Unofficial Preview AFL State of Origin: WA vs BigV, Sat 14 Feb 7:40pm (AEDT) @ Optus Stadium

[goyoucatters]

He shouldn't be but its his last chance to play and hes a HOF and a huge name that will get people to watch i can understand why hes been picked.

Absolutely. And you can also understand why he wants to play. Nobody is twisting his arm here.

 

[you pick one]

Mickey Mouse game.

I seen a Mickey Mouse game turn into something else a few years back now a practise match at Carrara Cats v Suns ex Hawk Campbell Brown came with the intent of cleaning up as many Geelong players as possible from the first bounce fortunately karma struck he missed a Cat collected a team mate injured himself before halftime and that was his night finished.

 

[iameviljez]

Hate the idea of players doing this and getting hurt

I know could happen anywhere - just not a fan of that..

Did luv watching GAS back in the day however

Go Catters

Completely agree with you. I have no issue with players being in this kind of game, but it has to mean... ... something? Not some half-arsed attempt to restart a rivalry whose time is done.

 

[iameviljez]

I seen a Mickey Mouse game turn into something else a few years back now a practise match at Carrara Cats v Suns ex Hawk Campbell Brown came with the intent of cleaning up as many Geelong players as possible from the first bounce fortunately karma struck he missed a Cat collected a team mate injured himself before halftime and that was his night finished.

Thankfully we're a bit more professional now than we once were.

 

[standupand]

Completely agree with you. I have no issue with players being in this kind of game, but it has to mean... ... something? Not some half-arsed attempt to restart a rivalry whose time is done.

I'm staggered people would call state of origin Mickey mouse.

Representative football in any code at any level, let alone the highest, is to absolutely to play for.

 

[iameviljez]

I'm staggered people would call state of origin Mickey mouse.

Representative football in any code at any level, let alone the highest, is to absolutely to play for.

... do you remember the last State of Origin game in 1999? It was a soulless joke. Fans didn't show up, players pulled out, so fans didn't show, so players pulled out... it became a real chicken-and-egg scenario.

The Olympics needed to change the representation rules for soccer because the players just didn't really care for it - not when there was a European Championship or a World Cup. There are similar issues with international friendlies - which, essentially, this is equivalent to.

 

[standupand]

... do you remember the last State of Origin game in 1999? It was a soulless joke. Fans didn't show up, players pulled out, so fans didn't show, so players pulled out... it became a real chicken-and-egg scenario.

The Olympics needed to change the representation rules for soccer because the players just didn't really care for it - not when there was a European Championship or a World Cup. There are similar issues with international friendlies - which, essentially, this is equivalent to.

The biggest issue was the growing reluctance of clubs to release players. That has to be dealt with properly contractually. The format has to be done properly too I would say. A carnival, gather round type week, mid-season, involving all states, and held somewhere outside Victoria.
I can't really think of a bigger honour for a player to play in a representative team. More of an honour than making the "All-Australian" team which never actually plays a game of football together.

 

[iameviljez]

The biggest issue was the growing reluctance of clubs to release players. That has to be dealt with properly contractually. The format has to be done properly too I would say. A carnival, gather round type week, mid-season, involving all states, and held somewhere outside Victoria.
I can't really think of a bigger honour for a player to play in a representative team. More of an honour than making the "All-Australian" team which never actually plays a game of football together.

Matthew Lloyd and Robert Walls were completely upfront that the players themselves were not keen for it. I think blaming the clubs is wishful thinking.

There is a bigger honour than state footy - premiership player.

 

[standupand]

Matthew Lloyd and Robert Walls were completely upfront that the players themselves were not keen for it. I think blaming the clubs is wishful thinking.

There is a bigger honour than state footy - premiership player.

There's a difference between honour and success. I'm sure it's an honour for Lawson Humphries to pull on the hoops for eg whether or not we win the flag, but probably a bigger honour for him to represent WA or an Indigenous side.

 

[iameviljez]

There's a difference between honour and success. I'm sure it's an honour for Lawson Humphries to pull on the hoops for eg whether or not we win the flag, but probably a bigger honour for him to represent WA or an Indigenous side.

Whatever the semantics, there is no getting around the fact that by the end of the 90s, players were pulling out of SOO at silly rates.

 

[Vdubs]

Really don't see why we need Stewart and Cameron playing, with one coming off a broken arm and the other now copping an injury every few games and with a history of concussion. There are enough high-quality but healthier players available for Vic.

Tbh, those injuries were almost 5 months before this game.
With CS as coach, if he has any misgivings, they will not be in.
Maybe these 2 being in the twilight of their careers, actually really want to be involved.

 

[Vdubs]

Agreed. We should be preserving and managing Danger as much as possible. Having him disrupt his pre-season to do this, where he can get banged-up more and risk injury, doesn't lend itself well to that goal. Aside from that, I would no longer consider Dangerfield to be one of the top Victorian players anymore. Yes, he had a great prelim but that was a literal once-in-a-season performance. Why not let some other, younger players shine?

I'm getting the feeling that a lot of coaches don't want their top players participating, but given our coach has said yes to the coaching gig, he now feels obliged to allow an abundance of Cats players to be picked in their stead.

He (CS) can use them as he pleases too. Watch that space. Sparingly if needed.
It's the sort of occasion Danger can do his thing, with many weeks to recover for his next one.
And peak Danger is still right up there.
'That they are only cameos now is somerthing we have to allow for.
On another note, I would keep him out of every interstate game, minimising his travel load, which is hefty anyway from Moggs Creek. Mangement must be a priority for him this year, whether he objects or not.
But this high level practice game, I have little concerrn.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Hinkley29]

I can see this game being like the nba all star game - no defence, crazy high scoring, the odd highlight and a lot of boredom

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Question...does anyone actually believe the players will actually go hard at this?? Or it will just turn into an end to end shoot out drill with 50 goals kicked??

Im almost betting the house on the latter

 

[AM]

Hate the idea of players doing this and getting hurt

I know could happen anywhere - just not a fan of that..

Did luv watching GAS back in the day however

Go Catters

My interest in the game extends only to not wanting any of our players to be injured. I doubt I’ll bother watching it.

 

[dazbroncos]

My only interest will be seeing the box score at the end... scrolling past that to see the injured list..... and thus moving on

GO Catters

 

[Seeds]

Supporters putting club before state representation are being a bit selfish.

Especially when its a month out from the season and simply replaces a practise game to gain needed match fitness.

These games used to be played mid week in the middle of the season. These club first arguments had some basis then. None now.

 

[Seeds]

Does western australia not celebrate valentines day?

How do they expect to get a crowd on a day every women with a partner demands constant attention. There is no hope in hell I could go to this game. I wont even be able to watch it.

Self sabotage by the afl?

I mean seriously its worse then playing it on xmas day.

 

[cats_09]

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I can see this game being like the nba all star game - no defence, crazy high scoring, the odd highlight and a lot of boredom

That's how the SOO bushfire fundraiser went in 2020 but I wasn't bored.

 

[calder_daddy]

Does western australia not celebrate valentines day?

How do they expect to get a crowd on a day every women with a partner demands constant attention. There is no hope in hell I could go to this game. I wont even be able to watch it.

Self sabotage by the afl?

I mean seriously its worse then playing it on xmas day.

Not all women need to wined and dined for a gimmick day.
I for one know my wife will be appreciative with some flowers, dinner, kids in bed early and watch another gimmick that is the state of origin.

This could go down as your worst post/insight yet

 

[Tony Barber]

Does western australia not celebrate valentines day?

How do they expect to get a crowd on a day every women with a partner demands constant attention. There is no hope in hell I could go to this game. I wont even be able to watch it.

Self sabotage by the afl?

I mean seriously its worse then playing it on xmas day.

You have to kidding me.
You're talking about a minority. Put your thinking cap on. Take her out the day before.

Relationships are give and take right?

BTW, the AFL didn't choose anything. The WA government are paying for it. They chose.
The stadium will be full.

 

[Seeds]

You have to kidding me.
You're talking about a minority. Put your thinking cap on. Take her out the day before.

Relationships are give and take right?

BTW, the AFL didn't choose anything. The WA government are paying for it. They chose.
The stadium will be full.

Ok someone doesnt know the majority of women under 40 if you think you can just do it the day before. They are obsessed with exact dates being observed. Anniversaries, birthdays, xmas lunch. All has to be on the exact day. And you think we want to do valentines day? Ugggh. Its an unwritten mandatory requirement if you dont want to be sleeping on the couch for a week.

 

[Seeds]

Not all women need to wined and dined for a gimmick day.
I for one know my wife will be appreciative with some flowers, dinner, kids in bed early and watch another gimmick that is the state of origin.

This could go down as your worst post/insight yet

Having to use the phrase "Not all" is not a great start to your argument.

And see even your enlightened wife (lucky you) still needs dinner and kids in bed early. Which means if you were in perth you couldnt go to the game.