It's time for state of origin

by PETER RODGERS

AUSTRALIAN rules football is a unique and wonderful game. It is its very uniqueness however, which gives rise to a common criticism from non-fans; that it is not possible to represent your country.

This unfortunately is too true. While there are the hybrid rules games played between Australia and Ireland, these matches are useless and indeed embarrassing. It is a game that no one plays, no one knows the rules and precious few are interested in. Therefore, given that there is no meaningful international opportunity for players, I believe that we should go back to the idea of state of origin football, but upgraded to a new format.

My idea is to have all eight states and territories participate in a state of origin carnival, with there being two divisions, Division A with Victoria, WA, SA and, for the sake of my example, Queensland. Division B would comprise NSW, Tasmania, ACT and NT.

The format would work as follows:

1. Each state would only have to play one match per year against one of the other teams in its division.

2, The following year each state would play a different team in its division.

3. Ditto for the third year.

4. In the fourth year the two best performed teams from each division would play off for the championship - Division A teams would be playing off for the title of best football state in Australia. Division B teams would be playing off for the right to go up to Division A at the expense of the worst performed team in Division A.

The cycle would repeat every four years, giving a "World Cup" type feeling to the championship game in the fourth year. Thus the matches become meaningful; the concern felt by Victorian fans because non-Victorian teams are doing well in the AFL competition would seem to me proof that if there were some prize at the end of the cycle (ie title of best football State) then even Victorian fans would come out to see the matches.

Matches could possibly be played in the major country centres, with the championship games in the capital of the highest ranked team. All matches would be held on the same weekend in mid AFL season. Given that there would be an odd number of matches for each team prior to the championship game there might need to be a toss of the coin to determine home ground advantage.

If we assume that in the 2005 to 2007 cycle SA won all three games, Vic won two games and WA won one game, then Vic and SA would play off for the championship in 2008, and Qld would have to drop down to Division B for the next cycle. The championship game would be played in Adelaide by dint of SA finishing the best performing team over the three years.

The Division B team that won its decider would advance to Division A for the 2009-2011 cycle.

The benefits of this are as follows:

1. It gives a level of football for players to aspire to. It is common knowledge that the players love playing state of origin football.

2. Each match, although part of a larger championship, still stands on its own.

3. Having them over a weekend in mid season allows a football carnival atmosphere even though the matches would be played in four different states. An alternative could be to actually have a carnival, that is, have all four matches in a single city on the one weekend.

It is my firm belief that the time is right for a return to the concept of state of origin football; after all, it was Australian rules that invented the idea. Rugby League has taken the idea and run with it with their Queensland vs NSW matches; it is time for the real football to reintroduce it and make it relevant for all Australians.

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