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.