Prediction Predict your state's 2026 SoO team

[Howard Littlejohn]

So what is the correct definition of SoO? Is it where you were born, or where you first played aussie rules, and then, at what level?

Caleb Daniel was born in Beaudesert, QLD, and lived there until he was 6yo, then moved to SA and grew-up playing football.

I can't recall the actual ages, but the last set of rules were where you lived (not played) the most time in what the AFL deemed your "formative years". It was something like ages 8-18 but I can't recall the actual limits.

 

[GC2015]

The Ashcroft brothers would be more interesting. Both played a lot of footy in Queensland and moved to Vic late, however did play for Vic Metro in the under 18s so that’d be unclear

Finley born and raised Tom Hawkins also played for Vic Metro at the U18 level and we know he would've played for NSW in a State of Origin competition after being selected to play for the All Stars against the Big V in 2020 and his jumper in that game had NSW printed on the back. It's the same with Charlie Cameron, who live the first 17 years of his life in Queensland and moved to WA for his 18th + 19th years where he respresented WA in the U18 national competition. Despite his U18 allegiances, he will only be eligible to represent Queensland in State of Origin next year.

The Ashcroft brothers situation is tricky. Will Ashcroft lived 14.5 years in Queensland and 3.5 years in Victoria before getting drafted. He represented Queensland at the U15 national championships and Victoria at the U17 + U18 levels. Is he a Queenslander or a Victorian? Does the fact that his father Marcus played for Queensland factor in at all? I guess this is all up to the AFL to decide how they want to define a player's state of origin. In the NRL thery use a five question formula to determine a player's state of origin through which state they select for the majority of the questions below:

• Which state were you born in?
• Which state did you play the majority of your junior footy between the U6 - 18 levels?
• In which state did you spend the majorty of your years at school (K - 12)?
• In which state did you first participate in junior representative football?
• For which state did you first play school state representative footy?

Will Ashcroft would certainly be considered a Queenslander under that criteria and I believe Levi Ashcroft would also be considered a Queenslander under that criteria as well. Although Levi's situation is more tricky because he did 12 years in Queensland in 6 years in Victoria. Ultimately, I think both end up playing for Queensland and it may even be due to his father doing so in the past (a father-son SoO rule like the NRL).

 

[The Punter]

Finley born and raised Tom Hawkins also played for Vic Metro at the U18 level and we know he would've played for NSW in a State of Origin competition after being selected to play for the All Stars against the Big V in 2020 and his jumper in that game had NSW printed on the back. It's the same with Charlie Cameron, who live the first 17 years of his life in Queensland and moved to WA for his 18th + 19th years where he respresented WA in the U18 national competition. Despite his U18 allegiances, he will only be eligible to represent Queensland in State of Origin next year.

The Ashcroft brothers situation is tricky. Will Ashcroft lived 14.5 years in Queensland and 3.5 years in Victoria before getting drafted. He represented Queensland at the U15 national championships and Victoria at the U17 + U18 levels. Is he a Queenslander or a Victorian? Does the fact that his father Marcus played for Queensland factor in at all? I guess this is all up to the AFL to decide how they want to define a player's state of origin. In the NRL thery use a five question formula to determine a player's state of origin through which state they select for the majority of the questions below:

• Which state were you born in?
• Which state did you play the majority of your junior footy between the U6 - 18 levels?
• In which state did you spend the majorty of your years at school (K - 12)?
• In which state did you first participate in junior representative football?
• For which state did you first play school state representative footy?

Will Ashcroft would certainly be considered a Queenslander under that criteria and I believe Levi Ashcroft would also be considered a Queenslander under that criteria as well. Although Levi's situation is more tricky because he did 12 years in Queensland in 6 years in Victoria. Ultimately, I think both end up playing for Queensland and it may even be due to his father doing so in the past (a father-son SoO rule like the NRL).

Junior rep footy is more about the location you are in at the time. Hawkins was boarding at Melbourne Grammar, so it would have been tough to get to NSW training. I imagine it was the same with NSW lad but St Patrick's Ballarat educated Jacob Hopper.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Finley born and raised Tom Hawkins also played for Vic Metro at the U18 level and we know he would've played for NSW in a State of Origin competition after being selected to play for the All Stars against the Big V in 2020 and his jumper in that game had NSW printed on the back. It's the same with Charlie Cameron, who live the first 17 years of his life in Queensland and moved to WA for his 18th + 19th years where he respresented WA in the U18 national competition. Despite his U18 allegiances, he will only be eligible to represent Queensland in State of Origin next year.

The Ashcroft brothers situation is tricky. Will Ashcroft lived 14.5 years in Queensland and 3.5 years in Victoria before getting drafted. He represented Queensland at the U15 national championships and Victoria at the U17 + U18 levels. Is he a Queenslander or a Victorian? Does the fact that his father Marcus played for Queensland factor in at all? I guess this is all up to the AFL to decide how they want to define a player's state of origin. In the NRL thery use a five question formula to determine a player's state of origin through which state they select for the majority of the questions below:

• Which state were you born in?
• Which state did you play the majority of your junior footy between the U6 - 18 levels?
• In which state did you spend the majorty of your years at school (K - 12)?
• In which state did you first participate in junior representative football?
• For which state did you first play school state representative footy?

Will Ashcroft would certainly be considered a Queenslander under that criteria and I believe Levi Ashcroft would also be considered a Queenslander under that criteria as well. Although Levi's situation is more tricky because he did 12 years in Queensland in 6 years in Victoria. Ultimately, I think both end up playing for Queensland and it may even be due to his father doing so in the past (a father-son SoO rule like the NRL).

I don't believe father-son or brother-brother played into the last set of rules at all. Father-son could be a real problem, due to all the rule changes that occurred and player who represented multiple states as a result. Although most players who played in the Origin era would have sons too old to play professional footy now anyway.

Purely where the player lived, not played, between certain ages. Hawkins went to school (boarding) in Victoria, and therefore played U18 there, but lived in NSW the whole time. Clear, no doubt, NSW eligible.

I can't recall the actual age ranges used, but Will Ashcroft probably Qld. Depending on the exact age range used, Levi could be either.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Would have Nasiah on HB.

Yeah, big oversight.