The AFL is just over a week away from reviving its State of Origin format for the first time since 1999, but the concept returns on thin ice with fears surrounding a number of key aspects.
State of Origin has become the pinnacle of representative football in the NRL, with players taking it as seriously as anything they will do in their careers.
On the flip side of that, you have the NBA All-Star game, which has devolved into an exhibition of which player can most show they are too cool to be here.
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Now the AFL will attempt to land their plane somewhere in the middle between the NRL and the NBA on Valentine’s Day to prove the viability of the concept.
WA captain Patrick Cripps. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos
A February pre-season contest with no heat in the rivalry means they can never get near the passion the NRL drives.
Having said that, every player interviewed has vowed to take it seriously, particularly given the return of Origin has been driven hard by the AFLPA over the last few years.
It is also the baby of league chief Andrew Dillon, who made it his mission upon taking the reins to bring representative footy back.
But there are still prominent figures within the AFL landscape who are afraid the game could devolve into something resembling the NBA All-Star match.
Public sentiment for the game is already sceptical at best, and if it does tip towards hit-and-giggle territory, as some fear, it might be another decade before we see an AFL State of Origin game.
Victorian captain Marcus Bontempelli. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos
Key voices involved in planning the game have expressed their concerns, including top players unavailable due to injury.
They worry about a flurry of late omissions or players going through the motions.
Brisbane veteran Dayne Zorko expressed similar concerns on Tuesday.
“I think you’ll find that most players after a really long pre-season won’t be throwing themselves around as much as they’re saying,” Zorko told SEN.
“I reckon I’d be conserving a little bit of energy, and making sure I get through the season for my club.”
Crucially, everyone involved wants it to succeed, including those playing; at least that’s what we’ve been told.
Sam Darcy and Max Gawn of Victoria. via Getty Images
Melbourne veteran Max Gawn said upon being announced for the game that he will have a “genuine crack”.
“There’s noise around the timeslot that it’s in and that it might not be as serious as State of Origin in other codes, but I’m pretty keen to get out there and have a genuine crack at this because I feel like it’s something that could go on for decades,” he told reporters.
But even that brings with it another issue.
The Victorian team, on paper, should slaughter Western Australia and if they’re taking the game seriously and we get a one-sided blow out, that equally doesn’t help with long-lasting public interest.
You wouldn’t blame players for taking their foot off the gas late in a thrashing.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
WA completed its 25-man squad earlier in the week with GWS midfielder Stephen Coniglio, West Coast forward Jake Waterman and Fremantle veteran Jaeger O’Meara.
West Australia’s Liam Baker and Shai Bolton. Getty
Meanwhile the Vics filled their squad with Bailey Smith, who just finished third in the Brownlow, Jack Gunston, who just kicked 73 goals for Hawthorn, and All-Australian squad ruckman Tristan Xerri.
No disrespect to O’Meara and Coniglio, but they probably aren’t in the next 20 midfielders Victoria could select.
Particularly when you consider guys like Sam Walsh, Andrew Brayshaw, Jai Newcombe, Christian Petracca, Harry Sheezel and Tom Liberatore didn’t make the squad.
The question the AFL must answer is what they deem to be a successful revamp.
They’ve already sold over 40,000 tickets to Optus Stadium and the best players have shown up, but now they must get the public on board for any possible longevity.
And for that to happen, the match must carry with it credibility, and that only comes from everybody buying in, including a parochial West Australian crowd.
No major injuries would also go a long way, but it’s not like injuries can’t occur in standard pre-season games anyway.
Nick Daicos of the Magpies announced for Victoria. NA
Victorian captain Marcus Bontempelli missed the first five weeks of the 2025 season after an injury suffered in a Bulldogs pre-season hit-out.
Dillon and the AFL deserve credit for listening to the players and backing them to successfully revive Origin, but now it comes down to them to deliver.
And the pressure is on captain Patrick Cripps and Western Australia to put up a good fight on their home deck.
It was reported by SEN on Wednesday that clubs have the final say in how many minutes their players are out there for. Both teams will have seven-man benches.
There are doubts over 2024 Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan and whether he will suit up for WA, as his loads are managed following an injury riddled year.
Jeremy Cameron and Toby Greene are in similar boats on the Victorian side.