WANTED - State Of Origin Renaissance | Thebigtip

The NRL is currently in the midst of State of Origin season. It is war; a hardened battle between Queensland and New South Wales. At stake is pride, a motivation that, these days in sport, gets diluted by money and greed. The players WANT to represent their state and they WANT to win. It is an event that is not only embraced by the players, but also by Rugby League fans around Australia. Its success year in and year out leaves me wondering one thing; why can’t we have this in the AFL?

State of Origin football in the AFL was always a Grand event. You need only look at footage of the Ted Whitten, both when he coached the The Big V and on his final lap of the MCG. There was a man who stood for everything State of Origin was - passion, pride and determination. Sadly, not long after his final lap and death, State of Origin football also passed away, and with it, a passionate interstate rivalry that doesn’t quite run as deep at club level.

The Victorians slugging it out with the South Australians was an example of AFL football united as one. All divided Victorian fans, Essendon and Carlton alike, uniting as one to defeat the enemy from over the border. It was war, an atmosphere not matched in home and away games. Suddenly the possibility of player injuries started dictating who would be allowed to play. Players began dodging selection, citing a “niggling injury”, or even worse, “the flu”. Fans were left watching State of Origin matches with second-string sides and suddenly, fans started switching off as their passion was not matched by the players. State of Origin football was soon put on the scrapheap, replaced by a new concept.

The AFL, in all its wisdom, decided to commence an International Rules series with Ireland, based on a hybrid of Australian Rules and Gaelic Football. It was to be played at the conclusion of each season, where no “injuries” would affect selection. International Rules provided players with the chance to represent their country, an achievement not previously available for Australian Footballers. The problem was that it was professional sportsman against amateurs and it never really conjured up the same intensity that State of Origin football could.

As the years go by, the relevance of International Rules continues to decline. A one-off State of Origin match a few seasons back reignited the excitement of State of Origin football and returned the issue to debate amongst AFL fans. A large selection of this generation of AFL fans have never seen State of Origin football, never experienced the atmosphere and never barracked hard for their own state. The time has come for them to get their chance.

International Rules is no longer relevant. It was a novelty, which proved exciting and interesting initially, but is ultimately meaningless. Australia has no real rivalry with Ireland, not in the same way Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia do. Australian Rules is just that - Australian. It should be celebrated in Australia, with Australians. Each state should have the opportunity to unite and stand up as one for their state, and “stick it right up them”, as the late Ted Whitten would say.

State of Origin in Rugby League has never messed with its winning formula. It has remained strong throughout and has left many an AFL fan lamenting on the lost art parochial State of Origin support. Fans want to see Chris Judd, Jonathon Brown, Luke Hodge and Gary Ablett Junior playing in the one team, and playing Australian Football, not a hybrid game. The closest thing fans have to compiling such teams now is through fantasy football platforms. Let’s bring their teams to life! The time has come to bring it back!

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder; can this be applied to State of Origin football?

How do you remember State of Origin footy? Would you like to see it back in the AFL? Would you trade the International Rules for it?