AFL - State Game Preview

This weekend most AFL players are having a mid season lay off while the elite play in the Victoria v Dream Team game at the MCG on Saturday. It has been nearly ten years since state of origin AFL was played and the debate still runs hot about the worth of such an event.

Firstly I would like to say that if they are going to have a fixture like this then they have at least got the teams right. Victoria against the rest is the only way this concept will ever work. The problem is that they need to get the rest of the country hating the Vic's and supporting the dream team which is a tall order and one that would only work over time.

The AFL needs to make a decision in regards to what direction they want to take. Either have this game every year, once every second or four years or scrap the whole dam idea. Whatever, they decide to choose in their somewhat questionable wisdom, STICK to it and give it a chance to evolve. That is the only way they will generate any passion in the game both from players and spectators alike. I am not one to condone violence but a good old fashioned melee at the start of the game is the sought of tonic that this game needs to put credibility into a game a large percentage of the football loving public questions.

The AFL needs to understand that the games strength is its club games. They have state v state games every week and that rivalry is fantastic and growing. The other codes would do anything to get the support that the basic structure of the code gets in AFL. If the AFL thinks that they can get a state of origin to rival that of rugby league overnight then they are fooling themselves. The state of origin in rugby league is the showcase of the game. The best verses the best and it means everything to both player and supporter a like.

So who is going to win this weekend? Who cares is the obvious answer but I will try and not be as cynical as it might be a good fast flowing game of football. Being a New South Welshman by birth I will stick with the DreamTeam and take them at the odds of $2.04 head to head at sportsbet.com.au the premier Aussie sports betting site.

• 
• 
• Email to a friend
• Print