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Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews with last year\u2019s premiership cup.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cFor us, leadership is a teamwork thing so to have three captains reinforces that philosophy, and we work really hard to build leadership density at our footy club.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese three are our best trademark players, they are fine young men, they are different personalities, so they bring different strengths to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n
AAP<\/p>\n
AFL bullish Origin can have permanent spot with shorter quarters<\/p>\n
Michael Gleeson
State of Origin should become a permanent part of the football calendar with the AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon wanting representative football, played by the game\u2019s best, being the first match of each new year.<\/p>\n
The AFL deemed the return of State of Origin on Saturday night a success with Dillon saying he now wants State of Origin games or an Indigenous All Stars game to be played in the pre-season each year on rotation.<\/p>\n
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Marcus Bontempelli and Hugh McCluggage celebrate Victoria\u2019s win.Credit: AFL Photos<\/p>\n
The league wants to stage another State of Origin game next pre-season with the location and teams involved still to be decided.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel there is proper momentum now to build on Saturday night and continue next year and beyond as a permanent fixture on the footy calendar,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players showed they want that opportunity to play rep footy and that was reflected in the quality of the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe size of the crowd gives us great confidence, and the way the fans so passionately embraced it, both in lead up and on Saturday is a big factor.\u201d<\/p>\n
There were 58,000 people at Optus Stadium on Saturday night with more than a million people on average nationally watching the game on free to air and pay tv services.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we have the right window for it to be played in the pre-season. I think the first game of the season being played by the best players in a representative game is a good way for footy to return for the year,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
Players said they enjoyed the game and wanted it to continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would rather play this than a practice match,\u201d Victoria\u2019s Toby Greene said after the match.<\/p>\n
Several clubs\u2019 general managers of football, who did not want to be named, said they supported State of Origin becoming permanent but wanted shorter games of 16 or 18 minute quarters with time-on added. Shortened games of this length were played during COVID.<\/p>\n
Clubs also wanted early warning of any players earmarked to potentially play so they could tailor the players\u2019 pre-season training program around it. They also wanted better financial coverage and salary cap relief in the event a player was injured and missed club games.<\/p>\n
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Marcus Bontempelli and Max Gawn of Victoria lead the team onto the ground.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing for us now is to iron out the details of what it looks like into the future. We will work with clubs and the players on that,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy personal view is there is scope for one game per pre-season. I think the game could probably be a bit shorter, 26\u201327 minutes quarters not 31\u201333 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn principle, I think there is an appetite for it to build and to capitalise on the momentum we have got. We had the Indigenous All Stars game last year and I think you could look at an All Stars game every three years. So, possibly, another State of Origin Game next year and an Indigenous all-stars game the year after.\u201d<\/p>\n
The AFL will look to either WA to host again next year, or South Australia. Broadcasters are highly likely to want Victoria playing in any match because of the extra TV audience it draws.<\/p>\n
Players and fans from NSW, Queensland and Tasmania will want to be involved in State of Origin games but the football managers spoken to by this masthead described the Allies concept as a flawed compromise and none of those states presently would be strong enough to field a stand-alone team.<\/p>\n
The AFL general managers of football meet next week with origin on the agenda. Quarter lengths, player payments, injury payment protection for clubs and or salary cap relief if players are injured in state games are among the issues to be discussed.<\/p>\n
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AFL players bought into the State of Origin game. Shae Bolton, one of WA\u2019s best, tackled here by Victoria\u2019s Nick Daicos Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The AFL Players Association chief executive James Gallagher said the players wanted origin to return permanently. The AFLPA reached an agreement with the AFL for this year as a one-off game, but they were happy to negotiate a long-term agreement to maintain the concept.<\/p>\n
Players were paid a base of $20,000 each for the game with the captains earning more and certain other players being paid extra as \u201cambassadors\u201d by the WA state government and Tourism WA.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the game players thought there was a place for State of Origin to return permanently. The discussions I\u2019ve had with players during the week and after the game have been overwhelmingly positive and reinforced that,\u201d Gallagher said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players\u2019 commitment was fantastic. You could see that with how keen they were to pull on the WA and Victorian jumpers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe worked with the AFL for a deal for this year\u2019s game. We\u2019ve started our review with players. Once complete, we\u2019ll work through the details of it moving forward with the AFL.\u201d<\/p>\n
Giants star eyeing quick recovery as GWS injuries mount<\/p>\n
GWS midfield gun Finn Callaghan is confident he\u2019ll be fit in time for opening round after picking up a minor pre-season injury.<\/p>\n
Callaghan won\u2019t feature in the club\u2019s pre-season matches against Collingwood and Sydney as he manages a light hip flexor strain.<\/p>\n
The Giants are already counting the costs of last week\u2019s intra-club match simulation, with fellow midfield bull Tom Green (ACL) ruled out for the season.<\/p>\n
Callaghan, who didn\u2019t play in last Friday\u2019s simulation, will be on the sidelines until the club\u2019s March 7 opener against Hawthorn.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a little bit frustrating. I just felt a little bit tight in my hip flexor, and it didn\u2019t settle down there for a few days,\u201d he told AAP.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be too bad. I won\u2019t play any of the practice matches, but I should be back for the opening round.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d love to play the practice games, but priority is to make sure I\u2019m ready to go for the opening round against the Hawks.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Star Giant Tom Green is officially out for the season.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Small forward Toby Bedford was also among the casualties from the intra-club clash, and is set for at least five to six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring issue.<\/p>\n
GWS have also lost key defender Sam Taylor for the start of the season, after he was subbed out of Saturday\u2019s State of Origin clash due to \u201chamstring awareness\u201d.<\/p>\n
The club said in a statement scans on Monday had confirmed \u201ca high-grade hamstring strain\u201d which is \u201cexpected to rule him out for the opening rounds of the 2026 season\u201d.<\/p>\n
Veteran midfielder Josh Kelly (hip) and forward Darcy Jones (ACL) aren\u2019t expected to appear until the second half of the season at the earliest.<\/p>\n
AAP<\/p>\n