The return of State of Origin?

Nick Mockford told us State of Origin couldn’t be done, but Steven Turnbull hits back
in defence of representative football, citing a new concept.

Last Wednesday a selection of middle-aged ex-greats of the AFL graced the slippery surface of Telstra Dome in the now traditional E.J. Whitten Legends Game. In what is for many a once-a-year effort to drag creaking bones, aching muscles and expanding waistlines back on to the field, the competitive juices flowed as freely as the laughs – all for the cause of prostate cancer research.

The match will also be the closest thing AFL players and fans will get to representative football in 2005. Although International Rules does give the players the honour of representing their nation, they have to do so in a format vastly different to the code in which they earned their place.

The legends game also provides the closest thing AFL fans will get to state-against-state competition in 2005. Since Victoria defeated South Australia by 54 points at the MCG in 1999, the AFL has declared state-of-origin "on hold".

To represent the Big V in front of a sizeable crowd, Jonathan Brown and Chris Judd will have to wait for legends games at the end of their illustrious careers.

I and many others remember famous clashes between the Big V and the other states. A shiver still goes down the spine thinking of Ted Whitten’s lap of honour in 1995. Earlier were the epic battles throughout the ‘80’s; culminating in over 90,000 Victorians watching Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett destroy South Australia in 1989.

For many football fans and players, battles with old state rivals were cherished.

But could it be brought back? We at sportsaustralia.com would like to think so, and to get through this split round we’ve decided to play the role of selectors. In the age of the national competition, which has delivered superstars from all states and territories, we’ve envisaged a representative carnival, featuring matches around the country.

The Allies concept, which failed to ignite the fans, has been scrapped. In its place all states will field a team, with the ACT and NT combined with New South Wales and Queensland respectively. The competition will be in a knockout format, with traditional powers Victoria and South Australia gaining a bye into the semi-finals (see table below).

Over the next week and a half I’ll be bringing you my sides from all states, based on a combination of 2005 form and past record. Current injuries will be taken into account, but the squads will be selected without regard to players being rested. Then we’ll delve into the crystal ball to offer some predictions on the competition.

No comes the fun part: selecting the six squads for the state of origin concept. The sides have been chosen using a mixture of current form and past record. Unlike the All-Australian team, which is selected merely on the current season, these sides have been selected with reputation and long-term performance in mind.

Also, some players aren’t in the position they normally play in their club sides, but are positioned to best suit the state side themselves; therefore there is an emphasis on midfield rotations that are so popular in the modern game.

NEW SOUTH WALES/ACT

The Blues’ side showcases the strength of AFL development in the largest state. Although selected from a relatively limited base, NSW/ACT would give themselves a big chance of upsetting the Sandgropers at the SCG in the first round. A strong midfield contingent, including Hayes, Crawford, Kirk and upcoming Bulldog Cross combine good skills and a high workrate, while any team containing James Hird can’t be underestimated.

However the Blues’ spine may be the problem; injuries to Henry Playfair and Justin Koschitzke rob them of potential goal kickers, while Swans duo Barry and Bolton could be undersized against bigger opponents. Still, this looks a hard-working side that would test the traditional football powers.

B: Chris Hyde (Rich), Leo Barry (Syd), Mark McVeigh (Ess)
HB: Dean Solomon (Ess), Craig Bolton (Syd), Tadhg Kennelly (Syd)
C: Ben Matthews (Syd), Lenny Hayes (StK), Richard Vandenburg (Haw)
HF: Daniel Cross (WB), Cameron Mooney (Geel), James Hird (Ess)
F: Ryan Houlihan (Carl), Aaron Hamill (StK), Nick Davis (Syd)
R: Darren Jolly (Syd), Brett Kirk (Syd), Shane Crawford (Haw)
Int: Aaron Henneman (Ess), Jarrad McVeigh (Syd),
Greg Stafford (Rich), Matthew Whelan (Melb).
Em: Mark Alvey (Ess), Paul Bevan (Syd), Brent Guerra (StK),
Ray Hall (Rich), Mark McGough (StK), Lewis Roberts-Thompson (Syd),
Adam Schneider (Syd), Brent Staker (WC).

QUEENSLAND/NT

With a strong core of Premiership players, QNT look far too strong for first-round opponent Tasmania, and a big threat to the Big V at home in the semi-finals. Up-and-coming ruckman Hudson gets the privilege of palming down to Brownlow Medallists Voss, Akermanis and McLeod, with Nathan Buckley returning from injury and waiting in the wings.

With the immense pace of Burgoyne, Clarke and Davey, and the marking presence of Riewoldt in the forward line, what stands between the QNT and success will be the performance of their lower-profile players, especially Miller and Hentschel.

B: Michael Osborne (Haw), Mal Michael (BL), Brett Voss (StK)
HB: Joel Bowden (Rich), Brad Miller (Melb), Clint Bizzell (Melb)
C: Peter Burgoyne (Port), Michael Voss (BL), Robert Copeland (BL)
HF: Xavier Clarke (StK), Trent Hentschel (Adel), Nathan Buckley (Coll)
F: Mitch Hahn (WB), Nick Riewoldt (StK), Aaron Davey (Melb)
R: Ben Hudson (Adel), Jason Akermanis (BL), Andrew McLeod (Adel)
Int: Anthony Corrie (BL), Clark Keating (BL),
Joel McDonald (BL), Darryl White (BL).
Em: Patrick Bowden (WB), Shaun Burgoyne (PA), Raphael Clarke (StK),
David Hale (Kan), Trent Knobel (StK), Drew Petrie (Kan),
Daniel Pratt (Kan), Richard Tambling (Rich).

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Croweaters will expect nothing less than the ultimate success; a national championship, topped off with victory against the Victorians. SA will bring one of the competitions’ strongest forward line, with Pavlich and Tredrea a headache for any opposing coach, while the backline is packed with experience.

Where the Croweaters may struggle is in the midfield. Ottens and French are more hard working than brilliant in the ruck, while the Ricciuto, Kane Cornes and Edwards may lack the pace to match WA or NSW in the first round. But with home ground advantage in the semi finals, and a strong tradition of state passion, the Croweaters will always be a big threat.

B: Ben Hart (Adel), Nathan Bassett (Adel), Darryl Wakelin (PA)
HB: Jason Torney (Rich), Chad Cornes (PA), Gavin Wanganeen (PA)
C: Scott Camporeale (Carl), Mark Ricciuto (Adel), Simon Goodwin (Adel)
HF: Adam Cooney (WB), Matthew Pavlich (Frem), Michael O’Loughlin (Syd)
F: Kent Kingsley (Geel), Warren Tredrea (PA), Stuart Dew (PA)
R: Brad Ottens (Rich), Kane Cornes (PA), Tyson Edwards (Adel)
Int: Nathan Brown (Melb), Barnaby French (Carl),
Matthew Nicks (Syd), Scott Thompson (Adel).
Em: Rhett Biglands (Adel), Scott Burns (Coll), Adam Didak (Coll),
Nathan Eagleton (WB), Josh Francou (PA), Brad Rivers (Melb),
Aaron Shattock (PA), Scott Welsh (Adel).

TASMANIA

A Tasmanian side defeated Victoria in 1990, but recent years has seen a decline in the number of AFL players selected from the Apple Isle. As such, the state of Hudson, Baldock and Lynch looks set to struggle to match the Top-Enders at the Gabba.

Richardson and Robertson look set to provide plenty of fireworks in the forward line, while the classy Brad Green leads a competent first midfield. While the compliment of VFL players would be looking to impress in the hopes of impressing AFL scouts, the Tasmanian lack of depth, especially defensively, makes their side look far inferior to the competition.

B: Alex Gilmour (Rich), Ben Harrison (WB), Jesse Wells (WB)
HB: Simon Wiggins (Carl), Jade Rawlings (WB), Billy Morrison (Coll)
C: Justin Sherman (BL), Brad Green (Melb), Paul Williams (Syd)
HF: Ken Hall (Tas VFL), Matthew Richardson (Rich), Tom Davidson (Coll)
F: Peter Street (WB), Russell Robertson (Melb), Cameron Thurley (Geel)
R: Jayson Laycock (Ess), Brady Rawlings (Kan), Brodie Holland (Coll)
Int: Simon Taylor (Haw), Ian Callinan (Tas VFL),
Andrew Lee (Ess), Matthew Geappen (Tas VFL).
Em: Ben Beams (Tas VFL), Barry Brooks (StK), Matthew Jovanovic
(Tas VFL), Justin Plapp (Tas VFL), Travis Ronaldson (Tas VFL),
Brett Geappen (Tas VFL), Ben Atkin (Tas VFL).

VICTORIA

Unbeaten in state-of-origin since 1995, the Big V put forward a squad with awesome depth that would see them start solid favourites. Dustin Fletcher, Matthew Primus, Matthew Lloyd and James Kelly all miss spots in an extended squad brimming with stars.

The midfield options are plentiful, and combine experience and youth; Everett and White in the ruck, and old heads Yze, Johnson, West and Grant are matched with Hodge, Judd, Bruce and Mitchell. Brown and Hall provide a menacing presence in the forward line, while Scarlett and Goodes are capable of turning defence into attack in an instant.

While the Vics will face stern challenges from a bevy of states eager to knock off the top dog, their strength in numbers looks a major factor in four quarters of gruelling state-of-origin football.

B: Darren Milburn (Geel), Matthew Scarlett (Geel), Cameron Ling (Geel)
HB: Luke Hodge (Haw), Adam Goodes (Syd), Adam McPhee (Ess)
C: Cameron Bruce (Melb), Chris Judd (WC), Travis Johnstone (Melb)
HF: Gary Ablett (Geel), Jonathan Brown (BL), Luke Ball (StK)
F: Adem Yze (Melb), Barry Hall (Syd), Brad Johnson (WB)
R: Peter Everett (Haw), Scott West (WB), Sam Mitchell (Haw)
Int: Nick Dal Santo (StK), Shannon Grant (Kan),
Scott Lucas (Ess), Jeff White (Melb).
Em: Trent Croad (Haw), Fraser Gehrig (StK), Lindsay Gilbee (WB),
Brent Harvey (Kan), Jason Johnson (Ess), Steven King (Geel),
Robert Murphy (WB), Jess Sinclair (Kan).

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Unsurprisingly stacked with Dockers and Eagles, oozing with midfield talent, and backed up by one of the league’s in-form ruckman, the fleet-footed Sandgropers will look to restore the honour of a state that gained a history of low crowds and player withdrawals in the 1990’s. Cox, Black, Cousins and Bell form an irresistible midfield quartet, feeding an explosive forward line containing leading goalkicker Williams and the mercurial Farmer.

WA look to have the on-ballers to match the strong NSW/ACT lineup, and if Docker duo Parker and McPharlin can keep opposition forwards under control, the Sandgropers could easily pull off back-to-back wins on-the-road.

B: James Clement (Coll), Shane Parker (Frem), Daniel Kerr (WC)
HB: Daniel Wells (Kan), Luke McPharlin (Frem), Chance Bateman (Haw)
C: Joel Corey (Geel), Simon Black (Bris), Andrew Embley (WC)
HF: Chad Fletcher (WC), Quinten Lynch (WC), Mark Coughlan (Rich)
F: Jeff Farmer (Frem), Mark Williams (Haw), Justin Longmuir (Frem)
R: Dean Cox (WC), Ben Cousins (WC), Peter Bell (Frem)
Int: Troy Cook (Frem), Paul Haselby (Frem),
Tarrkyn Lockyer (Coll), Aaron Sandilands (Frem).
Em: Josh Carr (Frem), Dominic Cassisi (PA), Daniel Chick (WC),
Jonathan Hay (Haw), Des Headland (Frem), Phillip Matera (WC),
Paul Medhurst (Frem), Tyson Stenglein (WC).

Now for the fearless predictions:

FIRST ROUND

QNT v Tas: The Robbo and Richo Show will entertain up forward, but the Apple Islanders cannot be considered serious contenders at the Gabba. QNT look to have the midfield edge in speed, skill and depth, while the VFL players look outmatched by Voss, Akermanis and co. Prediction: QNT by 8-10 goals.

NSW/ACT v WA: This one looks tougher. NSW looks a tough, committed outfit, and playing at the tight SCG in front of a partisan crowd they should acquit themselves well. But the Sandgropers, containing many of the ladder-leading Eagles, should be able to take advantage of Cox in the ruck to grind out a win in a typical SCG game: tight, low-scoring, but very competitive. Prediction: WA by 2-4 goals.

SEMI FINALS

QNT v VIC: The competition debut of the Victorians should bring out a big Gabba crowd. The QNT’s collection of Brownlow winning midfielders will test the Vic’s, but Everett and White look too strong for Hudson and Keating, and the Big V’s greater midfield depth should get them home. Prediction: VIC by 3-5 goals.

SA v WA: This looks an intriguing battle between sides with very different strengths: the Croweaters’ strength inside both 50’s vs the Sandgropers’ midfield brilliance. On a slippery winters night in Adelaide, WA will present their hosts with a stiff challenge, especially if Ottens and French can’t contain Cox. If they can control the midfield and Tredrea and Pavlich can be held, an upset could be brewing. Prediction: WA by 0-2 goals.

FINAL

WA v VIC: A tantalising prospect to finish the competition. After two strong road wins, WA would gain the advantage of crowd support at Subiaco. But the Vic’s can match WA in the midfield, and would fancy their chances in the rucks, while they have the big men capable of exploiting their hosts’ big-man weaknesses. Against a side playing its’ third match of the competition, the Vic’s look to have the edge. Prediction: VIC by 1 to 3 goals.

Related Article:
State of Origin - Tailor Made for League, not AFL (Fri May 27)

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