I reckon the AFL should give State of Origin one final crack and do it properly.
Not play Victoria v South Australia in the middle of the season.
Have Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales/ACT, Queensland/NT and Tasmania compete in a mini competition at the end of the season, so clubs will release players.
That competition could start 2 weekends after the Grand Final on a Sunday, this year that would be October 13.
Play round 2 on the Wednesday, Round 3 on the next Saturday, Round 4 on the Tuesday, Round 5 on the Saturday, and play the GrandFinal the next Saturday - this year that is November 3. So the competition would finish in the first week of November.
And people who are thinking that people will never return to State of Origin, i think it can still survive if it's done properly. And a possible way to get numbers to it is to play the matches in the deprived Western Suburbs - at Waverley Park.
I don't know whats happening out there, but if the AFL don't destroy the ground, they could play the games at Waverley Park, including the Final.
If not, the could play Round Robin games at Colonial/Optus Oval, and the final at the MCG (organize something with the ACB).
And i don't think the competition would be a lob-sided as people think it would be, i drew up squads which would be similar to what they would end up being.
NSW/ACT
Backline - Brad Seymour, Jason Mooney, Leo Barry
Haflbackline - Dean Solomon, Troy Luff, Daniel MacPherson
Centreline - Mark McVeigh, Shane Crawford, Lenny Hayes
Half-forwardline - Justin Blumfield, Wayne Carey, Nick Davis
Forwardline - Aaron Hamill, Adam Richardson, Adam Chatfield
Rucks - Greg Stafford, James Hird, Paul Kelly
Interchange - Justin Koschitzke, Brett Kirk, Mark Alvey, Ben Fixter
rest of squad - Craig Bolton, Brad Fuller, Robert Forster-Knight, Cameron Mooney, Scott Muller, Allan Murray, Derek Murray, Ray Hall, Ben Hollands, Chris Hyde, Marcus Baldwin, Daniel Cross, Josh Wooden
Queensland/NT
Backline - Matthew Whelan, Matt Kennedy, Jason Akermanis
Haflbackline - Darryl White, Mal Michael, Steve Lawrence
Centreline - Michael Long, Nathan Buckley, Joel Bowden
Half-forwardline - Peter Burgoyne, Nick Riewoldt, Andrew McLeod
Forwardline - Robert Ahmat, Clint Bizzell, Ronnie Burns
Rucks - Clark Keating, Fabian Francis, Michael Voss
Interchange - Steven Koops, Marcus Ashcroft, Trent Knobel, Che Cockatoo-Collins
rest of squad - Patrick Bowden, Brett Backwell, Mitchell Hahn, Ezra Bray, Nathan Clarke, Ashley McGrath, , Daniel Motlop, Brett Voss, Shane Burgoyne, Shannon Motlop, Shane Morrison, Shannon Rusca, Mitchell Hahan, Hamish Simpson
South Australia
Backline - Byron Pickett, Ben Hart, Gavin Wanganeen
Haflbackline - Andrew McKay, Sean Wellman, Josh Francou
Centreline - Mark Ricciuto, Mark Bickley, Stuart Dew
Half-forwardline - Scott Welsh, Nick Holland, Craig McRae
Forwardline - Michael O'Loughlin, Brad Ottens, Darren Jarman
Rucks - Matthew Primus, Scott Camporeale, Craig Bradley
Interchange - Nigel Smart, Luke Darcy, Warren Tredrea, Nick Daffy
rest of squad - Matthew Pavlich, Peter Vardy, Clive Waterhouse, Darren Mead, Matthew Nicks, Jared Poulton, Brett Burton, Glenn Freeborn, Brayden Lyle, Tony Modra, Brendon Lade, Tyson Edwards, Matthew Robran
Tasmania
Backline - Matthew Young, Andrew Dunkley, Steven Febey
Haflbackline - Ben Beams, Jade Rawlings, Mick Martin
Centreline - Gerrard Bennett, Adrian Fletcher, Paul Williams
Half-forwardline - Bray Rawlings, Alistair Lynch, Paul Hudson
Forwardline - Brad Green, Matthew Richardson, Brodie Holland
Rucks- Brendon Gale, Russell Robertson, Daryn Creswell
Interchange - Peter Street, Ben Harrison, Justin Plapp, Patrick Wiggins
rest of squad - Tim Hazell, Andrew Hill, Mark Harwood, Thomas Marshall, Trent Bartlett, Danny Roach, Daniel McAlistair, Simon Wiggins, Leigh Brockman
Victoria
Backline - Damien Hardwick, Dustin Fletcher, David Wirrpunda
Haflbackline - Nathan Brown, Stephen Silvagni, Chris Scott
Centreline - Joe Misiti, Brett Ratten, Wayne Schwass
Half-forwardline - Nigel Lappin, Adam Goodes, Mark Mercuri
Forwardline - Adam Houlihan, Matthew Lloyd, Brent Harvey
Rucks - Steven King, Anthony Koutifidies, Scott West
Interchange - Matthew Allan, Chris Tarrant, Mark Johnson, Adam Yze
rest of squad - Ben Graham, Andrew Thompson, Trent Croad, John Blakey, Jeff White, Peter Everitt, Nathan Burke, Jason Johnson, Robert Harvey, Anthony Stevens, Luke Power, Blake Caracella, Brad Johnson
Western Australia
Backline - Daniel Chick, Johnathon Hay, Tarkyn Lockyer
Haflbackline - Peter Matera, Darren Gaspar, Shane Woewodin
Centreline - Simon Black, Paul Hasleby, Chad Fletcher
Half-forwardline - Winston Abraham, Mitchell White, Paul Barnard
Forwardline - Phil Matera, Scott Cummings, Jeff Famer
Rucks - Michael Gardiner, Ben Cousins, Peter Bell
Interchange - Beau McDonald, Ashley McIntosh, Dean Rioli, Rupert Betheras
rest of squad - Leon Davis, Tory Longmuir, Michael Prior, Brad Wira, Dean Cox, Daniel Bandy, Alistair Nicholson, Glen Jakovich, Troy Wilson, Jason Ball, Shaun McManus, Drew Banfield, Jarrad Schofield
Obviously on paper, the Victorian side are the strongest, but they are not all that far in front of Western Australia and South Australia.
While i reckon the Queesnland side would be more than capable of holding their own. Tasmania would probably struggle as they have an ordinary backline, however their midfield isn't too bad - Creswell, Fletcher, Robertson, Gale, and their forward line is superb.
NSW/ACT are in a similar position, they have an ordinary backline, but anyside with Kelly, Crawford, Stafford and Hird in the centre, with Wayne Carey at CHF is a team you can't say would be in a walkover.
Do you's think the AFL should give it one more crack, or just leave it.
Not play Victoria v South Australia in the middle of the season.
Have Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales/ACT, Queensland/NT and Tasmania compete in a mini competition at the end of the season, so clubs will release players.
That competition could start 2 weekends after the Grand Final on a Sunday, this year that would be October 13.
Play round 2 on the Wednesday, Round 3 on the next Saturday, Round 4 on the Tuesday, Round 5 on the Saturday, and play the GrandFinal the next Saturday - this year that is November 3. So the competition would finish in the first week of November.
And people who are thinking that people will never return to State of Origin, i think it can still survive if it's done properly. And a possible way to get numbers to it is to play the matches in the deprived Western Suburbs - at Waverley Park.
I don't know whats happening out there, but if the AFL don't destroy the ground, they could play the games at Waverley Park, including the Final.
If not, the could play Round Robin games at Colonial/Optus Oval, and the final at the MCG (organize something with the ACB).
And i don't think the competition would be a lob-sided as people think it would be, i drew up squads which would be similar to what they would end up being.
NSW/ACT
Backline - Brad Seymour, Jason Mooney, Leo Barry
Haflbackline - Dean Solomon, Troy Luff, Daniel MacPherson
Centreline - Mark McVeigh, Shane Crawford, Lenny Hayes
Half-forwardline - Justin Blumfield, Wayne Carey, Nick Davis
Forwardline - Aaron Hamill, Adam Richardson, Adam Chatfield
Rucks - Greg Stafford, James Hird, Paul Kelly
Interchange - Justin Koschitzke, Brett Kirk, Mark Alvey, Ben Fixter
rest of squad - Craig Bolton, Brad Fuller, Robert Forster-Knight, Cameron Mooney, Scott Muller, Allan Murray, Derek Murray, Ray Hall, Ben Hollands, Chris Hyde, Marcus Baldwin, Daniel Cross, Josh Wooden
Queensland/NT
Backline - Matthew Whelan, Matt Kennedy, Jason Akermanis
Haflbackline - Darryl White, Mal Michael, Steve Lawrence
Centreline - Michael Long, Nathan Buckley, Joel Bowden
Half-forwardline - Peter Burgoyne, Nick Riewoldt, Andrew McLeod
Forwardline - Robert Ahmat, Clint Bizzell, Ronnie Burns
Rucks - Clark Keating, Fabian Francis, Michael Voss
Interchange - Steven Koops, Marcus Ashcroft, Trent Knobel, Che Cockatoo-Collins
rest of squad - Patrick Bowden, Brett Backwell, Mitchell Hahn, Ezra Bray, Nathan Clarke, Ashley McGrath, , Daniel Motlop, Brett Voss, Shane Burgoyne, Shannon Motlop, Shane Morrison, Shannon Rusca, Mitchell Hahan, Hamish Simpson
South Australia
Backline - Byron Pickett, Ben Hart, Gavin Wanganeen
Haflbackline - Andrew McKay, Sean Wellman, Josh Francou
Centreline - Mark Ricciuto, Mark Bickley, Stuart Dew
Half-forwardline - Scott Welsh, Nick Holland, Craig McRae
Forwardline - Michael O'Loughlin, Brad Ottens, Darren Jarman
Rucks - Matthew Primus, Scott Camporeale, Craig Bradley
Interchange - Nigel Smart, Luke Darcy, Warren Tredrea, Nick Daffy
rest of squad - Matthew Pavlich, Peter Vardy, Clive Waterhouse, Darren Mead, Matthew Nicks, Jared Poulton, Brett Burton, Glenn Freeborn, Brayden Lyle, Tony Modra, Brendon Lade, Tyson Edwards, Matthew Robran
Tasmania
Backline - Matthew Young, Andrew Dunkley, Steven Febey
Haflbackline - Ben Beams, Jade Rawlings, Mick Martin
Centreline - Gerrard Bennett, Adrian Fletcher, Paul Williams
Half-forwardline - Bray Rawlings, Alistair Lynch, Paul Hudson
Forwardline - Brad Green, Matthew Richardson, Brodie Holland
Rucks- Brendon Gale, Russell Robertson, Daryn Creswell
Interchange - Peter Street, Ben Harrison, Justin Plapp, Patrick Wiggins
rest of squad - Tim Hazell, Andrew Hill, Mark Harwood, Thomas Marshall, Trent Bartlett, Danny Roach, Daniel McAlistair, Simon Wiggins, Leigh Brockman
Victoria
Backline - Damien Hardwick, Dustin Fletcher, David Wirrpunda
Haflbackline - Nathan Brown, Stephen Silvagni, Chris Scott
Centreline - Joe Misiti, Brett Ratten, Wayne Schwass
Half-forwardline - Nigel Lappin, Adam Goodes, Mark Mercuri
Forwardline - Adam Houlihan, Matthew Lloyd, Brent Harvey
Rucks - Steven King, Anthony Koutifidies, Scott West
Interchange - Matthew Allan, Chris Tarrant, Mark Johnson, Adam Yze
rest of squad - Ben Graham, Andrew Thompson, Trent Croad, John Blakey, Jeff White, Peter Everitt, Nathan Burke, Jason Johnson, Robert Harvey, Anthony Stevens, Luke Power, Blake Caracella, Brad Johnson
Western Australia
Backline - Daniel Chick, Johnathon Hay, Tarkyn Lockyer
Haflbackline - Peter Matera, Darren Gaspar, Shane Woewodin
Centreline - Simon Black, Paul Hasleby, Chad Fletcher
Half-forwardline - Winston Abraham, Mitchell White, Paul Barnard
Forwardline - Phil Matera, Scott Cummings, Jeff Famer
Rucks - Michael Gardiner, Ben Cousins, Peter Bell
Interchange - Beau McDonald, Ashley McIntosh, Dean Rioli, Rupert Betheras
rest of squad - Leon Davis, Tory Longmuir, Michael Prior, Brad Wira, Dean Cox, Daniel Bandy, Alistair Nicholson, Glen Jakovich, Troy Wilson, Jason Ball, Shaun McManus, Drew Banfield, Jarrad Schofield
Obviously on paper, the Victorian side are the strongest, but they are not all that far in front of Western Australia and South Australia.
While i reckon the Queesnland side would be more than capable of holding their own. Tasmania would probably struggle as they have an ordinary backline, however their midfield isn't too bad - Creswell, Fletcher, Robertson, Gale, and their forward line is superb.
NSW/ACT are in a similar position, they have an ordinary backline, but anyside with Kelly, Crawford, Stafford and Hird in the centre, with Wayne Carey at CHF is a team you can't say would be in a walkover.
Do you's think the AFL should give it one more crack, or just leave it.
