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

[MrSlippyFist]

The main takeaway from the weekend is how well coached every single person involved was to sell the party line.

There's a reason that NRL SOO gets huge crowds at Optus Stadium and the MCG despite WA and Victoria not being involved, and that's 26 no neck high school drop outs running head first into each other at full pace. It's been going for 40 years and has organically grown to what it is now.

The AFL realllllly needs to dial it back on players saying how much they care about "origin" and how much of a real game it is and how much they want to "run it back". Comes across as unauthentic when every player says the same lines.

The game proved they were fairly authentic about taking it seriously and caring about it..

Dial back the elitism over the NRL buddy - you're from WA after all I assume!

 

[CrowToon]

Who is posing the question about the growth of the game though? And what precisely does SOO bring to the table to attract new people to the game?

The players are employed by the clubs, not the AFL. It's not small mindedness for the employers (and their supporters) to want their assets protected, particularly when the reason they're at risk is because the AFL is looking for a new cash cow.

Growth of the game economically.

 

[Scotland]

The game proved they were fairly authentic about taking it seriously and caring about it..

Dial back the elitism over the NRL buddy - you're from WA after all I assume!

It was a pretty good game, but the more times you say that you are taking it seriously the less convincing it sounds. The AFL needs to stop trying to copy the NRL and let its own thing do its own thing.

It's not elitism. NRL SOO is a far superior product at this point in time. WA pays to host NRL SOO. I doubt the NSW govt has any interest in having WA vs Victoria at the SCG.

 

[Scotland]

The players are employed by the clubs, not the AFL. It's not small mindedness for the employers (and their supporters) to want their assets protected, particularly when the reason they're at risk is because the AFL is looking for a new cash cow.

Are they, though? Contracts are between the player the club and the league. Clubs have pretty limited autonomy in the AFL system.

If Carlton don't want Weitering and Cripps to be available for selection for non Carlton matches, then the AFL could just as easily turn around and deny them a share of revenue generated by non Carlton matches.

 

[Cmarsh]

It was a pretty good game, but the more times you say that you are taking it seriously the less convincing it sounds. The AFL needs to stop trying to copy the NRL and let its own thing do its own thing.

It's not elitism. NRL SOO is a far superior product at this point in time. WA pays to host NRL SOO. I doubt the NSW govt has any interest in having WA vs Victoria at the SCG.

Technically the NRL copied the AFL regarding the timeline of state of origin.

 

[Coolangatta]

What are the above numbers if:
NT players play for QLD
ACT with NSW

Been saying the same thing.

It will at least make them more competitive, if not better than WA and SA.

Then hopefully Tasmania will become a strong footy player producing state like it once was eventually.

For now, defending champ could take a year off.

2027: WA v SA Optus, QLD v NSW Gabba

2028: WA/SA host Vic, loser of WA/SA v winner of QLD/NSW

2029: Winner A v Winner B, Loser A v loser of 27 QLD/NSW match.

And so on.

Then when Tasmania is good enough, you could have three tiers but host it every second or third year instead of every year maybe.

 

[GC2015]

People can forget about combining states / territories or even reviving the Allies concept. Xander McGuire confirmed last night (see his X post below) that the players have made it clear to the AFL that they don't want the Allies concept to return. They want the opportunity to represent their own state and the AFL has reportedly listened. So now the AFL is working on ways to roll out an Origin format that involves more than just two states and alternating opposition. So unless things drastically change, that basically confirms we're going to see at least one of Queensland, New South Wales or Tasmania competing in the Origin weekend next year.

I think next year is pretty simple and it involves Queensland v New South Wales one night and Victoria v South Australia / Western Australia the next night. Then you start to play around with match ups and hopefully establish a proper format that rewards states who are victorious. Most likely some kind of promotion / relegation system to ensure competitiveness. My guess is the AFL will assess which of WA & SA is weakest based on their performance against the Big V and that team will face the winner of QLD v NSW in the next iteration of Origin. That way you've got SA & WA essentially acting as gatekeepers to ensure the northern teams + Tasmania don't face Victoria until they are ready to do so.




Also, new AFL COO Tom Harley cast aside the idea of the Allies and believes Queensland & New South Wales would be able to field competitive state teams on their own. The momentum within AFL house appears to be gathering behind a truly national state-based competition.

 

[Cmarsh]

People can forget about combining states / territories or even reviving the Allies concept. Xander McGuire confirmed last night (see his X post below) that the players have made it clear to the AFL that they don't want the Allies concept to return. They want the opportunity to represent their own state and the AFL has reportedly listened. So now the AFL is working on ways to roll out an Origin format that involves more than just two states and alternating opposition. So unless things drastically change, that basically confirms we're going to see at least one of Queensland, New South Wales or Tasmania competing in the Origin weekend next year.

I think next year is pretty simple and it involves Queensland v New South Wales one night and Victoria v South Australia / Western Australia the next night. Then you start to play around with match ups and hopefully establish a proper format that rewards states who are victorious. Most likely some kind of promotion / relegation system to ensure competitiveness. My guess is the AFL will assess which of WA & SA is weakest based on their performance against the Big V and that team will face the winner of QLD v NSW in the next iteration of Origin. That way you've got SA & WA essentially acting as gatekeepers to ensure the northern teams + Tasmania don't face Victoria until they are ready to do so.




Also, new AFL COO Tom Harley cast aside the idea of the Allies and believes Queensland & New South Wales would be able to field competitive state teams on their own. The momentum within AFL house appears to be gathering behind a truly national state-based competition.

So potentially a bidding war between WA and SA to host next year. If WA retain the hosting rights then it could be a repeat of WA vs VIC. South Aussies won't be happy if that is the outcome.

If they are looking at rolling matchups till 2030 then that doesn't sound like they are buying into the idea that the concept doesn't need to be played every year. So there is a potential for oversaturation.

 

[GC2015]

So potentially a bidding war between WA and SA to host next year. If WA retain the hosting rights then it could be a repeat of WA vs VIC. South Aussies won't be happy if that is the outcome.

If they are looking at rolling matchups till 2030 then that doesn't sound like they are buying into the idea that the concept doesn't need to be played every year. So there is a potential for oversaturation.

Maybe. It's hard to tell at this stage.

The AFL has made it clear that they will listen if state governments are willing to splash the cash. I don't think the AFL's absolute preference would be to return to Perth in 2027 for another Victoria v Western Australia match next February, but if enough money is on offer then I don't think they are going to say no. Getting more states involved gives the weekend a different flavour to this year so that may be a motivating factor as well.

South Australia should get the opportunity to play next year (particularly if they are willing to pay for hosting rights) and maybe they end up playing Queensland or New South Wales with the carrot of the winner gets to face the winner of Victoria v Western Australia the following year. I'm certain the first South Australian state game back at Adelaide Oval will sell out so the opponent doesn't really matter in my mind. So maybe the next three years looks like this:

2027
Qualifier 1 - South Australia v Queensland/New South Wales @ Adelaide Oval
Qualifier 2 - Western Australia v Victoria @ Perth Stadium

2028
Championship game - Q1W v Q2W
Second tier relegation game - Q1L v Q2L
Third tier playoff - Tasmania v New South Wales/Queensland @ New Hobart Stadium

2029
Indigenous All Stars v an AFL opponent

And you roll on from there. Winners get promoted and losers get relegated to ensure new match ups every year and every third or fourth year we pause State of Origin for an Indigenous All Stars game.

 

[Carn The Berries]

Are they, though? Contracts are between the player the club and the league. Clubs have pretty limited autonomy in the AFL system.

If Carlton don't want Weitering and Cripps to be available for selection for non Carlton matches, then the AFL could just as easily turn around and deny them a share of revenue generated by non Carlton matches.

That's a pretty slippery slope that could ultimately backfire spectacularly on the AFL.

 

[Scotland]

Technically the NRL copied the AFL regarding the timeline of state of origin.

40 years ago maybe, but right now they have a valuable product and the AFL are trying to get a concept off the ground.

 

[Scotland]

That's a pretty slippery slope that could ultimately backfire spectacularly on the AFL.

That's the AFL for you. Always trying to be too many things to too many competing interests.

 

[crows dude]

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

QLD, NSW, NT, ACT, and TAS need to able to play fir their states as well.

 

[JackFlash]

QLD, NSW, NT, ACT, and TAS need to able to play fir their states as well.

Then it won't work, they can play against each other, but that's it. Real State of origin is Vic v WA or SA.

 

[RedWhite4Ever]

Then it won't work, they can play against each other, but that's it. Real State of origin is Vic v WA or SA.

NSW beat Victoria at the SCG in 1990. NSW had some of the best players in the country at the time and still do. I would love so dearly to see NSW back playing against SA, WA or Victoria!

To me, when it's state vs state it's something very special.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

NSW beat Victoria at the SCG in 1990. NSW had some of the best players in the country at the time and still do. I would love so dearly to see NSW back playing against SA, WA or Victoria!

To me, when it's state vs state it's something very special.

The eligihbility then was quite different though, a number of Swans not from NSW played for NSW.
tbf, the Vics did play a lot of non-Victorians in that era as well (most famously Dunstall and he was far from the only one, but a few of those NSW guys played for VicB in their loss to Tasmania in the same year).

That said, a system that allowed for other states and NT to win their way to the top tier should be considered.

 

[Coolangatta]

I’d go:

2027
A: WA v SA, Optus
B: QLD v NSW, Gabba

2028
C: Winner A hosts Vic
D: Loser A v Winner B

2029
E: Winner C v Winner D
F: Loser C v Loser D
G: TAS v Loser B, new stadium

Allow NT and ACT players to be eligible to play for a state, similar to what they do in SOO. I want the best players, like Zac Bailey

33

Zac Bailey

Age

26

Ht

181cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.7

3star

K

6.9

3star

HB

5.9

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

CL

0.9

3star

D

12.9

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

5.6

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.4

3star

CL

0.7

3star

D

13.4

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

6.8

5star

M

3.2

4star

T

2.8

5star

CL

0.6

3star

.

The AFL ****ed up the top 10, they’ll **** this up, too.

 

[RedWhite4Ever]

I’d go:

2027
A: WA v SA, Optus
B: QLD v NSW, Gabba

2028
C: Winner A hosts Vic
D: Loser A v Winner B

2029
E: Winner C v Winner D
F: Loser C v Loser D
G: TAS v Loser B, new stadium

Allow NT and ACT players to be eligible to play for a state, similar to what they do in SOO. I want the best players, like Zac Bailey.

The AFL *ed up the top 10, they’ll * this up, too.

I like it!! Id tie NSW/ACT together like they used to.

I'd just have it as a regular round fixture once or twice a year like they used to do, but at the start of the year and during the middle of the year.

My 2027 would be;

A: Vic vs SA at Adelaide Oval.
B: NSW Vs. QLD at Gabba.
C: Winner A Vs. WA at Optus.
D: SA Vs. Winner B.

Or have an Australian Championships - similar to Gather Round at the MCG?

 

[GuruJosh]

I like it!! Id tie NSW/ACT together like they used to.

I'd just have it as a regular round fixture once or twice a year like they used to do, but at the start of the year and during the middle of the year.

My 2027 would be;

A: Vic vs SA at Adelaide Oval.
B: NSW Vs. QLD at Gabba.
C: Winner A Vs. WA at Optus.
D: SA Vs. Winner B.

Or have an Australian Championships - similar to Gather Round at the MCG?

Maybe we could play afl season play each other once & use this system for the extra weeks?

 

[My_Username]

Maybe we could play afl season play each other once & use this system for the extra weeks?

Do you think the AFL would make as much money from this as they do from the rounds they'd lose?

How do you think the AFLPA would respond to the paycut this would involve?

 

[speedpeck23]

NSW beat Victoria at the SCG in 1990. NSW had some of the best players in the country at the time and still do. I would love so dearly to see NSW back playing against SA, WA or Victoria!

To me, when it's state vs state it's something very special.

It's really only a matter of time before NSW and Qld get critical numbers to be competitive in State of Origin. The AFL won't want to go too early really.....nothing worse for expansion than either state getting smashed. I think they can let it build though.

Ironically the NRL are doing a great job in promoting SOO NSW and Qld.

The beauty of rep sport is that you are automatically a supporter if you live in the jurisdiction.....there's no membership requirement.....just need critical numbers to turn up to the event and get reasonable ratings.

 

[ray_purchase]

An entirely discredited popularity contest. Sorry, man.

Currently watching Xerri get destroyed by Max Heath.

Sorry, man. Hes just not that good.

 

[Coolangatta]

Future of state of origin

How many AFL players do you think NSW, QLD and Tasmania would need to have on lists to make them worthy of SOO participation?

Definitely **** the Allies concept right off.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Future of state of origin

How many AFL players do you think NSW, QLD and Tasmania would need to have on lists to make them worthy of SOO participation?

Definitely **** the Allies concept right off.

Zero.
Provided there are divisions, even Tas and NT can have teams. Its Australian Football origin, not AFL origin - if teams are largely made up of state league players, so what so long as they can compete with others at their level.
Which is problem for ACT, whioch has no jurisdiction it could compete against.
(And yes, Territories are not states; nor are they part of other states. NT is not part of Queensland, ACT is not NSW. They should not be combined any more than Allies should exist.)

 

[Coolangatta]

Zero.
Provided there are divisions, even Tas and NT can have teams. Its Australian Football origin, not AFL origin - if teams are largely made up of state league players, so what so long as they can compete with others at their level.
Which is problem for ACT, whioch has no jurisdiction it could compete against.
(And yes, Territories are not states; nor are they part of other states. NT is not part of Queensland, ACT is not NSW. They should not be combined any more than Allies should exist.)

I don’t think NT should compete, it is state of origin and they don’t have enough AFL players to fill a team.

I think NT and ACT players should have an eligibility criteria they can go through to be able to play for one of the states.

Six is an even number, too, state wise.

Tasmania doesn’t have enough players yet either, though.

WA seems keen to pay next year. They’ll probably be hosting Victoria again.

It would be cool to see SA host a SOO game next year, too, but if WA plays Victoria again, it would have to be QLD or NSW, unless WA plays one of those two.

But I wonder if WA v QLD or NSW would still be a sellout.