State of Origin Returning Next Year

[evs05]

The AFL is set to reintroduce the State of Origin concept next year for the first time since 1999 as part of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of Australian rules football.

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[tandino]

Full Article

Good news.

 

[Dk#1]

Great news.

 

[Aussie Assault]

Superb news.

 

[Atomboy]

Woo hoo !!.

This will be bigger than You Tube !!.

Can live without pre-season comp methinks

 

[Ant_]

Good stuff no more bastardised rules and round balls!

 

[CF]

about time

 

[captain ebert]

waste of time.

the only reason it works with league is because its only the 2 teams / states competing - however with afl there's too many states involved & to do the concept any justice, a "couple" of games during the mid season break simply does not suffice.

 

[Butane]

I wouldn't mind scrapping the pre-season cup, just have 3 - 4 practice matches and have SOO early in the peice. Its not perfect, and the AFL would lose a lot of money on the 'night grand final' sponsorship, but as a supporter I'd prefer this.

 

[Magnum27]

Let's hope it's in the pre season, because if its mid season game their is no way it will be fair dinkum, clubs will protect their stars mid season, at least in pre season they will want match practice.

 

[carntheroos4eva]

Awesome. I hope that the AFL introduce the bye in the middle of the year.

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

The credibility of this series now rides on whether each state will field a team on its own. The AFL can acknowledge that places such as Qld and NSW can field good teams on their own, or they can take footy back 25 years by ressurecting the failed 'Allies' concept.

 

[Marc Shmurf 3]

Good news. At that time Juddy will be accustomed to wearing the navy blue...

 

[Topdock65]

This is great news, and us fans should demand clubs dont play games with selection or injuries...

GO SANDGROPERS !!!

 

[Pessimistic]

If it was as simple as one state v the other state it would work - NRL SOO is fairly clear cut.

AFL has 3 major states, 2 mid range (QLD, Tas) ans one minor (NSW) Its a good problem to have as it shows the game is doing well.

Its a shemozzle to make a series out of.

Someone suggested a 'rolling' finals type thir the stats seeded 1v2, 3v4 and 5v6, with the loser and winners to swap each year. theyd have to play a game each home and away for it to be 'fair'

 

[Father Jack]

meh. couldn't care less really. Would rather watch the international rules, at least I have a team to go for in that.

 

[Burzum]

Great news.

 

[Souup]

Sensational News

 

[Warwick]

Can live without pre-season comp methinks

Why? I don't understand this line of thinking.

The pre-season competition isn't for the fans. It is a chance for coaches to trial their youngsters in a semi-competitive situation. It also allows the players to get some valuable match practice before the season-proper.

Replace the IR, but the Pre-season comp is there for a reason.

 

[evs05]

i agree, i like the pre season cup and think it should be kept.
no matter what time of year it is, the game's biggest stars will be protected by their respective clubs, so i do not accept that as a valid argument against a mid-season competition.

i am excited about them bringing it back, i just hope they do it right.

i would be happy to sacrifice IR for state of origin. don't think state of origin would work post-season though. would players be as excited about playing for the big V as they are about playing for australia?

 

[Father Jack]

Why? I don't understand this line of thinking.

The pre-season competition isn't for the fans. It is a chance for coaches to trial their youngsters in a semi-competitive situation. It also allows the players to get some valuable match practice before the season-proper.

Replace the IR, but the Pre-season comp is there for a reason.

I reckon it gives a few grounds the chance to get their sheiser together as well, plus umpires etc etc. plenty of reasons to have a serious comp where the consequences for stuffing up are not quite as high.

 

[Ted Ed Fred]

If it was as simple as one state v the other state it would work - NRL SOO is fairly clear cut.

AFL has 3 major states, 2 mid range (QLD, Tas) ans one minor (NSW) Its a good problem to have as it shows the game is doing well.

NSW would be ahead of QLD when you take into account the Riverina.

 

[walken79]

If it was as simple as one state v the other state it would work - NRL SOO is fairly clear cut.

AFL has 3 major states, 2 mid range (QLD, Tas) ans one minor (NSW) Its a good problem to have as it shows the game is doing well.

Its a shemozzle to make a series out of.

Someone suggested a 'rolling' finals type thir the stats seeded 1v2, 3v4 and 5v6, with the loser and winners to swap each year. theyd have to play a game each home and away for it to be 'fair'

I think in order for the SOO concept to really work, the AFL should just inroduce a series involving the big 3; Vic, WA & SA. No offence to the others but I just don't think it'd be worth fielding teams from those states. League SOO is obviously a great success and they don't field teams from Vic or ACT for a reason.

 

[PowerForGood]

Don't get too excited everyone - this is just a one-off for the 150th anniversary of Australian Rules Football. It won't go any further.

A question though - Why is the AFL celebrating the 150th anniversary of Australian Rules Football? I thought it (and many of its foundation teams' supporters) didn't care about anything that wasn't part of the VFL/AFL est 1897?

Or does everything Victorian that preceded the VFL/AFL matter, but not anything anywhere else in Australia?

 

[timthefish]

Why is the AFL celebrating the 150th anniversary of Australian Rules Football?