Autopsy AFL 2026 State Of Origin - WA v Vic Sat Feb 14th 4.40pm WST / 7.40pm AEDT (OS)

[Boppo]

Just a side note , was that big V way too low on the jumper to meet advertising commitments? I thought it was meant to be on the chest not the stomach or abdomen

It looked pretty stupid. The old style big thick V on the chest is a statement.

 

[Miles Wilks]

We must never have the ALLIES again! It's VIC v WA or SA or nothing at all

Max Laughton had some good points on the Allies concept.

I'm in two minds. I kind of see the rationale with having an Allies team, and yet it would be interesting to see who would win Qld vs NSW in football.

Maybe you have the Vic vs SA vs WA as one series and
Qld vs NSW as the other series.

There are more people playing footy in Qld now than SA so they deserve some sort of representation even if just against NSW.

‘Lock in 2027’: AFL Origin will be back, but it needs a three-state plan to really work — Talking Pts

AFL Origin’s return is ‘the real deal’. A cut-throat move can solve its final, awkward dilemma

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[swanny1234]

Yep, many act like origin can't take place unless Victoria is one of the teams.

WA vs SA would be a great game and draw full crowds in both states.

 

[swanny1234]

I go for the year after the WA vs SA, a SA vs Vic in Adelaide, Then SA vs WA in Adelaide. Then back to the beginning again.
Thus:
2026 WA vs Vic
2027 WA vs SA
2028 SA vs Vic
2029 SA vs WA
2030 WA vs Vic
and so on…

You could even have
2026 NSW vs QL
2027 Tasmania vs ACT/NT
2028 ACT/NT vs NSW
2029 QL vs Tasmania
2030 NSW vs Tasmania
2031 QL vs ACT/NT
and so on

I think that schedule is good for the big 3 states to be fair.

I’m not sure I’d bother with the secondary games though.

At some point I think you would go play these games in Victoria, but I’d do a couple years in WA and SA first.

 

[swanny1234]

There is always a rivalry between QLD and NSW, no matter the topic.

Not convinced it would in AFL. Imo NSW’s biggest historical rivals in Sport are Victoria anyway, not QLD.

Both states would have a bigger rivalry with Victoria than with each other. This isn’t rugby league, there is no history of rivalry between the states whatsoever.

 

[kickazz]

Would it be too weird to have two Victorian teams? One home one away v WA and SA

When WA play SA the vics could play the allies

Two Australian teams worked in pyjama cricket for a while

They've done that before. In 1989 there is the famous Vic v SA game in front of > 90000 at the G on the Saturday.

A "seconds" Victorian team played Tassie in Hobart on the Sunday

 

[speedpeck23]

Not convinced it would in AFL. Imo NSW’s biggest historical rivals in Sport are Victoria anyway, not QLD.

Both states would have a bigger rivalry with Victoria than with each other. This isn’t rugby league, there is no history of rivalry between the states whatsoever.

I think the potential for Vic v NSW in AFL is massive.....but it's a long time away. We already know that some AFL legends have come from southern NSW....Carey, Crawford, Daniher, Haydn Bunton....there would be many more....it's simple geography....forget state borders....a large part of southern NSW is closer to Melbourne than Sydney.....When people say NSW is a Rugby League state that is true to a point....but Aussie Rules has been part of NSW even before RL.

 

[swanny1234]

I think the potential for Vic v NSW in AFL is massive.....but it's a long time away. We already know that some AFL legends have come from southern NSW....Carey, Crawford, Daniher, Haydn Bunton....there would be many more....it's simple geography....forget state borders....a large part of southern NSW is closer to Melbourne than Sydney.....When people say NSW is a Rugby League state that is true to a point....but Aussie Rules has been part of NSW even before RL.

I do agree, although an NSW team on paper still gets belted by Vic and probably WA for that matter.

I think trying to force a NSW v QLD game seems silly though and contrived simply to compete with what RL has. If they’re going to play origin, it needs to be against the Vics or maybe WA or SA.

 

[speedpeck23]

Would it be too weird to have two Victorian teams? One home one away v WA and SA

When WA play SA the vics could play the allies

Two Australian teams worked in pyjama cricket for a while

I get the point but IMO the AFL have to come up with a way of including other states particularly NSW and QLD.
A second Victorian team would have all the issues Australia A had in Cricket..... those players weren't good enough to make the Australian team or the have 2 Australian teams and it sort takes the credibility off even making the team as a player.

 

[swanny1234]

They've done that before. In 1989 there is the famous Vic v SA game in front of > 90000 at the G on the Saturday.

A "seconds" Victorian team played Tassie in Hobart on the Sunday

I think we’re just contriving games for the sake of it.

Keep it simple - 3 main football states. 2 play against each other each season, 1 has the season off and rotates.

Imo next year should be WA v SA at Optus building on the momentum of this year, then it goes to Adelaide and it’s SA v VIC, then maybe back to Melbourne for VIC v WA and so on etc.

 

[swanny1234]

I get the point but IMO the AFL have to come up with a way of including other states particularly NSW and QLD.
A second Victorian team would have all the issues Australia A had in Cricket..... those players weren't good enough to make the Australian team or the have 2 Australian teams and it sort takes the credibility off even making the team as a player.

Again, why? Why does the AFL need to include every state?

Is every state included in opening round? Does every state get a gather round? Does every state get to host the AFL grand final?

 

[MrSlippyFist]

Explain to me how a preseason SOO exhibition game between two traditional states is growing the game?

TV money for starters.

 

[Leeda]

Glad to see it back....
Just another level to reach.
Warning. We have capacity....

 

[JackFlash]

Genuinely curious why the Allies thing gets so much hate? I don't really have a horse in the race, just wondering what the reasoning is

State of Origin only works when there is state empathy involved. The Allies has no state alignment and no fan empathy. The Croweaters and Sandgropers hate the Vics and they really let us know about it when they play each other.
I feel for players born in other states, but maybe they could bend the rules a little and have a restricted selection process available for competing teams? There is a 23 man squad these days, perhaps a 3 player selection could be made to both teams? Overall it's Vic v WA or SA that works!

 

[peetoo]

NSW qld and Tassie allowed to top up with club players from that state not selected for saves or vic?

 

[swanny1234]

Do you understand how the TV ratings system works? Melbourne is the #1 market, there is no way Seven would risk broadcasting an Origin game/series without Victoria involved.

A WA v SA game would do extremely well in Perth and Adelaide.
Once every 3 years it should be that game.

 

[speedpeck23]

I do agree, although an NSW team on paper still gets belted by Vic and probably WA for that matter.

I think trying to force a NSW v QLD game seems silly though and contrived simply to compete with what RL has. If they’re going to play origin, it needs to be against the Vics or maybe WA or SA.

I've got a lateral suggestion......the Allies should be re-branded ......please give this time to cook. It's slightly radical but with the right marketing I think it is a chance. You need a location and a name that already has recognition and is inclusive of NSW and QLD and TAS.

Sounds impossible but I would look at an Origin Team that is not reflective of a State of Australia but recognized as a well known region of Australian that does not include WA SA or VIC.... the name that to me is obvious is EAST COAST AUSTRALIA. ....... After you have stopped laughing and picked yourself off the floor....just consider it....

It is an iconic region of Australia.....it clearly is primarily QLD and NSW ( even Victoria is primarily South Coast Australia....even TAS could be included...it has more " East Coast" than Victoria) ).... it would be easily marketable.... ( precedent is set .....although West Coast is an AFL Club, EAST COAST is an AFL ORIGIN Rep Team).....importantly it is differentiated from NRL State of Origin NSW v QLD even though it actually represents those two states.

I can already see the colors Maroon, Blue and Gold...but different configuration to Brisbane Lions.

 

[swanny1234]

I've got a lateral suggestion......the Allies should be re-branded ......please give this time to cook. It's slightly radical but with the right marketing I think it is a chance. You need a location and a name that already has recognition and is inclusive of NSW and QLD and TAS.

Sounds impossible but I would look at an Origin Team that is not reflective of a State of Australia but recognized as a well known region of Australian that does not include WA SA or VIC.... the name that to me is obvious is EAST COAST AUSTRALIA. ....... After you have stopped laughing and picked yourself off the floor....just consider it....

It is an iconic region of Australia.....it clearly is primarily QLD and NSW ( even Victoria is primarily South Coast Australia....even TAS could be included...it has more " East Coast" than Victoria) ).... it would be easily marketable.... ( precedent is set .....although West Coast is an AFL Club, EAST COAST is an AFL ORIGIN Rep Team).....importantly it is differentiated from NRL State of Origin NSW v QLD even though it actually represents those two states.

I can already see the colors Maroon, Blue and Gold...but different configuration to Brisbane Lions.

I appreciate the creativity and work you’ve put into that, but I just feel that’s being contrived just to have a team… I just don’t see people getting behind that in the same way they get behind their state.

 

[speedpeck23]

I appreciate the creativity and work you’ve put into that, but I just feel that’s being contrived just to have a team… I just don’t see people getting behind that in the same way they get behind their state.

That's fair enough....I admit its radical .....but West Coast was just an idea once. Remember its AFL ORIGIN... not AFL STATE OF ORIGIN

 

[Tandy]

2027
VIC v SA
WA v Allies

2028
SA v WA
VIC v Allies

There’s a number of ways where we could have a state or origin final. The winner of both games play off in the decider, but when and does too many games take the shine off it? Equally does not having an overall champion hinder it?

 

[Seeds]

State of Origin only works when there is state empathy involved. The Allies has no state alignment and no fan empathy. The Croweaters and Sandgropers hate the Vics and they really let us know about it when they play each other.
I feel for players born in other states, but maybe they could bend the rules a little and have a restricted selection process available for competing teams? There is a 23 man squad these days, perhaps a 3 player selection could be made to both teams? Overall it's Vic v WA or SA that works!

State of origin only works if the teams are roughly equally balanced so that it doesnt take a massive upset for one team to win.

Only vics vs the rest delivers that.

Or SA vs WA.

The latter doesnt have most of the best players.

 

[Tandy]

I’m also a fan of every state having their own rep team and having a promotion relegation style ladder. Win you move up, lose you go down for the next year
1v 2 3v 4 5v6
But if nsw and act are merged it leaves an odd number. And you simply couldn’t have an ACT team

 

[speedpeck23]

I just don’t see people getting behind that in the same way they get behind their state.

Maybe but there is a common attachment NSW and QLD people have to the Sunshine/ Beach Culture which we simply don't have in Victoria.... therefore at least East Coast Australia is easily a more marketable name than Allies....

Perhaps being from WA you don't sense the division between Victoria and the sunnier states of NSW and Qld

 

[Tandy]

Or. Divisions with promotion and relegation

Div 1
Vic
SA
WA
QLD

Div 2
TAS
NT
NSW/ACT

Worst forming side somehow goes down a division, best of div 2 goes up for the next year.

All shit ideas but just thinking out loud

 

[parano1a]

Remember its AFL ORIGIN... not AFL STATE OF ORIGIN

"AFL Origin" is just the marketing tag. It is State of Origin.