Preview State of Origin 2026: WA v Victoria, Optus Stadium, Sat 14/2 4.40pm local / 7.40pm AEDT

[Cmarsh]

SOO is the best nostalgia hit

If the AFL released a woollen long sleeve SOO jumper I'd pay silly money for one of those

Needs more than just nostalgia to keep it alive. A good solid contest would be the best to help it along.

 

[btdg]

I wonder if soccer fans whinge and worry as much about their players (whom are worth oodles more money) osolating between club and rep games....or rugby fans about their players.

Rep games mean risk but hey that's life in pro sport. The players all want to play and partake, a lot of fans (in WA at least....and judging by how miffed the south Aussies are I'd say them too) want to see it.

Such a high proportion of AFL fans are so precious and so conservative to keeping things to the stock standard premiership season only.

Why aren't more of us just embracing this game and just hoping for the best rather than bringing up the risks that exist in every game of footy and in every pro sport

Two relevant points to consider with risk in this case, though.

The first is that any 'All Star' game like this significantly increases the number of valuable players on the field. Your standard AFL game has 5-6 of the 60-70 players in the competition that really matter (as in - the chances of a team itself will be significantly compromised if they get a long-term injury). If there is a random chance of a long-term injury to 1-2 players in any given match, it's still pretty rare for that to be a 'star'.

A Victoria vs WA all-star match puts 45 of those 60-70 players all on field at once. Any injury is going to 'matter'.

Ok, so we want to be as cautious as possible in at least minimising risk, and here is where hte problem is. In the AFL, we know that serious, long-term injuries (mainly ACL, but others too) happen more freqeuntly when:

• players are underprepared, or lack match fitness (including transitioning from heavy fitness training to actual match conditions)
• have less rest or recovery than normal
• are playing on unfamiliar, or underprepared surfaces

If that's the case, why on earth would you play the SOO as the FIRST match of the season, when every player is in that high-risk, switching from pre-season mode?

To add on top of that, the AFL season historically started in May, on soft grounds and was a genuine winter sport. As time has gone on, the start of the season has pushed more and more forward... first by 2-3 weeks to accomodate a shift to 22 games, then another week (to accomodate a bye), then another (end of season bye), then another (round 23), and then another ('opening round'). Suddenly, we are starting the year on March 5th. February and March are the driest months of the year in Melbourne.

It has meant that the first rounds of the season are now played with essentially a month less pre-season (less prepared players, particularly those that have off-season surgery) on harder surfaces that have had less time to recover from cricket = much higher injury risk, and we've seen a corresponding spike in early season injuries.

What's the hottest and driest month in Perth? January, followed by Feb.

So of course, we take 45 of the most important players in the competition, and put them on field in Perth - with an incredibly limited pre-season, zero match fitness, in the hottest playing area in the country, on a field that will likely be rock hard. This is incredibly poor risk management.

You highlight soccer as a comparison, but lets consider how soccer is handling the World Cup:

• The European season, which features the vast majority of the players that 'matter' finishes in the last week of May (May 25th)
• The World Cup 2026 has its opening dates from 12-15th June = roughly 3 weeks later;
• The World Cup uses a wide variety of venues, but May-June-July is the wet season in Mexico and the Texas areas of the USA (which is probably the hottest part).

So the soccer players going to the World Cup are likely to be match fit, well rested (3 weeks break, with the opportunity for 1-2 warm-up or trial games as needed, is great rest for players in a sport used to playing midweek games in addition to weekends), and playing on softer fields.

I've said this here and I'll repeat: I think SOO is a fantastic concept, and should definitely be part of the schedule. The worst thing for SOO fans would be for Patrick Cripps or Marcus Bontempelli to tear their ACL tonight, effectively ruining their team's season - the concept will die in the water, when there should be a place for it on the calendar.

The best time is clearly early October IMO - probably the week after the GF (if not a week later) - players will be match fit, the grounds are softer, and any injury can have immediate surgery and has the absolute minimal impact on the following season, which is perfect.

 

[parano1a]

The worst thing for SOO fans would be for Patrick Cripps or Marcus Bontempelli to tear their ACL tonight, effectively ruining their team's season

How is this any worse than Tom Green doing his ACL in an intraclub match?

 

[Cmarsh]

How is this any worse than Tom Green doing his ACL in an intraclub match?

The fact that he did it in a intraclub doesn't give me any comfort.

 

[btdg]

How is this any worse than Tom Green doing his ACL in an intraclub match?

Impact of the injury - the same, of course. But there's some important differences:

First, I will absolutely die on the hill that bringing the season forward in any aspect is a massive mistake. Tom Green was only playing in an intra-club match on the 13th Feb on hard turf BECAUSE opening round is only 3 weeks away. If the season started in April, he wouldn't have been playing yesterday at all - they probably would have been jogging circle-work and practicing shots at goal. Carlton lost Jesse Motlop last week in a training session that would have looked different if they had an extra month. etc.

Secondly, the SOO is yet another 3 weeks earlier in the year again. If you want Patrick Cripps to be able to run out a full 100m game, you have to up the intensity of his training earlier, etc. So it is even earlier, even less pre-season, more 'intense' footy on hard summer ovals.

Lastly, and most importantly, though - there was only one Tom Green on the field for GWS yesterday, amongst 50-odd players. And probably only Sam Taylor, maybe Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene who also share the same level of importance. So 4/50 chance that the ACL happens to a 'star', and 90% chance it happens to, well, the Jesse Motlop equivalent (it sucks, but its manageable).

The SOO puts 50x Tom Green on the field at once - ANY injury is going to have that level of impact for one club. And at least in an intraclub match you can rest the stars after 3/4 time (when they get tired), instruct players to hold back in particular ways etc (lots of clubs call it 'match simulation' for this reason...), and take other steps to try and keep them safe. Obviously in SOO the stars are going to have to stay on-field until the end, and its ideally going to be more competitive.

It sucks when a star player injures themself in an intra-club match. Ideally we'd push the season back or shorten it so those matches are played in better conditions; or more teams will start doing what Geelong and a couple of others have done (and essentially punting pre-season and playing themselves into fitness in March/April). But I guess it is teams choice of how and when they manage those games to balance out the risk.

But if a star does their ACL in SOO the ramifications will be bigger - it could end the concept itself... that would suck if you are an SOO fan

 

[420]

That and a bit of an even up for gather round.

Ridiculous isn't it. A pointless exhibition match vs an entire round of premiership point games being played in your state. People in WA that I've been speaking to are more miffed at this lame duck attempt to 'square up the ledger' compared to what every other state has recieved in the last 5yrs. We kept the afl going during covid, we deserve something real, not some stuff-around games in Feb

 

[oak79]

Impact of the injury - the same, of course. But there's some important differences:

First, I will absolutely die on the hill that bringing the season forward in any aspect is a massive mistake. Tom Green was only playing in an intra-club match on the 13th Feb on hard turf BECAUSE opening round is only 3 weeks away. If the season started in April, he wouldn't have been playing yesterday at all - they probably would have been jogging circle-work and practicing shots at goal. Carlton lost Jesse Motlop last week in a training session that would have looked different if they had an extra month. etc.

Secondly, the SOO is yet another 3 weeks earlier in the year again. If you want Patrick Cripps to be able to run out a full 100m game, you have to up the intensity of his training earlier, etc. So it is even earlier, even less pre-season, more 'intense' footy on hard summer ovals.

Lastly, and most importantly, though - there was only one Tom Green on the field for GWS yesterday, amongst 50-odd players. And probably only Sam Taylor, maybe Jesse Hogan and Toby Greene who also share the same level of importance. So 4/50 chance that the ACL happens to a 'star', and 90% chance it happens to, well, the Jesse Motlop equivalent (it sucks, but its manageable).

The SOO puts 50x Tom Green on the field at once - ANY injury is going to have that level of impact for one club. And at least in an intraclub match you can rest the stars after 3/4 time (when they get tired), instruct players to hold back in particular ways etc (lots of clubs call it 'match simulation' for this reason...), and take other steps to try and keep them safe. Obviously in SOO the stars are going to have to stay on-field until the end, and its ideally going to be more competitive.

It sucks when a star player injures themself in an intra-club match. Ideally we'd push the season back or shorten it so those matches are played in better conditions; or more teams will start doing what Geelong and a couple of others have done (and essentially punting pre-season and playing themselves into fitness in March/April). But I guess it is teams choice of how and when they manage those games to balance out the risk.

But if a star does their ACL in SOO the ramifications will be bigger - it could end the concept itself... that would suck if you are an SOO fan

Yeh, nah.

Players can - and do - get injured in practice and intraclub matches. Any injury should be looked at the same way.

If Toby got injuried in soo people would be blaming that, but they shouldnt.

 

[Corn Cobbers]

If the Sandgropers win, it'll be a famous victory. Greene, Bontempelli, McCluggage, Daicos, Gawn and Rowell in the same team are going to be hard to beat.

Realistically this is a bit of a Mickey Mouse event, but these 50 players would be pinching themselves to play for their state. A whole generation of players has passed through who never got that opportunity.

Victoria has five of the top six Brownlow favourites

 

[kreuze_missile]

This game should suit Nick Daicos perfectly.

 

[GC2015]

This game should suit Nick Daicos perfectly.

Is Daicos known to play well in 30+ degree weather?

 

[My_Username]

Ridiculous isn't it. A pointless exhibition match vs an entire round of premiership point games being played in your state. People in WA that I've been speaking to are more miffed at this lame duck attempt to 'square up the ledger' compared to what every other state has recieved in the last 5yrs. We kept the afl going during covid, we deserve something real, not some stuff-around games in Feb

Yes/no.

Fact is, Perth being so far from the rest of the country, and so isolated, means that it's always going to be a rare exception for 'special events'. Simple timezones and logistics makes that just common sense.

Not sure what you mean by keeping the AFL going during covid....Most clubs were in SE QLD.

Also remember, SOO is in Perth because the WA government is paying big money for it (so much that they're even sponsoring the Vic team!).

 

[My_Username]

Love to see the QLD government stump up for a Queensland v SA/WA game next year.

That's why the AFL will do anything short of obvious cheating to ensure this game is close and can be painted as a huge success.

They're hoping it'll get other governments to sponsor the way WA is. Sure, it wont get the same money without the Vics involved (not due to any particular rivalry, but due to Vic being easily the biggest market).

 

[Jirik13]

We kept the afl going during covid

I am pretty sure that was QLD.

 

[Toump Ass]

Rory Lobb

7

Rory Lobb

Age

33

Ht

207cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.4

4star

MG

174.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

MG

228.6

3star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.8

5star

MG

133.0

3star

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Yeh, nah.

Players can - and do - get injured in practice and intraclub matches. Any injury should be looked at the same way.

If Toby got injuried in soo people would be blaming that, but they shouldnt.

I agree, but the clubs and a lot of fans don't. The clubs don't want risks that they aren't able to pretend they are in control of.

 

[My_Username]

Yeh, nah.

Players can - and do - get injured in practice and intraclub matches. Any injury should be looked at the same way.

If Toby got injuried in soo people would be blaming that, but they shouldnt.

Depends on the injury.

Some are just bad luck, and yeah, that'd happen any time.

But some are a matter of pushing too hard, and a player is a lot more likely to ease off, or take a break during a club preseason game (their club/coaches would all be encouraging them to stop on the slightest stress/strain, not so sure that'd happen with SOO).

 

[Billy ray]

Wooo twilight footy

 

[TheScriptorWL]

Is it just me...or is The Big V...A little small.

 

[Doc1763]

Is Daicos known to play well in 30+ degree weather?

the 20023 Grand Final was 30+ degree weather, went pretty well that day

 

[My_Username]

the 20023 Grand Final was 30+ degree weather, went pretty well that day

20023?

Wow, he's got a LONG career ahead of him.