News "State of Origin is back" - Eddie McGuire, March 2025

[GoldbergsGold]

The 1999 match was pouring with rain. And when I say pouring I mean POURING. The weather ruined the game.

How do you keep moving the goal posts and ignoring other examples? You wouldn't be making that excuse had it been other state teams playing. And The Allies v Victoria game in 1996 was dry but a mere 35k. Let me guess, the air too thin or something for the crowd to turn up?

 

[Dan26]

How do you keep moving the goal posts and ignoring other examples? You wouldn't be making that excuse had it been other state teams playing. And The Allies v Victoria game in 1996 was dry but a mere 35k. Let me guess, the air too thin or something for the crowd to turn up?

Why would Victorian fans care about playing a weaker team like the Allies? They are about as strong on paper as SA and WA.

Victoria needs a challenge and the only challenge on paper is the Rest Of Australia

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I reckon this will kill it pretty fast. Better to get a full house at Adelaide Oval than risk 50k at the G.

The first Vic games could be at Docklands, or even Kardinia Park (maybe a few Collingwood players would finaslly play there). The MCG isn't necessarily going to be available anyway - and certainly not in 2027 with the 150th Anniversary Test - so only approach the MCC and Cricket Victoria once its established a big crowd will attend.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Why would Victorian fans care about playing a weaker team like the Allies? They are about as strong on paper as SA and WA.

Victoria needs a challenge and the only challenge on paper is the Rest Of Australia

All you have to do is look at the weekend as an example, it's a success without that combined Non-Victorian team.

 

[Blackhawk42]

How do you keep moving the goal posts and ignoring other examples? You wouldn't be making that excuse had it been other state teams playing. And The Allies v Victoria game in 1996 was dry but a mere 35k. Let me guess, the air too thin or something for the crowd to turn up?

That was the first live game of AFL I ever attended. I don't remember much about the crowd caring though.

 

[crowman2]

Next years SOO should have the chilli peppers playing maybe a north Melbourne reunion with a group hug of Archer Carey and Stevens then to top it off Billy Brownless and Gary Lyons as the two commentators

All in the pre season with SA v VIC and we get Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

Dangerfield and lever because they spent some time in Adelaide or anyone else that resided here for a while to give us a leg up

Ratings winner sounds legit

 

[Demon13304]

All you have to do is look at the weekend as an example, it's a success without that combined Non-Victorian team.

The game on Saturday night was miles better than the bushfire relif Vic vs All Stars 2020 match

You could hear the crowd really getting behind WA and the boys really played for the jumper

 

[Linda Lovelace]

But even then NSW v QLD would be barely better standard than Sydney v Brisbane, and who wants to risk their players health in a game like that?

WA/VIC/SA Are the only Viable options.

This talking point, which is just the little brother of the more general anti-origin talking point, is built on the dodgy premise that clubs necessarily have the ability to stop players from participating.

The AFL can largely take that out of club hands if they want to. There are plenty of creative incentives and coercions that the AFL can apply.

Whether or not it is 'viable' rests entirely on the AFL's assessment of costs and benefits, and how much they want to support it. The notion of 'risking players' only matters if the AFL allows that to be a reason to kill the idea off.

I think it would be overall be a net positive for the game in the northern states, even if only in a small way. And if it fails, it's no big deal. No harm in trying.

The Allies idea risks diluting the whole concept. A failure of NSW vs Queensland will have little impact on the success of Vic vs WA/SA.

 

[Underarm]

This talking point, which is just the little brother of the more general anti-origin talking point, is built on the dodgy premise that clubs necessarily have the ability to stop players from participating.

The AFL can largely take that out of club hands if they want to. There are plenty of creative incentives and coercions that the AFL can apply.

I think thats a little naive. SoO needs buy in from the Players, Clubs and fans.

If only 15k show up to NSW v QLD, Players and clubs interest will wane pretty quick. If Clubs start protecting players or the Players play like its a warm up game then the fans wont show up.

Whether or not it is 'viable' rests entirely on the AFL's assessment of costs and benefits, and how much they want to support it. The notion of 'risking players' only matters if the AFL allows that to be a reason to kill the idea off.

I think it would be overall be a net positive for the game in the northern states, even if only in a small way. And if it fails, it's no big deal. No harm in trying.

The Allies idea risks diluting the whole concept. A failure of NSW vs Queensland will have little impact on the success of Vic vs WA/SA.

Yep I agree. They should try it at some point and I'd be happy to be wrong.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

I think thats a little naive. SoO needs buy in from the Players, Clubs and fans.

If only 15k show up to NSW v QLD, Players and clubs interest will wane pretty quick. If Clubs start protecting players or the Players play like its a warm up game then the fans wont show up.



Yep I agree. They should try it at some point and I'd be happy to be wrong.

Naivety would be not understanding the level of control the AFL has over the situation when it pertains to clubs and players, not the other way around.

This idea that players would for some reason be militantly against playing a pre-season game for good money vs playing a different pre-season game is one of the sillier talking points accompanying this discussion.

The players will play if you pay them some decent coin. And that's just one form of incentive that could be offered.

The AFL has all kinds of ways to stop clubs and players from throwing a hissy fit, and to tell them to sit the f*ck down if they do.

The question is whether the AFL itself sees Origin as worthwhile enough. Saying the fans have 'buy in' in this regard goes without saying.

 

[Scotland]

But even then NSW v QLD would be barely better standard than Sydney v Brisbane, and who wants to risk their players health in a game like that?

WA/VIC/SA Are the only Viable options.

SOO is a bit like the Six Nations.

After 25 years of 6 teams playing, 3 of them win 2 in every 3 games, one wins 1 in 2, one wins 1 in 3 and one wins 1 in 8. It's even in the sense that two teams have 6 titles and two have 7, and it's not even in the sense that the other two have none.

If Vic, SA, WA, Qld, NSW/ACT and Tas all played each other every year you would end up with something similar except Vic would most likely have an Uber rating of between 4 and 5.

What you want is for the smaller states to have something to play for. If it's just Qld vs NSW to fill a token spot each year no one is really going to care. Not really feasible for 5 matches each year but you want Qld/NSW/Tas to be able to challenge WA/SA for the right to challenge Vic. It's never going to be even but then Queensland won 8 in a row and 11 of 12 and the next series drew 87k, 82k and 51k (sold our Lang Park) so it's not like the fans walked away.

 

[revo333]

How do you keep moving the goal posts and ignoring other examples? You wouldn't be making that excuse had it been other state teams playing. And The Allies v Victoria game in 1996 was dry but a mere 35k. Let me guess, the air too thin or something for the crowd to turn up?

The 1993 Vic vs SA at the MCG was poorly attended as well.

I don't know why people are so sensitive about it.

The evidence is clear the MCG isn't the venue for it.

The MCG gets the AFL grand final.

Let WA and SA have the SOO games

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Per Xander McGuire on X

Key WA government and football figures are hellbent on keeping State of Origin in Perth next year.

They want a Vic v WA rematch and are keen to splash the cash. Andrew Dillon and his executive team are facing heavy lobbying from the West.

The AFL will look to roll out a plan for representative football in the coming months which incorporates other states like South Australia - all within a roster that could see alternating match-ups up until 2030.

The AFL won’t commit to WA for 2027 just yet - but are ecstatic at the way the state handled SOO this year and Indigenous All-Stars v Fremantle last year.

The idea of an Allies team has been put on the back burner for now - with players expressing a desire to play in the colours of their individual state.

Good chance this “story” is the AFL looking to extract maximum dollars from SA to host Vic v SA next year.

 

[GC2015]

Per Xander McGuire on X

Key WA government and football figures are hellbent on keeping State of Origin in Perth next year.

The AFL will look to roll out a plan for representative football in the coming months which incorporates other states like South Australia - all within a roster that could see alternating match-ups up until 2030.

The idea of an Allies team has been put on the back burner for now - with players expressing a desire to play in the colours of their individual state.

People can stop pushing the idea of an Allies / rest of Australia team now. The players have obviously made it clear that they want to play for their own state & aren't keen on the Allies / rest of Australia concepts and the AFL has clearly listened to that feedback. So now the question is - how do you incorporate other states like Queensland and New South Wales into an Origin format with Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia? Eventually Tasmania will come into play as well.

In my mind, the next iteration of Origin (2027 presumably) is really simple and it involves Queensland v New South Wales on one night and Victoria v South Australia / Western Australia on the next night. Then the following year you switch up Victoria's opposition and I think you probably look to schedule the weaker team out of WA & SA against the winner of QLD & NSW with the northern team having home advantage and just see how it goes. At that point, you could also have the loser of QLD / NSW facing Tasmania in an Origin clash in the new Hobart stadium.

As per Xander McGuire's post on X, the AFL's current plan is to have more than two states involved in Origin in the future without the Allies being involved. So, at the very least, we're likely going to see one of Queensland, New South Wales or Tasmania getting involved in Origin next year. My guess is we'll see some kind of promotion / relegation format established in an attempt to avoid weaker states getting absolutely demolished by a team like Victoria, while South Australia / Western Australia will almost act as the gate keepers to ensure Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania don't face Victoria until they are ready to do so e.g. earn your way into the national championship game by proving you are better than both WA & SA.

I'm glad to see the AFL understands the importance of each state having their own team and that the Allies is a bad idea when it comes to growing the game in the northern states + Tasmania. Instead of just prioritising what's best for Victoria like they have in the past, it shows the AFL are taking this seriously with a national interest in mind and I think the penny dropped in terms of Origin's potential back in December when they told reigning dual Norm Smith Medalist Will Ashcroft he can't play for Victoria just because he finished high school there and he is instead aligned him to his actual State of Origin - Queensland. That will likely be a crucial decision in around 5 or so years from now when all these recent high end draft picks from the sunshine state start to enter their prime and you could conceivably see Queensland facing Victoria in a State of Origin national championship game.

 

[GC2015]

Also, new AFL COO Tom Harley cast aside the idea of the Allies and believes Queensland & New South Wales would be able to field competitive state teams on their own. The momentum within AFL house appears to be gathering behind a truly national state-based competition.

 

[Bjo187]

WA V VIC again in WA? That would be a poor choice in my opinion. They need to share these events around I hate how they lock in events to one spot every year forever, particularly events that can really super charge growth in a particular city.

If it's to be in Perth:
Saturday night: NSW v QLD
Sunday night: WA V SA

If it's to be in Adelaide:
Perth get gather round for the year
SA v VIC at Adelaide oval.

 

[RUNVS]

But even then NSW v QLD would be barely better standard than Sydney v Brisbane, and who wants to risk their players health in a game like that?

WA/VIC/SA Are the only Viable options.

Except the game would be excellent for marketing Australian Football to NSW and QLD, proof it is also a sport for NSW and QLD too, not just Victoria

 

[Elite Master]

Nobody cares about the Allies when SoO was still a thing in the 90's, nor the Dream Team (2008) or All-Stars (2020).

The players don't care, and the wider public doesn't care.

 

[Underarm]

Except the game would be excellent for marketing Australian Football to NSW and QLD, proof it is also a sport for NSW and QLD too, not just Victoria

Or would it look like the sad cousin to proper SoO?

I think things like Opening round do a better job at growing the game north of the Barrassi.

 

[Tall poppy Syndrome]

Voz rating figures are out for Seven

SEVEN’S AFL: STATE OF ORIGIN: WA V VICTORIA Seven

Total TV National Reach: 1,976,000
Total TV National Average Audience: 843,000
BVOD National Average Audience: 182,000

The people of BVOD don’t seem to like Origin at all.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

WA V VIC again in WA? That would be a poor choice in my opinion. They need to share these events around I hate how they lock in events to one spot every year forever, particularly events that can really super charge growth in a particular city.

If it's to be in Perth:
Saturday night: NSW v QLD
Sunday night: WA V SA

If it's to be in Adelaide:
Perth get gather round for the year
SA v VIC at Adelaide oval.

I'd say there's less than zero chance Origin happens without Victoria. It's a TV product and they're not going to exclude Victoria as it's the biggest guaranteed market by a long way.

In terms of where it's held, it'll be a bidding war. That's how these things work. It's money.

 

[The_Reaper]

Running NSW/QLD and a game involving VIC next year will give some idea of how much tv audience WA v SA might get plus.

We know WA and SA would watch their match but we don’t know whether neutral victorians might but anyone in VIC who watches NSW v QLD would likely also watch WA v SA

I think NSW v QLD in February would also get an audience from NSW and QLD who would definitely not watch their match other states.

Worth a shot, play it in the Gold Coast

 

[GoldbergsGold]

I'd say there's less than zero chance Origin happens without Victoria. It's a TV product and they're not going to exclude Victoria as it's the biggest guaranteed market by a long way.

In terms of where it's held, it'll be a bidding war. That's how these things work. It's money.

Should be Victoria traveling interstate to SA and WA to verse them rotating every 2 years for a preseason exhibition.

 

[Scotland]

I'd say there's less than zero chance Origin happens without Victoria. It's a TV product and they're not going to exclude Victoria as it's the biggest guaranteed market by a long way.

In terms of where it's held, it'll be a bidding war. That's how these things work. It's money.

It's also an opportunity for the AFL to look like they care about SA and WA. They don't, Gather Round and SOO are cash grabs. If the SA and WA govts weren't paying for the privilege these fixtures wouldn't exist as they do currently. Then when it comes to the H&A season and finals scheduling they can return to business as usual which is maximising revenue which invariably means maximising marquee fixtures in Victoria.

 

[GC2015]

Should be Victoria traveling interstate to SA and WA to verse them rotating every 2 years for a preseason exhibition.

Just do this until QLD and/or NSW prove they are strong enough to hold their own against VIC. Then do a proper knockout competition.