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Aboriginal & TSI Eddie Maguires belief on how State of Origin is going to work would be a disaster.

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Cleric

Brownlow Medallist
Oct 14, 2011
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Eddie pontificated that he believes the next State of Origin series will include the Indigenous All Stars. If this turns out to be an actual plan of the AFL this would be such a poor and divisive move that I would refuse to watch it.
The idea of an IA game is not a drama, like we saw this year, but making Indigenous players choose between their state and their heritage is really disgusting. Alot of players like Izak Rankine have played for their state all through their childhood, they played alongside other state players that they have friendships with, and then to put them in a position where they have to play against their state is ridiculous. You are going to have to get them to choose, and what if a player wants to represent his state, and then that makes him feel terrible about not representing his heritage, and that may make him fall foul of the other Indigenous players. You then have state supporters turning on their state players for choosing not to represent their state.

I can't think of anything more divisive and stupid than that.

All for the IA to play a game against a club or the SANFL or VFL team, but not this.
 

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I actually think it's a really good idea, the Aboriginal guys seem to be a lot prouder about representing that team than anyone has looked in a Victoria or All Stars strip in the last 20 years. balances out the three main states well and and if they play home games in the NT it probably becomes a bit of a defacto team for them. to be honest I'd probably hope they go better than a WA side would.

It won't totally fix it, but it might have some effect on the amount of Indigenous players in the AFL too. didn't they select a few state league boys too? reminds me of when WA selected Glen Jakovich even though he was only 17 and just playing WAFL. it'd be cool to see it as a bit of a dress rehearsal, particularly with how many players go through the SPP now.
 
I actually think it's a really good idea, the Aboriginal guys seem to be a lot prouder about representing that team than anyone has looked in a Victoria or All Stars strip in the last 20 years. balances out the three main states well and and if they play home games in the NT it probably becomes a bit of a defacto team for them. to be honest I'd probably hope they go better than a WA side would.

It won't totally fix it, but it might have some effect on the amount of Indigenous players in the AFL too. didn't they select a few state league boys too? reminds me of when WA selected Glen Jakovich even though he was only 17 and just playing WAFL. it'd be cool to see it as a bit of a dress rehearsal, particularly with how many players go through the SPP now.
lol why the hell would anyone give a shit about an All Stars team? As bad as the “Allies”
Let the states all be represented, then you will see pride.

Seems rather divisive to have teams based of colour, going to have a white Aussies team? An Italian Aussies team? Etc etc etc.
 
lol why the hell would anyone give a shit about an All Stars team? As bad as the “Allies”
Let the states all be represented, then you will see pride.

Seems rather divisive to have teams based of colour, going to have a white Aussies team? An Italian Aussies team? Etc etc etc.
That's what I'm saying. a team that is just 'not Victorians' doesn't mean much, and I think that even effects how the Victoria team feel.

The whole point of rep football is its division, too.
 
I actually think it's a really good idea, the Aboriginal guys seem to be a lot prouder about representing that team than anyone has looked in a Victoria or All Stars strip in the last 20 years. balances out the three main states well and and if they play home games in the NT it probably becomes a bit of a defacto team for them. to be honest I'd probably hope they go better than a WA side would.

It won't totally fix it, but it might have some effect on the amount of Indigenous players in the AFL too. didn't they select a few state league boys too? reminds me of when WA selected Glen Jakovich even though he was only 17 and just playing WAFL. it'd be cool to see it as a bit of a dress rehearsal, particularly with how many players go through the SPP now.
It's not against having an IA game, it's having to get the indigenous boys to a) choose between their state and their heritage, which they shouldn't be made to do, and b) making them play against their state and the state teammates they have played with from Jrs on.

Then, with that it tow, it then makes the supporters get angry about them choosing one allegiance over another.
It puts our indigenous players in a no win situation.
 
I actually think it's a really good idea, the Aboriginal guys seem to be a lot prouder about representing that team than anyone has looked in a Victoria or All Stars strip in the last 20 years. balances out the three main states well and and if they play home games in the NT it probably becomes a bit of a defacto team for them. to be honest I'd probably hope they go better than a WA side would.

It won't totally fix it, but it might have some effect on the amount of Indigenous players in the AFL too. didn't they select a few state league boys too? reminds me of when WA selected Glen Jakovich even though he was only 17 and just playing WAFL. it'd be cool to see it as a bit of a dress rehearsal, particularly with how many players go through the SPP now.

The Indigenous game is one thing, by all means play it if the players want it.
But it has nothing to do with State of Origin, a completely different form of heritage.
 

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It's not against having an IA game, it's having to get the indigenous boys to a) choose between their state and their heritage, which they shouldn't be made to do, and b) making them play against their state and the state teammates they have played with from Jrs on.

Then, with that it tow, it then makes the supporters get angry about them choosing one allegiance over another.
It puts our indigenous players in a no win situation.
What's wrong with having a choice? they'd have more of a say than the non-Indigenous players who have to play for a certain state or probably go through some boring and complex process if they wanted to play for another state. they're not being 'made' to do anything, being 'made' to make a decision is a lot better than having that decision made for you.
 
Such a boring and tired excuse, Gulden just got injured in a pre season game and Hogan broke his thumb closing a door. Injuries happen, if a player gets injured representing his state the league would survive lol.

Yeah but the overarching issue is the players arent interested.

Theres nothing to play for. Its a risk they dont need. They need pre season games to get fit, they dont need state of origin.

Just bin it.
 

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Yeah but the overarching issue is the players arent interested.

Theres nothing to play for. Its a risk they dont need. They need pre season games to get fit, they dont need state of origin.

Just bin it.
If they aren't interested that's fine, I just think the 'if a player got injured' rhetoric is irrelevant and not a real reason to not have SOO.
 
There can be no State of Origin unless it is Victoria v SA or WA . You must have fan empathy associated with it. The Sandgropers and Croweaters both hate the Vics and that's what makes it work, but when do you play it and why? We already have a National competition that goes for almost 7 months!!. I suppose you could have QLD v NSW too, but there is no room for ALL STARS or Indigenous teams. Clubs are paying players massive salaries now on long term contracts, no, State of Origin is now an NRL thing, it's all they've got!
 
Because its based on metro and country , like most junior rep sports are
The junior stuff is for talent identification, its not supposed to get crowds and viewership.

Even Rugby League has killed its long-standing City-Country game because it no longer generates interest.
That is at professional mens level. There are still city-country games but no NRL players; just as footy has state league rep games without AFL listed players.
 

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Aboriginal & TSI Eddie Maguires belief on how State of Origin is going to work would be a disaster.

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