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

[GenericUsername202]

Ashcroft was born in QLD and spent most of his life in QLD. He literally only spent a few years in Victoria. Would have been a farce if he was in the Vic squad.

 

[PiCkLeJuiCe]

The SOO enthusiasm last as long as it takes for the first season ending injury, then we return to normal.

 

[Cmarsh]

Ashcroft was born in QLD and spent most of his life in QLD. He literally only spent a few years in Victoria. Would have been a farce if he was in the Vic squad.

Well Charlie Cameron is playing for WA despite only moving there when he was 17.

 

[GenericUsername202]

Well Charlie Cameron is playing for WA despite only moving there when he was 17.

That was a farce as well. Also, with respect, the Victorian team is too good as it is. Bringing in players that should be ineligible would only make the contest more lopsided.

 

[ferball]

I'm annoyed that he's pissed about it. Some of these footballers aren't very smart, but good to see the AFL stopped it.

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Its not the Melbourne Storm Will.

 

[ferball]

Well Charlie Cameron is playing for WA despite only moving there when he was 17.

Didn't he play his first club footy in WA?

 

[Cmarsh]

Didn't he play his first club footy in WA?

Techically, yes, but he played with Marist college in Brisbane and played with the Brisbane Lions academy before playing club footy in WA.

 

[RUNVS]

The SOO enthusiasm last as long as it takes for the first season ending injury, then we return to normal.

Gulden did his ankle in a preseason game last year that ruled him out for most of the 2025 season. Should we ban preseason games as a result?

 

[jwikked]

Ashcroft was born in QLD and spent most of his life in QLD. He literally only spent a few years in Victoria. Would have been a farce if he was in the Vic squad.

I'm annoyed that he's pissed about it. Some of these footballers aren't very smart, but good to see the AFL stopped it.

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This is the kind of thing that makes me think the AFL really want this to succeed. Ashcroft absolutely shouldn't be playing for Victoria, he should be a QLD player.

Playing for the State Of Origin team has to mean something, and it won't mean anything if a 5 minute holiday in Victoria gives you the ability to play for that state. He was born in QLD, grew up in QLD and went through the QLD acadamy.

The SOO enthusiasm last as long as it takes for the first season ending injury, then we return to normal.

Why do the wet blankets keep coming out with this?

12 months ago it was "SOO is never coming back, the players don't want it" to "It'll never work, the players won't take it seriously" now were at the "first injury and we'll finally get rid of SOO"

Don't tune in, but this will be good for football. If injuries happen, that's fine.

 

[ferball]

Techically, yes, but he played with Marist college in Brisbane and played with the Brisbane Lions academy before playing club footy in WA.

Does anyone know what the official eligibility rules are?

 

[Cmarsh]

Does anyone know what the official eligibility rules are?

Selection criteria confirmed, coaches named for 2026 Origin

Two of the biggest names in coaching will lead the way at 2026 AAMI AFL Origin

www.afl.com.au

"Each coach and their selection committee, led by a Chairman of Selectors to be named shortly, will soon select their squads, with player announcements to start next month. Players will be picked based on their junior club location from where they were drafted."

So Charlie Cameron technically does meet criteria to play for WA, but people understandably had questioned it as he had spent so much of his formative years, including being born, in Queensland.

 

[RUNVS]

I would rather a Swans player play in this than a preseason game. They would not give a shit about the preseason game, so as a result it won't be as good a work out or test of them, but if they play in State of Origin they are more likely to care and get their eye in, which means they will be more ready for the first game of the season.

 

[RUNVS]

As for Ashcroft, he should be playing State of Origin as the AFL should have organised a NSW vs QLD game. It would have been a no brainer.

 

[Bjo187]

Dillon did his usual gaffe when asked a question on eligibility and now people are seeing the inconsistency. He should have just said it will be on a case by case basis. The right decision was made on Ashcroft, no way someone born and lived most of their life in a state should play for Victoria who are already strong. The Cameron and Pickett decisions do help WA be a stronger team which is good, but maybe backfire when SA and Qld need to play.

 

[Cmarsh]

As for Ashcroft, he should be playing State of Origin as the AFL should have organised a NSW vs QLD game. It would have been a no brainer.

I would dispute that its a no brainer. NSW and Queensland don't really have alot of playing depth.

 

[RUNVS]

I would dispute that its a no brainer. NSW and Queensland don't really have alot of playing depth.

No they don't, but they have enough for a team each, and pretty good teams too.

 

[Cmarsh]

No they don't, but they have enough for a team each, and pretty good teams too.

NSW would have a decent midfield but a severly poor forward line. Queensland I agree are quite decent on all lines.

 

[GC2015]

I'm annoyed that he's pissed about it. Some of these footballers aren't very smart, but good to see the AFL stopped it.

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Thank goodness the AFL had some sensibility and realised Ashcroft would be far better off playing state football for Queensland as opposed to the already strong Victorian state team that didn't need him. I guess this also shows there actually are plans for Queensland to compete in AFL Origin in the future, assuming this first match goes well. Having Ashcroft(s) play for the Maroons for the next 10ish years will be huge for the game up here.

Ashcroft is pissed off? Good. Use that to motivation when you when you suit up for your actual State of Origin - Queensland. The guy spent 15 years in Queensland vs 3 years in Victoria before being drafted. He's not Victorian and we all know it. I'm just glad the AFL had the balls to say no to him because otherwise we'd have another Jason Dunstall situation and it would be horrible for the growth of the game.

Not repeating the same mistakes of the past. Well done, AFL

Ashcroft was born in QLD and spent most of his life in QLD. He literally only spent a few years in Victoria. Would have been a farce if he was in the Vic squad.

Plus, having Ashcroft play for Queensland means we have legitimately strong midfielders who can compete with the best in the league. It makes a huge difference for a future Queensland state team vs making virtually no difference for Victoria.

NSW would have a decent midfield but a severly poor forward line. Queensland I agree are quite decent on all lines.

The AFL should already be putting plans in place to have a Queensland v New South Wales Origin match in 2027 when South Australia likely host the Big V and both Ashcrofts should suit up for the Maroons in that game to play against the likes of Gulden, Heeney and Green in the midfield. It'd be a great battle with plenty of future stars on display.

 

[RUNVS]

The AFL should already be putting plans in place to have a Queensland v New South Wales Origin match in 2027 when South Australia likely host the Big V and both Ashcrofts should suit up for the Maroons in that game to play against the likes of Gulden, Heeney and Green in the midfield. It'd be a great battle with plenty of future stars on display.

Gulden, Heeney and Green would be as good as any midfield trio you would see in the AFL.

 

[GC2015]

Gulden, Heeney and Green would be as good as any midfield trio you would see in the AFL.

No doubt. Have them go head to head with the two Ashcrofts and Zeke Uwland for the next 5-10 years. It'll be great viewing!

Does anyone know what the official eligibility rules are?

They've obviously changed / expanded the eligibility rules since Dillon sheepishly said it would be the local team you were playing for when you got drafted. There's too many edge cases out there for you to be so flippant about eligibility and the opportunity that exists with Ashcroft suiting up for Queensland instead of Victoria is far too important to ignore if you're trying to grow the game in the northern states. In the NRL, it's a 6 part questionnaire that determines State of Origin eligibility and Ashcroft's would look like this in the NRL:

1. Where were you born? Queensland
2. In which state did you play the majority of junior football U6 -U18? Queensland
3. In which state did you spend the majority of your years at school K-12? Queensland
4. In which state did you first participate in a junior representative competition? Queensland (2016 U12 Nationals)
5. In which state of Australia did you first play school state representative football? Queensland (see below)
6. Did your father play State of Origin and if so, for whom? Yes, Queensland

Here's a pic of Queensland born and raised Will Ashcroft playing in the 2018 U15 national championships for the Maroons in case there's any confusion about the origins of his football pathway:

 

[Cmarsh]

The big Vic tabloid appears to be salty about the Will Ashcroft situation.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-state-of-origin-predicted-teams-will-ashcroft-denied-chance-to-play-for-victoria-due-to-eligibility-backflip/news-story/eb9cad82f3871d4aa711a6b0bad81fb0

 

[RUNVS]

The big Vic tabloid appears to be salty about the Will Ashcroft situation.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-state-of-origin-predicted-teams-will-ashcroft-denied-chance-to-play-for-victoria-due-to-eligibility-backflip/news-story/eb9cad82f3871d4aa711a6b0bad81fb0

and it is dumb as Victoria have plenty of options for midfielders, but Ashcroft would be very valuable for Queensland.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Whats the SoO eligibility? Is it where you were born, where you "grew up" or where you played your junior or rep footy?

What they announced was where you were drafted from. Which would make him clearly Victorian.

Under the mid-1990s onwards rules it was based on majority of time living (not schooling) in so-called 'formative years". I don't recall the exact age range, but under those criteria he would be a Queenslander. Better rules, imo, although probably would leave Pickett as SA.

Whatever rules they use, they should be sticking to them. But as its very likely a one-off, chopping and changing rules keeps it in the media - which is one the AFL's primary goals for everything except player misbehaviour.

 

[RUNVS]

What they announced was where you were drafted from. Which would make him clearly Victorian.

Under the mid-1990s onwards rules it was based on majority of time living (not schooling) in so-called 'formative years". I don't recall the exact age range, but under those criteria he would be a Queenslander. Better rules, imo, although probably would leave Pickett as SA.

Whatever rules they use, they should be sticking to them. But as its very likely a one-off, chopping and changing rules keeps it in the media - which is one the AFL's primary goals for everything except player misbehaviour.

I think the "which club they first started playing Australian Football at" is a good way of doing it. Stops players who end up going to a Victorian private school at 16, 17 and 18 playing for Victoria despite spending the first 15 years of their life in another state.

There should be no Jason Dunstall's playing for Victoria.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I think the "which club they first started playing Australian Football at" is a good way of doing it. Stops players who end up going to a Victorian private school at 16, 17 and 18 playing for Victoria despite spending the first 15 years of their life in another state.

There should be no Jason Dunstall's playing for Victoria.

Its also a decent one, much better than where a player was drafted from.
Especially if it comes back properly - Tas and NT would need players who have never been drafted and therefore ineligible.

edit: They had a perfectly acceptable set of criteria, made it worse, and are now just making it up ad-hoc as they go along. I presume this is rules committee work, seems their standard operating method.