Every year I watch the Elite Rugby League players clash in "State of origin" NSW v Qld and wonder why we are deprived of watching the best AFL players playing.

I grew up watching in awe as the Big V with Lockett and Ablett etc ran riot, it was awesome.

I think it is a good reward for players performance and can only add to their experience.

Its time the Big V came back. Its got to be better than playing the Irish.

Fianally I know a few will go on about injury of our stars, but that can happen at training its the risk you take.

Unfortunately I dont think any Melbourne players would get a jumper at this stage.

I agree, i'd love to see it return. I became a footy supporter just when the SOO was winding down, so i missed out on the big years when rep footy meant something in the AFL. The international rules is just an excuse for us to belt the irish, and for them to have a good windge about it. With that almost gone now, i would like to see the Big V return. With the fact that there are three main states, Vic, SA, and WA, i think every year they should alternate who plays who. (eg, first year Vics v SA, second year WA v SA, third year Vics v WA) I think a kind of round robin thing would take too much away from the main league and from the players, so this way they aren't playing every year which could make it more of an incentive as they wouldn't get many as many opportunities to represent and bring up the excitement levels for the fans.

Imagine Vic v. SA or WA at the MCG on a Friday night in front of 60,000+, 55k of which are Vic fans. God damn that would be awesome! I never experienced it the last time, so I think it's about time they bring it back!

Good idea Pates but there are some good players who come from the other states that used to make up the Allies.

I would like to see both the State of Origin return and International Rules continue.

Would be nice to watch the best players in the comp running around together

As opposed to the worst players in the comp running around together, which is what we have to put up with every week

Would be nice to watch the best players in the comp running around together

As opposed to the worst players in the comp running around together, which is what we have to put up with every week

Good call i would love to see it again.

Not one Melbourne player would be in any SOO side.

I don't understand why we don't play it. It really makes no sense.

There’s no World Cup equivalent for the AFL… so this is it… This is the highest level the game can be played. It should be seen as a privilege to be asked to represent your state.

With the interstate domination of recent years, there has never been a better time to reintroduce state of origin. The rivalry between the states is simmering, and with a half decent promotion, this could and should be a huge success.

I understand injuries are a concern. So why coudldn't it be played after the grand final? It would give people whose team weren't competing in the finals something to look forward to. Even if serious injuries were sustained, there would be 6 months to recover.

The problem is, in the AFL there is only one thing worth winning. Each year the vast majority of fans will inevitably go away disappointed.

As well as state of origin, I really think more should be made of the minor premiership. Just that wording… ‘minor’ premiership. It's a big achievement to finish top of the league after 22 rounds, but no one cares.

Good idea Pates but there are some good players who come from the other states that used to make up the Allies.

I would like to see both the State of Origin return and International Rules continue.

I understand that, but to me i think a big reason why the SOO dwindled was because noone gave a toss about the Allies. The people that it was representing didn't seem to feel as much pride as a VIC/SA/WA supporter would, because to me SOO is about doing it for the pride of your hometown.

Perhaps if they were to bring it back, they'd have to look at how they would market the Allies. But to me, thinking about all VIC players going out there and fighting against SA gets me a lot more pumped than facing a team of Allied states, which is more or less what footy is anyways.

EDIT: to make another point, do the NRL do a SOO team for people outside NSW or QLD? I know there wouldn't be many would there!

i loved going to SOO games

great memories of watching dunstall, lockett and ablett leading the big V to a massive win infront of 80,000+

the lap of honour of teddy whitten, still brings back a lump in the throat and a tear in the eye as i can clearly remember the atmosphere and the feeling that was at that game

One of the reasons why SoO games stopped was because we rarely saw the best players representing their states. Most of the better players picked up an unjury that weekend that made them unavailable for selection, funnily enough though they managed to get up for following weekend.

It is time, that the AFL returned State of Origin, back to the Footy public, & for the players who want to play representative Footy.

Let's see the bye weekends have our representative games played in future.

Totally agree , we need state of origin

Totally agree , we need state of origin

..... and it can help the top players realise another level, who can then take the competition to a higher plain..

NRL S.O.O, a very good article with many lessons to learn here > http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-league/state-of-origin/state-of-origin-the-words-that-inspired-nsws-success-20140529-zrs36.html

and also how the NSW Blues are learning to win again after being easy beats for so long. & Leadership !!!

Edited May 31, 201411 yr by dee-luded

Should play state of origin second week of finals. Saturday arvo. The 6 teams still in the finals would be not involved.

And I'd do it the same as country footy leagues play eachother.

Play sa v vic and wa v the rest

Winner of vic v sa plays the winner of wa v the rest the next year.

Should play state of origin second week of finals. Saturday arvo. The 6 teams still in the finals would be not involved.

And I'd do it the same as country footy leagues play eachother.

Play sa v vic and wa v the rest

Winner of vic v sa plays the winner of wa v the rest the next year.

yes, or even in-between the Preliminary Finals & Grand Final, with a rest week between; whilst the Grand Finalists lick they're wounds before combat.

Both bye weeks could be put to use for S.O.O. games played on a friday night, or even a Thursday Night, allowing a decent recovery of around 9 days, before the next H&A games

... so the mid season bye could have two SOO games, with the Big One a friday night, the week before the Grand Final.

Not interested, the AFL is a strong club based competition. We don't need to go into the SOO...it's just not part of our football culture.

Won't happen. Contracts are too big now.

Won't happen.

Firstly, there are only 3 states that could field viable teams. If you think anyone represented by (or representing) a team called "the Allies" gives a fig about it, you'd be wrong. You'd never get the same sense of tradition that the NRL gets because of this because you're not playing the same team each year.

Secondly, clubs would never clear their best players (assets) to play. They're far too valuable a commodity to risk for a game that isn't for four points.

Firstly, there are only 3 states that could field viable teams. ...You'd never get the same sense of tradition that the NRL gets because of this because you're not playing the same team each year.

I agree with what you write…but the NRL model works very well and has only 2 states.

Obviously there are a range of other factors.

Vic vs S.A. I suppose is the only one that would work but, even then, it wouldn't. Knockout competition could be fun but, really, unnecessary and potentially embarrassing.

It died a slow painful death, now let it rest in peace.

I don't think people remember how bad it became.

I agree with what you write…but the NRL model works very well and has only 2 states.

Obviously there are a range of other factors.

Vic vs S.A. I suppose is the only one that would work but, even then, it wouldn't. Knockout competition could be fun but, really, unnecessary and potentially embarrassing.

if there are 2 byes per season, or even one bye, the TV rights holder needs to put something to Air in their prime time slots Friday/Saturday nights.

watch this space.

I agree with what you writebut the NRL model works very well and has only 2 states.

Obviously there are a range of other factors.

Vic vs S.A. I suppose is the only one that would work but, even then, it wouldn't. Knockout competition could be fun but, really, unnecessary and potentially embarrassing.

I think it works *because* there's only two, not in spite of it.

They stopped it for a good reason.

I don't know why people keep calling for this, it had turned into a joke. Even the one-off a few years back was underwhelming.

AFL is the premier footy competition. Footy SOO was a big yawn. Rugby SOO is the premier rugby comp. NRL is a big yawn.

AFL is the premier footy competition. Footy SOO was a big yawn. Rugby SOO is the premier rugby comp. NRL is a big yawn.

What he said.