AFL Origin is revived, but will it survive? Tonight we find out

1 week ago 4

For Origin football to again stir emotions, Saturday’s clash between Western Australia and Victoria at Optus Stadium must be a success.

League headquarters, players and fans have – so far – bought into the concept as it emerges from mothballs for the first since 1999. But all parties now have a responsibility to get this right, if it’s to remain, and become a regular fixture on the footy calendar. Here’s what needs to happen.

WA captain Patrick Cripps and his Victorian counterpart Marcus Bontempelli get in the mood for State of Origin.

No major injuries; but no shirking the contest

No, we don’t expect this clash to be played with the full ferocity of the 1980s or early ’90s when Origin was at its peak. Nor do we expect it to be played with the brutality of rugby league’s showpiece events. But there has to be a willingness to be strong in the contest, to tackle, and to take – and deliver – hits (legally) if fans are to embrace this product.

“The boys will be having a crack,” dual Brisbane Lions premiership star and WA forward Charlie Cameron insisted.

Yes, there will be heart-in-mouth moments at club land any time a player hits the turf, or clutches at a sore joint, but that’s life in contact sport.

Tackling can bring trouble – just ask South Australian Tony Hall after he was brought down by Andy Collins, his Hawthorn teammate and Victorian opponent, in a muddy ’89 clash at the MCG, which left Hall requiring a knee reconstruction. But the threat of injuries is ever-present in sport, so if that means Jacob Weitering must lay a fierce tackle on fellow Blues star Patrick Cripps, then so be it.

We have seen the NBA All-Star game in the US, among other professional sports, become a farce because defence has been abandoned. As Bob Murphy has said, there must be a defensive mentality in this game, the Bulldogs’ great raising concerns if both teams score more than 100 points.

Sublime skills

The ’86 Origin clash between WA and Victoria at Subiaco remains one of the greatest of all time, the Sandgropers winning by three points after a late Gary Buckenara snap. If you have a spare two hours, go and watch this classic on YouTube.

There’s Laurie Keene (1986 All Australian team) going up against Justin Madden (dual premiership player) and Paul Salmon (dual premiership player) in the ruck; while blue-chip midfielders Greg Williams (dual Brownlow medallist), Gerard Healy (Brownlow medallist) and Dale Weightman (premiership player) battle against the likes of Maurice Rioli (1982 Norm Smith medallist), Leon Baker (dual premiership player) and Mark Bairstow (former Geelong captain), a year before the Eagles joined the then VFL.

Some readers will remember the buzz in ’89 when goal-kicking greats Jason Dunstall and Tony Lockett (and Dermott Brereton; Gary Ablett snr missed because of injury) shared the same forward line for Victoria. Yes, yes, Dunstall was a Queenslander, but his selection is another story.

And how about the midfield that day, which featured the likes of ruckman Simon Madden, Tim Watson, Gavin Brown and Paul Couch – all four became greats of the game – feeding that gold-plated attack? The skills of Croweaters Craig Bradley, Mark Naley, John Platten and the Jarman boys were also a sight to behold through the ’80s.

It’s now over to the likes of Vic guns Zak Butters, Marcus Bontempelli and Nick Daicos (hopefully) delivering lace-out passes to forwards Ben King and Sam Darcy.

With Nick Daicos, Bailey Smith and Toby Greene to deliver the ball, Victoria’s forwards should have no shortage of supply on Saturday night.

The 25-man Vic squad has won a combined 43 club best and fairest awards. At the other end of the ground, Chad Warner, Kysaiah Pickett, Wil Powell and Jaeger O’Meara can hit up Aaron Naughton and Jesse Hogan on the lead for a WA team that has 11 combined best and fairest winners.

The “wow factor” is crucial here.

Serious salesmanship

Vic coach Chris Scott and chair of selectors Garry Lyon have been spruiking the contest with the passion of the late, great Ted Whitten, who was a one-man promotional company when he held the role of chair between 1987 and ’94.

Victorian great Ted Whitten and South Australian counterpart Neil Kerley were the masters of promotion in the 1980s.

Lyon, a Vic great in that Whitten era, has had decades as a major media personality, and knows how to play the game. He has been channelling his inner-Whitten.

“It’s going to be a fair dinkum match on the 14th of Feb, and we want to belt them. That’s the bottom line,” Lyon said. Or as Whitten would say: “Stick it up ’em”.

For the Sandgropers, coach Dean Cox and selection chair Glen Jakovich have had the job of spreading the word. The latter has made his feelings clear.

“I’m happy to drive the bus and send the Victorians back to Perth airport knowing that they’ve lost another state game there because we ruled State of Origin for a long period of time in the 80s,” Jakovich said. “I still hate Victoria. I hate them in the sense that I respect that they think the Big V rules everything.”

Fan support

To a large degree, supporters have already made their feelings clear, for the game is sold out.

It’s now over to assessing the vibe in the stadium, and whether the proverbial pin drop can be heard when the Vics kick a goal, or whether there’s a showering of boos – depending on what’s just transpired.

Those are the types of reactions we came to expect in the “kick a Vic” era at Adelaide’s Football Park, and at Subiaco when Brian Peake, Brad Hardie and Ross Glendinning were among those who ruled the roost. And that’s what will highlight the passion the local crowd has.

How viewers treat this game on the east coast will also be crucial, with broadcasters and the AFL keeping a close eye on ratings.

In summary

If this eagerly awaited contest can rate high or very high in each of the above categories, Origin will live, and we can expect to have South Australia next on the agenda.

League chief Andrew Dillon has refused to guarantee Origin will be an annual event, but there is no doubt he wants it to be a regular feature, for it can only help the competition’s bottom line, and curry favour with broadcasters.

It’s now over to the coaches and players to do their part.

“We want to make sure it’s treated in the right manner, and going forward it’s a real highlight for players on the calendar,” Victorian forward Toby Greene insisted.