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

[voorhees]

Dumb decision to do it in Feb.

Most players won't want to play a full-on 'serious' game so early in the season, so it will either be

a) A game where all the star players sit out.

b) A game where everyone goes at half rat power because nobody wants to get injured, or is still underdone.

So either a glorified VFL v WAFL game, or a glorified practice match.

pretty much sums it up...
this will be a let down

 

[Sphynx]

Dumb decision to do it in Feb.

Most players won't want to play a full-on 'serious' game so early in the season, so it will either be

a) A game where all the star players sit out.

b) A game where everyone goes at half rat power because nobody wants to get injured, or is still underdone.

So either a glorified VFL v WAFL game, or a glorified practice match.

Or option 3.

Players haven’t had this opportunity for 20+ years and jump at it.

They won’t go at practice match pace, no way, or else they will get embarrassed by their opponent who doesn’t… This will get a massive TV audience.

 

[crows dude]

SA should have been involved. Split Vic up into Metro and country and one plays WA and the other SA. NSW/TAS V NT/QLD

 

[Pistol Night]

SA should have been involved. Split Vic up into Metro and country and one plays WA and the other SA. NSW/TAS V NT/QLD

And this is why its a balls up. Theres no NSW V QLD rivalry like league.

 

[Sphynx]

SA should have been involved. Split Vic up into Metro and country and one plays WA and the other SA. NSW/TAS V NT/QLD

Rome wasn’t built in a day and SA get gather round.

A good way of killing it would be to dilute the Big V.

I’ve always thought if there ever was a return, a Country vs Metro trial game, like in RL, would be enormous in Melbourne

But the rep team always has to be Victoria

 

[HairyO]

Or option 3.

Players haven’t had this opportunity for 20+ years and jump at it.

They won’t go at practice match pace, no way, or else they will get embarrassed by their opponent who doesn’t… This will get a massive TV audience.

And when someone does an ACL... even worse if from a tackle by a team mate.

I hope all our key players are "injured" and unavailable for selection. It stopped for a reason. Bringing it back because Foxtel and 7 will make money on it is a terrible idea.

 

[Dazzler9]

The only way SOO makes a proper comeback is if players and fans alike support their state with the same passion as soccer fans support their country at World Cups. And that just isn't happening in footy.

 

[Sphynx]

And when someone does an ACL... even worse if from a tackle by a team mate.

I hope all our key players are "injured" and unavailable for selection. It stopped for a reason. Bringing it back because Foxtel and 7 will make money on it is a terrible idea.

Yeah well, it happens.

If the concept takes off, the players should and will be massively rewarded for the risk given the revenue it will take in.

 

[Gough]

And when someone does an ACL... even worse if from a tackle by a team mate.

I hope all our key players are "injured" and unavailable for selection. It stopped for a reason. Bringing it back because Foxtel and 7 will make money on it is a terrible idea.

The week of the 14th of Feb can be hamstring awareness week.

 

[Bostonian]

Yeah well, it happens.

If the concept takes off, the players should and will be massively rewarded for the risk given the revenue it will take in.

And how will the clubs be compensated if they lose their best player to long term injury due to a Micky Mouse nothing game?

The players aren't risking anything financial.

Could cost the team far more.

 

[Pistol Night]

The week of the 14th of Feb can be hamstring awareness week.

Some stretching on Valentines Day is a smart option for all of us older folk

 

[oak79]

SA should have been involved. Split Vic up into Metro and country and one plays WA and the other SA. NSW/TAS V NT/QLD

SA should be involved the following year

WA v Vic
Vic v SA
SA v WA

It makes sense to start in WA - they started origin in 1977.
They have a bigger stadium than SA
SA has Gather Round
Fans show up in WA (they had biggest crowds for international rules games)

AFL got this one right

 

[oak79]

Yeah, if it was a genuine night game then the conditions would be great. But the AFL won't be able to help themselves, they'll schedule it at 4:30 and it'll be unbearable.

It's gotta be 5:30 - lines up with 8:30 on East coast for prime time.
Later would be good for the actual game, but not east coast TV, which AFL revolves around.

But yeh, wouldnt be shocked if they did it earlier unfortunately.

 

[Demon13304]

And how will the clubs be compensated if they lose their best player to long term injury due to a Micky Mouse nothing game?

The players aren't risking anything financial.

Could cost the team far more.

I never bought those whole Injury thing here.

Players get injured in preseason games, training, wrestling with their mates, jamming their fingers in a door etc. like shit happens.

I watched one of our best players get knocked out in the first 5 minutes of a final - it didn't make me feel better cos it was in a finals match lol

I'd love to see Origin. If a Melbourne player does a hammy like yeah that would sucks, but it was probably bound to happened anyway and they'd be back by round 1 as well

 

[Demon13304]

It's gotta be 5:30 - lines up with 8:30 on East coast for prime time.
Later would be good for the actual game, but not east coast TV, which AFL revolves around.

But yeh, wouldnt be shocked if they did it earlier unfortunately.

Could do slightly shorter quarters as well so it doesn't finish too late. And 8.30 start wouldn't be too bad on Saturday.

As for the weather, the average temp in Feb (I've only just googled this, never been there myself) is 31 degrees. That's pretty damn warm, but we've had games and grandfinals played in that weather in recent times. As the night goes on it would lower to about 25 in assuming, which is very do-able

 

[Bostonian]

I never bought those whole Injury thing here.

Players get injured in preseason games, training, wrestling with their mates, jamming their fingers in a door etc. like shit happens.

I watched one of our best players get knocked out in the first 5 minutes of a final - it didn't make me feel better cos it was in a finals match lol

Players getting injured during club activities is far different to getting injured in a nothing game.

That's part of the preparation for actual games for points.

This game serves no purpose at all.

Except a cash grab attempt by the AFL.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Or option 3.

Players haven’t had this opportunity for 20+ years and jump at it.

They won’t go at practice match pace, no way, or else they will get embarrassed by their opponent who doesn’t… This will get a massive TV audience.

Until one of them gets injured and misses games.

There is a reason SOO died in the AFL. Clubs were pressuring players to miss it due to the risk of injury being so high.

In case anyone has forgotten, look up "Tony Hall injury State of Origin"

 

[Big Blood]

Perth in February. The worst possible timing and location. We're the only major sport that is too parochial too dominated by our broadcasting relationships to build a representative competition. Pathetic.

 

[JADED]

Is this all because Harley Reid didn't sign with Hawthorn? Anything to get him to wear a Victorian Guernsey.

 

[oak79]

The chip on the shoulder by some South Aussies is unbelievable - there's 3 AFL states! I would have no issue if it was SA v Vic - or SA v WA - but likewise WA v Vic is just as legitimate

WA started origin, and WA fans show up.
Adelaide has gather round

A game in Perth makes sense first up, then rotate between the 3 afl states

 

[Pistol Night]

The chip on the shoulder by some South Aussies is unbelievable - there's 3 AFL states! I would have no issue if it was SA v Vic - or SA v WA - but likewise WA v Vic is just as legitimate

WA started origin, and WA fans show up.
Adelaide has gather round

A game in Perth makes sense first up, then rotate between the 3 afl states

Yeah QLD and NSW if you want origin watch the other code you minnows

 

[Demon13304]

Players getting injured during club activities is far different to getting injured in a nothing game.

That's part of the preparation for actual games for points.

This game serves no purpose at all.

Except a cash grab attempt by the AFL.

I disagree,

I personally don't think there is a different between Jesse Hogan jamming his finger in a Door or getting a broken finger injury during Origin.

Plus I don't think it will mean nothing, I see it as a great experience for the players to play with the best players and coaches from around the competition. A bit of "extra training".

Also yeah everything in the AFL is a cash grab, cos it's entertainment in the end. Shut up and take my money cos I want to watch this lol

Well agree to disagree. I'm personally really keen for this and happy for any Dees player to take part it in

 

[Demon13304]

The chip on the shoulder by some South Aussies is unbelievable - there's 3 AFL states! I would have no issue if it was SA v Vic - or SA v WA - but likewise WA v Vic is just as legitimate

WA started origin, and WA fans show up.
Adelaide has gather round

A game in Perth makes sense first up, then rotate between the 3 afl states

I think this is just a way to see what it looks like, to get the ball rolling.

I think there would be a way to have all states involved, and maybe just tournament that happens every 2 or 3 years to keep it special

 

[Sphynx]

Until one of them gets injured and misses games.

There is a reason SOO died in the AFL. Clubs were pressuring players to miss it due to the risk of injury being so high.

In case anyone has forgotten, look up "Tony Hall injury State of Origin"

The game is far bigger nationally than what it was then.

I was also around, so I know what the issues were.

Players also haven’t played it in over a generation, so yeah, scarcity matters when players fobbed it off because they had played it for 10 years, especially those who had played it when at their SANFL and WAFL clubs in the 80’s

Players will crawl over glass to play this, mark my words

 

[Sphynx]

And how will the clubs be compensated if they lose their best player to long term injury due to a Micky Mouse nothing game?

The players aren't risking anything financial.

Could cost the team far more.

The same way clubs do in soccer if they get injured in a meaningless international friendly.