O Origin, Where Art Thou?

It’s hard to imagine a world without State of Origin. It really has become the great leveller, the bringerer togetherer, the holy grail of sporting events. League fans turn on their club heroes in favour of a rival club’s villain. Rugby fans let bygones be bygones, putting down their reading glasses, imported cheese and glass of red to enjoy the spectacle. Soccer fans recognise, if only for a few short hours, that they really DO follow a soft sport. And Aussie Rules fans… Well, Aussie Rules fans watch, albeit through gritted teeth, and enjoy, but not without a pang of sadness, seeing mate against mate, state against state, a concept that fell by the wayside almost a decade ago in their favourite code.

Yes, you did read correctly, it has been almost ten whole years since the indigenous game of one of the finest federations on the planet, allowed its states to celebrate their unique talents and prowess in the sporting arena. When the boffins at AFL HQ decided to scrap State of Origin, they did so for good reason. There were no crowds, star players weren’t turning out on the advice of their clubs and with the game becoming more national by the day, the logistics of it all were becoming too hard to handle. The format had lost its luster and as such, was the AFL was losing money.

Fans refused to accept the leagues common sense approach. This was State of Origin and the league was letting the Big V down. Like a broken hearted ex-boyfriend, the competition’s fan-base were crying out for just one more chance. The passion remained, and does to this day, the punters want to see the best playing with and against the best. But like so many ex-girlfriend’s before them, the league wouldn’t budge. Until of course it suited them (don’t get me wrong, the fans were overjoyed).

2008 was the 150th anniversary of Australian Rules Football and to celebrate, the Hall of Fame tribute match was announced. This one-off Victoria against the rest concept had traditional standalone states South Australia and Western Australia screaming blue murder, but without the luxury of a rugby league-like two state structure and with over 300 of the 700 registered players Victorians, the league had little option. The match was a success, the best players played, the crowd came out in force and only a few players withdrew. In households around the country, friends gathered, shared the experience, just like they would for the rugby league State of Origin (only on a much smaller and less fanatic scale).

The players loved it too. Just like their rugby league comrades, they wore the jumper with pride, they played without fear and they all expressed their burning desire to have the concept back. Brendon Fevola, best on ground on the night, wants it back every year. Brownlow Medalist Jimmy Bartel said it needs to be timed better, maybe as a replacement to the preseason competition and Victorian Captain Jonathon Brown met the AFL halfway and suggested a once every four years exhibition match.

The fact of the matter is, everyone wants it back. In recent years, the players have had but one representative opportunity, to play for their country in the International Rules contest against Ireland. But this game is not football and the best players don’t play, the best suited players play and that opportunity is gone now too.

It’s time for the big wigs at the AFL to pull their finger out, forget about Western Sydney (there is no way that it will work!) and concentrate on the existing fans, concentrate on making the best game in the land even better, for them to allow Aussie Rules supporters to watch Queensland continually pummel New South Wales without the tears!