With NRL states Queensland and New South Wales engrossed in State of Origin combat, certain sections of AFL media and some former stars have been pushing for a return of AFL State of Origin.
There is no doubt that AFL State of Origin was once upon a time an engrossing affair, with the rivalry between South Australia and Victoria (the Big V) legendary.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL greats pick hypothetical SA State of Origin team.
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However, since the VFL became the AFL and teams from SA and WA joined the competition, the battle across state lines became increasingly diluted.
AFL clubs were also reluctant to release their elite players for State of Origin duties, given they pay the players and did not want to risk losing a superstar for the season in a game that had no bearing on the fortunes of the club.
Crowd numbers also declined and eventually the AFL pulled the plug on the concept at the end of the 1990s.
Scroll below to see Talking Footy’s SA and Vic teams
Some romantics still pine for the days of State of Origin, but for many AFL fans — who are totally invested in their club — it is a dated concept and serves no purpose (as a born-and-bred Melbourne boy I couldn’t really give a tinker’s cuss if Victoria beat SA or WA in State of Origin, and I certainly wouldn’t want any of my club’s players involved in the pointless, chest-thumping exercise).
But while the topic is hot, Channel 7’s Talking Footy decided to get AFL greats Joel Selwood and Trent Cotchin to pick their State of Origin Victoria and SA teams.
The Victorian looked reasonably strong on paper, with young superstars Nick Daicos and Harley Reid featuring, alongside a powerhouse forward line that includes Charlie Curnow, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene and Christian Petracca.
The South Australian line-up, however, was a little trickier to pick.
There were not many big-name key forwards to choose from, and it was a similar problem down in defence.
The midfield featured Port Adelaide young guns Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee, who were lining up with veterans Lachie Neale and Brodie Grundy.
But having Melbourne swingman Harrison Petty at full-forward is certainly contentious, given his form has been scratchy at best, and he’s only managed three goals for the year.
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Victoria
B: Max Holmes (Gee), Jacob Weitering (Carl), Luke Ryan (Fre)
HB: Tom Stewart (Gee), Darcy Moore (Coll), Lachie Whitfield (GWS)
C: Josh Daicos (Coll), Nick Daicos (Coll), Sam Walsh (Carl)
HF: Zak Butters (Port), Harry McKay (Carl), Christian Petracca (Mel)
FF: Toby Greene (GWS), Charlie Curnow (Carl), Jeremy Cameron (Gee)
FOLL: Max Gawn (Mel), Marcus Bontempelli (WB), Zach Merrett (Ess)
I/C: Noah Anderson (GC), Caleb Serong (Fre), Jake Stringer (Ess), Harley Reid (WC)
South Australia
B: Mitch Hinge (Adel), Callum Wilkie (St K), Max Michalanney (Adel)
HB: Mason Redman (Ess), Charlie Ballard (GC), Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera (St K)
C: Will Day (Haw), Jason Horne-Francis (Port), Jordan Dawson (Adel)
HF: Izak Rankine (Adel), Darcy Fogarty (Adel), Kysaiah Pickett (Mel)
FF: Tyson Stengle (Gee), Harrison Petty (Mel), Jack Lukosius (GC)
FOLL: Brodie Grundy (Syd), Connor Rozee (Port), Lachie Neale (Bris)
I/C: Rory Laird (Adel), Brad Close (Gee), Alex Neal-Bullen (Mel), Will Hayward (Syd)
Selwood said picking such a team was “always a challenge” but thought it was “still a great team on paper”.
“Through the middle it becomes a little bit stronger: Horne-Francis, Rozee, Neale, you’d want that in any side …,” he said.
“We’ve gone for the small forwards which is as dangerous as it gets those small forwards.”
Noting the issue with the key forwards, Cotchin said: “I think the focus for our key forwards in the SA team is to bring the ball to ground and let the little boys get to work.”
Talking Footy host James Brayshaw was not that thrilled with the line-up.
“I’m not sure the great Neil Kerley, if he was still with us, would view that as the greatest South Australian team he’s ever seen,” Brayshaw said.
Kerley was a legend of South Australian football and, along with Victoria’s Ted Whitten, was one of the famous faces when it came to driving the SA-Vic rivalry.
Essendon legend Channel 7 star Tim Watson was even more scathing of the team.
“No, it’s not (the greatest) … I reckon you could just about give the Vics a 20 goal start and they’d reel it in by about half-time,” Watson said.
Talking Footy will unveil its WA and Allies State of Origin teams next Wednesday.
