Comments on: Your AFL All-Star Game. Sort Of.

By: Tristan

Tristan — Fri, 16 May 2008 03:33:48 +0000

I think one of the issues is its hard to do SOO as the only game people want to see is their state vs Victoria. The remaining games don’t have much of a draw. A tri-series between SA, VIC, and WA would be good, but would require 3 games per year (2 for each team) not just 1.

Maybe the AFL instead needs to have a proper All-Star game. East (VIC, TAS, NSW, ACT, possibly QLD) vs West (SA, WA, NT, possibly QLD). That may not be popular with the public however.

By: Ronald Dale

Ronald Dale — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:11:41 +0000

I think you better go back to when it ended and have a look at what the Eagles did. Fair enough they had the most to lose at that stage with the large number of players they potentially put at risk (not just to play for WA). The AFL extensively questioned both clubs and players last year and in the end it was the negative responses from a number of clubs that prevented the full return to SOO.

By: AFL Football - Victoria vs The Dream Team Wrap Up | AFL Football Blog

AFL Football - Victoria vs The Dream Team Wrap Up | AFL Football Blog — Mon, 12 May 2008 00:23:18 +0000

[...] The Victoria vs Dream Team Match certainly did not disappoint. A game that had star studded line ups, even with the host of players that withdrew was not only a great demonstration of Australian Rules Football but a thoroughly entertaining game. I wonder if Dave caught it on Setanta Sports? [...]

By: Sean

Sean — Sun, 11 May 2008 23:40:48 +0000

For anyone interested, a highlights package is on YouTube.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=RD_5J0ca4UM

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:08:34 +0000

I always pictured Demetriou as more of a dog person.

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:39:53 +0000

Ronald, your nose is starting to turn brown.

At the end of the day, the AFL are the ones with the power to bring it back. It’s obvious that the players are more than keen, so how do you figure that the AFL is not responsible for it’s absence?

I don’t think you understood the continent-wide argument either, what he meant was we now have AFL players who were born overseas (eg. Ireland), so what are we supposed to do with them in SOO? If the AFL actually use this excuse though, it is weak because the NRL has overseas-born players and they still manage to have SOO games.

Your argument that it is the clubs and coaches who stop it from happening is laughable. It has nothing to do with the clubs, the players are free to play in it if they wish and they all obviously really do want to participate. If the clubs were stopping it from happening then we would hear about it from the players association. I have never seen anything to suggest any coaches have negative feelings towards SOO. That only leaves the AFL to blame.

By: Ronald Dale

Ronald Dale — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:30:02 +0000

Sean would blame Andrew Demetriou and the AFL if the neighbours cat got pregnant.

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:02:59 +0000

Um the fans NEVER stopped caring.

They are the ones who wanted the series to continue. It only died when the AFL took control and started deliberately meddling with it. Before the “Dream Team”, there was the “Allies”. The AFL figured that the lesser states didn’t deserve their own teams, so it forced states that are over 2000 kilometres away in the same jumper. That took all the passion out of the concept. They were under pressure from the club coaches who didn’t want to lose their big name players. As a Queenslander, I for one would love to see State of Origin return. I thought it was great and highly ironic when New South Wales defeated Victoria !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhMJOzSPda0

So much has changed since then, and I would love to see the Dream Team belt Victoria just to show the suits at AFL House in Melbourne how far the game has come on the other side of the Murray.

It would be great for Australian football to show rugby league, even with 6 states compared to just two, that our game can also produce a great State of Origin series.

But as far as this match goes – meh – just an exhibition game unfortunately.

By: Ronald Dale

Ronald Dale — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:23:53 +0000

Additionally the arguement that SOO is redundant due to continent wide competiition could not be more wrong. The best talent from all areas of the continent do not get to regularly play in their own state with the locals cheering them on as they are drafted to play at all ends of the country. Am a bit disappointed Dave that you chose to blame the AFL for this when they have stepped up and given us the next best option when they failed to recieve the support from the clubs.

By: Ronald Dale

Ronald Dale — Fri, 09 May 2008 03:18:53 +0000

I dont think it’s right that the AFL does not want SOO. As far as the admin is concerned they would rather have SOO with Vic, SA, WA, Qld, NSW and Tas (even NT) if possible. Think of the revenue, the showcase of the game etc. The dollars to be earned from this on top of the current rights agreements are potentially huge.

The players are for the large part very keen to take part and also increase their status, marketability etc (not to mention the extra cash the players association would like to squeeze out of this) as well as just the genuine pride they have to play for their state.

All except for the most rabid fans with selfish club interests also want to see the game at its best in these clashes.

It is the clubs (some more than others) and the coaches (again some more than others) that killed SOO in the first place and squashed the AFL’s attempts to bring it back.

By: AFL Football - Victoria vs The Dreamteam Match Preview - The Dream Team vs Victoria | AFL Football Blog

Thu, 08 May 2008 23:07:02 +0000

[...] I don’t think the Victorian side can blow the Dream Team out of the water but I think the Dream Team have the potential to do so with their forward set up. If the Victorian midfield can get on top then the Big V forwards are quite capable of kicking the winning score. Victoria for me by 1 point, What better game to showcase the game of Australian Rules Football, I was reading today that it will be even broadcast in America on Setanta Sports . [...]