar clubs will start pulling players.

I loved origin. I wish it could be a regaular thing. I just can't see it being allowed regularly by clubs, or remaining commercially attractive to rights holders, medium and long term. I seriously hope to be proven wrong.

WA v SA and QLD v NSW actually wouldn't be a bad idea for the second edition of SoO if next year ends up being a success. Winner of WA v SA can play Victoria and the loser can play the winner of QLD v NSW.

 

[Bjo187]

WA v SA and QLD v NSW actually wouldn't be a bad idea for the second edition of SoO if next year ends up being a success. Winner of WA v SA can play Victoria and the loser can play the winner of QLD v NSW.

Ideally you'd start with s.a v w.a and then the winner host Victoria next year. Having the biggest game first year gives you nowhere to move the second year, as having the vics play every year won't work, players will start sitting out.

 

[iameviljez]

Honestly, when considering State of Origin now, it's worth considering what has actually changed State of Origin's heyday in the 1980s:

• The AFL is now seen as a national league with Victorian bias, rather than a state league
• The SANFL and WAFL no longer has top-line talent. In the mid-80s, the vast majority of SA and WA's teams played in their own leagues.
• Just a guess, but I don't think people are as strongly identified with their state as they once were.
• Every state that has a team, now has two, and has won multiple AFL premierships.
• Equalisation has had an effect, so players like Doug Hawkins, Trevor Barker, Paul Roos etc who played for clubs which didn't have the financial means to compete for a flag during their careers, no longer exist as such

I just don't think that egg gets unscrambled.

 

[My_Username]

Honestly, when considering State of Origin now, it's worth considering what has actually changed State of Origin's heyday in the 1980s:

• The AFL is now seen as a national league with Victorian bias, rather than a state league
• The SANFL and WAFL no longer has top-line talent. In the mid-80s, the vast majority of SA and WA's teams played in their own leagues.
• Just a guess, but I don't think people are as strongly identified with their state as they once were.
• Every state that has a team, now has two, and has won multiple AFL premierships.
• Equalisation has had an effect, so players like Doug Hawkins, Trevor Barker, Paul Roos etc who played for clubs which didn't have the financial means to compete for a flag during their careers, no longer exist as such

I just don't think that egg gets unscrambled.

Another part is that travel is much more regular now.

With 'old' SOO, they had their fingers on scales to help the WA/SA teams compete.
The Vics almost always played away, and in addition to the travel, the hometown crowds, umpires, etc all helped make the games a lot more even (If you don't believe me, compare those results to the few games played in Vic).

There was also a differential in pride....In WA/SA, in terms of talent and skill, SOO was the peak of football...For the VFL players, it wasn't that different to the games they played every week (a little more talent, but less tactical and more 'bruise free').

 

[GC2015]

This is possibly a great indication that State of Origin will be a success on Channel 7 when they presumably bring it back in February 2026. They just need to make sure they get the right people involved to ensure there's interest like last night. It would certainly help if the game is highly competitive as well so hopefully WA bring their A game!

 

[iameviljez]

This is possibly a great indication that State of Origin will be a success on Channel 7 when they presumably bring it back in February 2026. They just need to make sure they get the right people involved to ensure there's interest like last night. It would certainly help if the game is highly competitive as well so hopefully WA bring their A game!

This stuff does really well as a one-off - the issue is always scarcity.

 

[Bjo187]

This stuff does really well as a one-off - the issue is always scarcity.

That's why you rotate these things to keep them fresh. State of origin, indigenous, legends game, international rules, women's state of origin and women's international rules. It works if done right, which I don't trust Dillon has the brains for unfortunately.

One concern I have is, the w.a team and it stars have been poor this year, I actually think s.a would be stronger to go early next year, with the emergence of Thilthorpe, Nas, Dawson, Kozzie Pickett, Bailey etc.

They're likely too far down the track now, but I'd go s.a v vic for 2026 then w.a v vic for 2027, I think the game would be more competitive and you're getting 2 years of content with much hype, before having a break. Or you could go w.a v s.a the third year, then indigenous the 4th year and then start again.

 

[GenericUsername202]

I think instead of trying to get every state covered, split it. Have a QLD vs NSW game and have a VIC/WA and VIC vs SA the next year.

 

[GC2015]

I think instead of trying to get every state covered, split it. Have a QLD vs NSW game and have a VIC/WA and VIC vs SA the next year.

Not a bad idea. QLD v NSW sells itself because there is an existing rivalry and both teams would be able to field fairly strong teams these days after the recent success of the northern academies. Rotating the traditional three states would be great as well, but I would make sure Victoria don't play at home because that would make it too one-sided IMO. WA and SA should host the Vics and you just hope the home ground advantage evens things out. You could also look into an NT v Tasmania game in the future if you want to get the whole country involved.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Not a bad idea. QLD v NSW sells itself because there is an existing rivalry and both teams would be able to field fairly strong teams these days after the recent success of the northern academies. Rotating the traditional three states would be great as well, but I would make sure Victoria don't play at home because that would make it too one-sided IMO. WA and SA should host the Vics and you just hope the home ground advantage evens things out. You could also look into an NT v Tasmania game in the future if you want to get the whole country involved.

It would also be really competitive, given how even the talent pool is between these two states. Vic vs WA would be a complete blowout tbh, and no one wants to see that. It would also be good for the exposure of the game up here because it's one thing to follow the lions or swans or suns, but it's another to see an AFL team with true queenslanders in it.

 

[GC2015]

It would also be really competitive, given how even the talent pool is between these two states. Vic vs WA would be a complete blowout tbh, and no one wants to see that. It would also be good for the exposure of the game up here because it's one thing to follow the lions or swans or suns, but it's another to see an AFL team with true queenslanders in it.

It would be interesting to see Hawthorn's Mabior Chol lining up in maroon and Adelaide's Tex Walker lining up in sky blue up the other end. Even seeing teammates Ben Keays and Tex Walker playing against each other would be interesting.

 

[The_Reaper]

The best solution which keeps it rare enough that players want to take part and often enough to be worthwile is a a cup every 4 years.
States can rotate between hosts.

 

[GenericUsername202]

It would be interesting to see Hawthorn's Mabior Chol lining up in maroon and Adelaide's Tex Walker lining up in sky blue up the other end. Even seeing teammates Ben Keays and Tex Walker playing against each other would be interesting.

Also, i know most people are saying it should be done pre-season, but isn't a post season state of origin better? Having it pre-season would be too risky given minor injuries that may occur, but having it 2 weeks after the GF. Or even 1 month would be great and it wouldn't effect the next season at all. The only issue would be the training required for it, because a lot of teams who don't make finals would stop training at the end of august, so maybe you would have to do call ups in August so those who are apart of it could continue training.

 

[Bjo187]

GC2015 and GenericUsername202 do you think a state game would get much traction up there? I assume QLD would get behind it to a degree, but nsw I'm not sure, so I'd play the first one at the gabba. But yeah interested to hear if you guys think it would get much media attention at all up there?

 

[GenericUsername202]

GC2015 and GenericUsername202 do you think a state game would get much traction up there? I assume QLD would get behind it to a degree, but nsw I'm not sure, so I'd play the first one at the gabba. But yeah interested to hear if you guys think it would get much media attention at all up there?

Wouldn't get the figures that Origin gets for league, but I could see it ratings a million + nationally, and it'll probably grow from there.

 

[Cmarsh]

GC2015 and GenericUsername202 do you think a state game would get much traction up there? I assume QLD would get behind it to a degree, but nsw I'm not sure, so I'd play the first one at the gabba. But yeah interested to hear if you guys think it would get much media attention at all up there?

Really needs more playing depth to make it viable longer term.

 

[Bjo187]

Really needs more playing depth to make it viable longer term.

QLD in 5 years will be a force, NSW draftee numbers going neither up or down, but they'd wanna get in before guys like heeney retire.

 

[GC2015]

GC2015 and GenericUsername202 do you think a state game would get much traction up there? I assume QLD would get behind it to a degree, but nsw I'm not sure, so I'd play the first one at the gabba. But yeah interested to hear if you guys think it would get much media attention at all up there?

Queenslanders (Brisbane people in particular) are generally pretty passionate about their state and the best example of that would be the rugby league team that always pulls big crowds and gets a huge amount of media attention. It's not uncommon to see businesses in Brisbane CBD colouring their building/offices maroon in the week of a state game. If the Lions and Suns are well represented, which they obviously would be, then I think you'd definitely Queenslanders showing up out of curiosity, if nothing else.

Not so sure about New South Welshmen. I'd probably play this hypothetical state game in Brisbane for that reason.