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

[Scotland]

I think if there is any chance for NSW/QLD to have any hope of fielding a decent side, they’d need to reduce the burden of potential players.

I understand why they’d set a higher bar for the Victorian team, but having that bar for every state makes little sense.

Too bad so sad. They already have teams in a national competition that is compromised to their advantage in terms of access to local players. No other comp has such a ridiculous double standard when it comes to signing players.

Super Rugby has teams in Qld, NSW, ACT and WA and the NRL will soon have them in Qld, NSW, ACT, WA, Vic and NZ and everyone knows where 90% of the players are from. You don't see Cam Smith and Billy Slater and Cam Munster etc. being called up for some Vic rep team because they played for the Storm for ages. They play for Qld because they are from Qld.

We saw on the weekend the sheer depth of talent Victoria has over the second biggest footy state. On a good day we have a centre line or a forward line etc. as good, but we don't have the likes of Butters, Rowell, Bailey Smith etc. on the bench. It's part of the fun of SOO. Most of the time Victoria have the strongest team and most of the time that translates to them winning. But like the All Blacks or US basketball team or any other team that drinks their own bath water they don't have a 100% record and it's highly satisfying to beat them.

 

[Pistol Night]

Too bad so sad. They already have teams in a national competition that is compromised to their advantage in terms of access to local players. No other comp has such a ridiculous double standard when it comes to signing players.

Super Rugby has teams in Qld, NSW, ACT and WA and the NRL will soon have them in Qld, NSW, ACT, WA, Vic and NZ and everyone knows where 90% of the players are from. You don't see Cam Smith and Billy Slater and Cam Munster etc. being called up for some Vic rep team because they played for the Storm for ages. They play for Qld because they are from Qld.

We saw on the weekend the sheer depth of talent Victoria has over the second biggest footy state. On a good day we have a centre line or a forward line etc. as good, but we don't have the likes of Butters, Rowell, Bailey Smith etc. on the bench. It's part of the fun of SOO. Most of the time Victoria have the strongest team and most of the time that translates to them winning. But like the All Blacks or US basketball team or any other team that drinks their own bath water they don't have a 100% record and it's highly satisfying to beat them.

Even the NBA All Star game had a modicum of defence and effort today. The tide might be turning back to giving a **** about performance in these type of showcases

 

[Corn Cobbers]

How about THREE divisions

Eg 2027

Rank the teams 1-6

1. Vic
2. SA
3. WA
4. NSW/ACT
5. Qld/NT
6. Tas

Lower ranked gets the home game

Div 1 SA v Vic
Div 2 NSW/ACT v WA
Div 3 Tas v Qld/NT

Let's say SA, WA and Qld/NT win, losers of div 1 and 2 relegated for 2028, winners of Div 2 and 3 promoted

2028

Rankings

1. SA
2. WA
3. Vic
4. Qld/NT
5. NSW/ACT
6. Tas

Div 1 WA v SA
Div 2 Qld/NT v Vic
Div 3 Tas v NSW/ACT

Now if eg WA, Vic and Tas win

2029

Div 1 Vic v WA
Div 2 Tas v SA
Div 3 NSW/ACT v Qld

Etc

Winner of Div 1 is the national champion for that year

 

[Dan26]

Us non vic footy fans have been fighting against Vic v the rest for so long, and after a good contest like we saw on Saturday you want to reign that back into an exhibition where nobody really cares about the result... particularly the "rest of Australia" boys.

It also always guarantees a moral victory for Victoria ....if they win, well they beat everyone else....if they lose, well it took everyone else to beat us.

The days of Vic v meaningless composite teams should be consigned to history

I'd rather see WA lose to Victoria and given the chance to have a crack at it than see an all stars team beat Victoria

It's the highest standard match possible for Aussie Rules. To suggest SA and WA people are not interested in the highest standard match that is possible to be played is insulting. Do you not like football or something? It was played in 2008 and it was played with no less intensity than Saturday nights game. I was at the 2008 match so I'd know. It also rated through the roof in SA and WA. Through the roof. It was a ratings hit.

Do you want to see Aussie Rules with two equally matched sides played at its highest level or not?

And the fact that Victoria is in the match makes it work. Everyone hates the Vics and wants to beat them. SA fans didn't turn up the last time they played WA in 1998 (the crowd was a pathetic 18,000), but S.O.O isn't about South Australia. It's about playing agaisnt and beating Victoria and always has been. Victoria as an opponent is the golden goose.

The 1998 match between SA and WA was a low-attended joke. No South Australians gave a shit about it. They only care when Victoria is the opponent. That might be an inconvenient truth, but it's a stone cold fact. The crowd figures prove it and the TV ratings from the 2008 Vic vs Rest of Australia match prove it. The TV figures don't lie.

Whilst you're entitled to your opinion, your opinion does not match what the TV ratings were in 2008.

 

[crowman2]

What crap

Take for example Nic Nat who was born in Penrith, NSW.....but moved to WA at age 3 and only knew life as a conscious being in WA. Grew up here, played his first footy here, went to school here.

By your rule hed play for NSW....a place he wouldn't have any memory of and wouldn't know anyone from there

You can do what you want to manufacture a spectacle

Like I said before golf is rubbish to watch but 120k went to liv golf

Why because it was marketed brilliantly

The AFL can and will market and manufacture SOO so the punters or should I say suckers fall for the manufactured comp

 

[kid_a]

You can do what you want to manufacture a spectacle

Like I said before golf is rubbish to watch but 120k went to liv golf

Why because it was marketed brilliantly

The AFL can and will market and manufacture SOO so the punters or should I say suckers fall for the manufactured comp

No, it's because you personally don't like watching golf .....different people like different things, just because YOU think something is rubbish to watch it doesn't make it true, that is your subjective standpoint....not objective fact. Many people love to watch golf, you don't.

So don't go thinking you're own opinion is worth more than anyone elses and that you are some sort of objective focal point of humanity

 

[crowman2]

No, it's because you personally don't like watching golf .....different people like different things, just because YOU think something is rubbish to watch it doesn't make it true, that is your subjective standpoint....not objective fact. Many people love to watch golf, you don't.

So don't go thinking you're own opinion is worth more than anyone elses and that you are some sort of objective focal point of humanity

Keep telling yourself that watch someone take a shot then walked and wait 20 minutes for their next one brilliant hey

I do love playing the game but watching nah thanks

 

[kid_a]

It's the highest standard match possible for Aussie Rules. To suggest SA and WA people are not interested in the highest standard match that is possible to be played is insulting. Do you not like football or something? It was played in 2008 and it was played with no less intensity than Saturday nights game. I was at the 2008 match so I'd know. It also rated through the roof in SA and WA. Through the roof. It was a ratings hit.

Do you want to see Aussie Rules with two equally matched sides played at its highest level or not?

And the fact that Victoria is in the match makes it work. Everyone hates the Vics and wants to beat them. SA fans didn't turn up the last time they played WA in 1998 (the crowd was a pathetic 18,000), but S.O.O isn't about South Australia. It's about playing agaisnt and beating Victoria and always has been. Victoria as an opponent is the golden goose.

The 1998 match between SA and WA was a low-attended joke. No South Australians gave a shit about it. They only care when Victoria is the opponent. That might be an inconvenient truth, but it's a stone cold fact. The crowd figures prove it and the TV ratings from the 2008 Vic vs Rest of Australia match prove it. The TV figures don't lie.

Whilst you're entitled to your opinion, your opinion does not match what the TV ratings were in 2008.

1998 was a long time ago dude

Fashions, trends and interests rise and fall in all facets of society

It's not crazy to think that in a totally different era that people may have a hunger for origin football that didn't exist 30 odd years ago.

Sports, fashion, music etc constantly oscillate between trends and dip back into traditions of bygone era's

Plus also worth noting the very certain circumstances of the 90s in footy that lead to origin dwindling in support. (The new SA and WA clubs were almost all local players so they had more a rep feel at the time.....and the scheduling of origin games was too frequent, it interfered with players and clubs alike)

 

[crowman2]

No, it's because you personally don't like watching golf .....different people like different things, just because YOU think something is rubbish to watch it doesn't make it true, that is your subjective standpoint....not objective fact. Many people love to watch golf, you don't.

So don't go thinking you're own opinion is worth more than anyone elses and that you are some sort of objective focal point of humanity

The discussion though was about manufacturing or marketing a sport by being so flip flop on the rules of who you play for is just one classic example of changing the rules to suit your objective

If you can’t see that well what can I say

Is picket WA or SA or both lol

 

[kid_a]

Keep telling yourself that watch someone take a shot then walked and wait 20 minutes for their next one brilliant hey

I do love playing the game but watching nah thanks

The world revolves around you I guess.

Anyway your initial post barely addressed the actual issue of origin

Name one ****ing sports event that is successful without hype and media exposure?

.....there's a reason the call has been murmuring for years amongst fans and players and finally the AFL pulled the trigger and the first run of it was a success.

Will it last forever?....probably not, but mate I was at the ground on Saturday and there were plenty of old people who hadn't been to footy I years there to support their state.....there were fans of different clubs all there keen af to watch the game.

It wasn't simply because it was "marketed well"....that helped, but without an actual desire, passion and want from a lot of people these events simply don't happen (just like golf amongst other things)

 

[Cmarsh]

Just SA, WA and Vic. Northern states get the bum sniffer Origin already

Yeah but that's not real footy.

 

[crowman2]

The world revolves around you I guess.

Anyway your initial post barely addressed the actual issue of origin

Name one ****ing sports event that is successful without hype and media exposure?

.....there's a reason the call has been murmuring for years amongst fans and players and finally the AFL pulled the trigger and the first run of it was a success.

Will it last forever?....probably not, but mate I was at the ground on Saturday and there were plenty of old people who hadn't been to footy I years there to support their state.....there were fans of different clubs all there keen af to watch the game.

It wasn't simply because it was "marketed well"....that helped, but without an actual desire, passion and want from a lot of people these events simply don't happen (just like golf amongst other things)

Ok so is picket south australian or western Australian or doesn’t it really matter as long as it entertains

 

[kid_a]

The discussion though was about manufacturing or marketing a sport by being so flip flop on the rules of who you play for is just one classic example of changing the rules to suit your objective

If you can’t see that well what can I say

Is picket WA or SA or both lol

So people can only spend their lives living in one state hey?

I lived in three states, and three different countries

I'd always identify as west Aussie, even if I did represent Qld in school volleyball


If people have genuine connections to multiple places they should be able to choose which place they want to represent...but once they choose they have to stick with it

Believe or not, some humans actually spend vast portions of their lives living in different jurisdictions...amazing I know!


Really shit point you made there mate

Just wait until you hear about the crazy idea that two people from different countries or states may have a child together also...and that child might actually feel connected to more than one place

 

[Orfullrules]

Yeah but that's not real footy.

It’s real good footy.

 

[Orfullrules]

So people can only spend their lives living in one state hey?

I lived in three states, and threes different countries

I'd always identify as west Aussie, even if I did represent Qld in school volleyball


If people have genuine connections to multiple places they should be able to choose which place they want to represent...but once they choose they have to stick with it


Really shit point you made there mate

Humble brag noted.

 

[qlderlions]

I think set the next two years of fixtures as this:

2027
QLD vs NSW - Friday Night @ Gabba
SA vs VIC - Saturday Night @ Adelaide Oval

2028
NSW vs TAS (Tier 3) - Thurs @ Engie
SA vs QLD (Tier 2) - Fri @ Adelaide Oval
WA vs VIC (Tier 1) - Sat @ Optus

After that, winners go up and losers go down.

Love it, I would add this to add some spice (and meaning) to the Tier 3 game in 2028

2027
QLD vs NSW - Friday Night @ Gabba
SA vs VIC - Saturday Night @ Adelaide Oval
TAS vs NT - Sunday Night @ Hobart (Ninja?)

2028
NSW vs (Winner of TAS vs NT) (Tier 3) - Thurs @ Engie
SA vs QLD (Tier 2) - Fri @ Adelaide Oval
WA vs VIC (Tier 1) - Sat @ Optus

Thoughts / further ideas?

 

[crowman2]

So people can only spend their lives living in one state hey?

I lived in three states, and three different countries

I'd always identify as west Aussie, even if I did represent Qld in school volleyball


If people have genuine connections to multiple places they should be able to choose which place they want to represent...but once they choose they have to stick with it

Believe or not, some humans actually spend vast portions of their lives living in different jurisdictions...amazing I know!


Really shit point you made there mate

Just wait until you hear about the crazy idea that two people from different countries or states may have a child together also...and that child might actually feel connected to more than one place

You can live where you like but let’s be honest origin is pretty simple to understand

But hey the AFL want another comp for tv rights and games so let’s make one in the off season


To make it competitive and even we will manufacture the rules

Otherwise imagine watching Victoria smack every state, it wouldn’t rate too well now would it

That’s probably why it needs to be a bit of kick and tickle in pre season so it’s not a blow out and uninteresting

 

[qlderlions]

Im not against it at all, I just dont think there would be a huge appetite for it given the quality of the current teams. Id probably watch it tbh for fantasy purposes

NSW v QLD is far better than the Allies concept coming back that is being floated. But then what do we do with Tassie and NT if everyone has to be included like your telling me?

TAS vs NT Hobart year 1, NT vs TAS Darwin Year 2 and so on. Could develop a very strong rivarly between the two. They have two very different footy cultures, it would be an interesting watch for a larger audience. Would be massive locally in Hobart and Darwin to see the local stars so would pack out those grounds.

 

[Dan26]

1998 was a long time ago dude

Fashions, trends and interests rise and fall in all facets of society

It's not crazy to think that in a totally different era that people may have a hunger for origin football that didn't exist 30 odd years ago.

Sports, fashion, music etc constantly oscillate between trends and dip back into traditions of bygone era's

Plus also worth noting the very certain circumstances of the 90s in footy that lead to origin dwindling in support. (The new SA and WA clubs were almost all local players so they had more a rep feel at the time.....and the scheduling of origin games was too frequent, it interfered with players and clubs alike)

No mate. South Australians couldn't give a shit about playing against WA. I don't care if 1998 was a long time ago. The principle remains. S.O.O ONLY works if Victoria is the opponent. That's why it simply must be a Victoria vs Rest Of Australia match. To suggest that the prospect of watching the best 46 players in the Australia in the same match is not desireable is idiotic.

 

[Cmarsh]

The Age is reporting that Dillion wants Origin matches in the future to be played with shorter quaters. Looking at another Origin match next year with the teams and venue to be determined, but he also wants Origin rotated with an Indigenous all stars game every three years. In other words, he is not committed to an Origin match every year.

From the article, doesn't seem like any enthusiasm amongst club bosses for nsw, qld, Tas or NT to be involved.

Brisbane’s next move after Neale gave up the co-captaincy; AFL floats shorter quarters for Origin

The Lions will hope three can prove their magic number after appointing multiple co-captains for their three-peat push after Lachie Neale’s tumultuous and public marriage breakdown.

www.theage.com.au

 

[qlderlions]

Allies functionally makes sense in terms of having a 4 team SoO competition.

However would the supporters get behind it at all? Say they had an Allies home game at the Gabba against WA or anyone really, would anyone actually go to support the Allies? Would the players care about playing for the Allies?

I'm asking this because I want to know from a genuine Queenslander/NSW person

I think Saturday night worked because the WA players were playing for the jumper, and the crowd was really getting behind them. It was a better game than Vics vs All stars because of that

Maybe a dyed in the wool existing AFL fan would support it, but I think you wouldn't capture the wider auidence, neutrals and media with it. Very unlikely to get government support from QLD government for anything other than a QLD origin game.

As a home grown QLD'er I wouldn't support the Allies, only QLD. I have lived a good portion of the last 20 years in WA/VIC so I get why people lump the northern states together but the cultures couldn't be more different. We literally hate them, why would we join them in a team with them?

The Allies concept would be a point of ridicule in the local NRL dominated media (would be compare ad-nauseum to QLD RL SOO) and mocked (not a good marketing ploy for the AFL in this state).

 

[crowman2]

The Age is reporting that Dillion wants Origin matches in the future to be played with shorter quaters. Looking at another Origin match next year the teams and venue to be determined, but he also wants Origin rotated with an Indigenous all stars game every three years. In other words, he is not committed to an Origin match every year.

From the article, doesn't seem like any enthusiasm amongst club bosses for nsw, qld, Tas or NT to be involved.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl...with-shorter-quarters-20260216-p5o2qb.html[/U

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The Age is reporting that Dillion wants Origin matches in the future to be played with shorter quaters. Looking at another Origin match next year with the teams and venue to be determined, but he also wants Origin rotated with an Indigenous all stars game every three years. In other words, he is not committed to an Origin match every year.

From the article, doesn't seem like any enthusiasm amongst club bosses for nsw, qld, Tas or NT to be involved.

Brisbane’s next move after Neale gave up the co-captaincy; AFL floats shorter quarters for Origin

The Lions will hope three can prove their magic number after appointing multiple co-captains for their three-peat push after Lachie Neale’s tumultuous and public marriage breakdown.

www.theage.com.au

maybe they could get Fisher to DJ there aswell

 

[Bunk Moreland]

How about THREE divisions

Eg 2027

Rank the teams 1-6

1. Vic
2. SA
3. WA
4. NSW/ACT
5. Qld/NT
6. Tas

Lower ranked gets the home game

Div 1 SA v Vic
Div 2 NSW/ACT v WA
Div 3 Tas v Qld/NT

Let's say SA, WA and Qld/NT win, losers of div 1 and 2 relegated for 2028, winners of Div 2 and 3 promoted

2028

Rankings

1. SA
2. WA
3. Vic
4. Qld/NT
5. NSW/ACT
6. Tas

Div 1 WA v SA
Div 2 Qld/NT v Vic
Div 3 Tas v NSW/ACT

Now if eg WA, Vic and Tas win

2029

Div 1 Vic v WA
Div 2 Tas v SA
Div 3 NSW/ACT v Qld

Etc

Winner of Div 1 is the national champion for that year

Obvious approach that everyone is suggesting.

We have six states, three games is perfect for a big weekend of Origin.

This structure basically enshrines a big Vic v WA or Vic v SA game every year, gets every state represented in the most competitive game possible and gives everybody a chance to climb to the top.

 

[sherb]

Some of the early ones were before Origin was a thing. State footy was just based on where you were playing. I dare say that’s why Hudson would’ve played for Victoria.

Correct, it was based on where the player was playing.
In Huddo's case, he played for Tassie in the 66 carnival.
He moved to Hawthorn the next year, so by the time the 69 carnival came around he was playing for Victoria.

 

[Bjo187]

Obvious approach that everyone is suggesting.

We have six states, three games is perfect for a big weekend of Origin.

This structure basically enshrines a big Vic v WA or Vic v SA game every year, gets every state represented in the most competitive game possible and gives everybody a chance to climb to the top.

You definitely need at least 1 year off in every 3 in my opinion for each state team. The players will start to get flaky if they know it's an annual thing.