Almanac Footy: Will the AFL State of Origin work in 2026?

 

As a proud Cockroach, originally from the little Riverina town of Junee that Laurie ‘Diesel’ Daley came from (proudly sitting on the Barassi line) and having had Tommy Raudonikaus’ picture on my wall I believe I have the reasons and wisdom to weigh in. Go the NSW Blues in spite of living in Qld for over 35 years!!!

When the then NSWRL and QRL decided to copy the VFL idea of having fair dinkum origin contests ( yes it started with Aussie Rules) particularly between WA, SA and the big V they saw passionate pride filled fair dinkum games played on a week night between local founds of footy in different states and it meant something to beat Victoria for those who got a chance to play against their mates they normally would line up with in the clubs for which they play in the VFL.

One of my strongest teenage memories was being present at Manuka Oval to see the blue and yellow of the ACT (helped by the Fitzroy baby battleship Mick Conlan, Ex Saint ‘Cowboy’ Neale who was captain coach for Ainslie, and having ex Eastlake forward Alex Jesaleanko playing in the forward line) against a third string big V side on a cold Canberra day. ‘Cowboy’ in typical fashion dealt with the big V forwards in his robust yet legal (at the time) way and JEZZA took a couple of hangers. The crowd loved it and the ACT side won against all the odds. But was it against the odds you see three big V teams played on that weekend as I recall the seniors against WA, another team played Tassie in North Hobart, and the third stringers flew the flag in Canberra.

The NSW Qld stouch never has been diluted with more than one team; there was one team for each state, and it gave the Queenslanders and the Blues a chance to go back to Lang Park or the SCG and play against their mates with the mighty maroon or blue on. There was a reason to play and there was definite atmosphere at the games right from the get-go and the marketing took care of itself. Even with the so-called NRL national comp the first-grade competition doesn’t have the same gravitas or national reach as the AFL even if the NRL tells you different.

NRL Origin has prevailed due to dominance of NSW and Qld clubs (in spite of the Melbourne Storm who have acted as a second 13 Queensland side for most of its existence) the toughness of players, pure abandonment of one’s safety for the sake of your team. I don’t think the same can be said for the ‘exhibition’ origin match that will be played between WA and Victoria soon.

The VFL and other states had that wonderful (during the heyday of pre -AFL origin) atmosphere (just remember the Ted Whitten around the boundary game of the big V against South Australia at the G, the tremendous games with baying crowds at Footy Park or Subiaco played at night with a yellow Sherrin or Burleigh.

But as time marched on and the VFL morphed into the AFL the need for tribal state allegiances switched to club land, the Lions, the Crows and the Eagles have all represented their state with pride and have won multiple premierships with their state’s support behind them.

So why bring it Aussie Rules origin back? I believe it is for money and an extra game for sponsors to get on board, for jerseys to be sold and yet the actual squad members (from a huge number) have caveats as to how much time they are on the field!!! Perish the thought if a star gets a major injury – it will sign a death warrant for the ongoing prospects of having an annual game. The WA jumpers aren’t even close to reverse Richmond style sash with swan just a solid yellow – they cant even get tradition right, can they?

Yet perversely ill probably end up watching the game purely as a lover of footy and there lies the paradox!! I hope the Big V gets smashed.

 

More from Juneejunction (Richard Marlow) can be read Here

 

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