SuperFooty experts reveals their State of Origin teams featuring stars not playing in September

IF the AFL was to bring back State of Origin, this weekend looms as an ideal time. We reveal who’d make the cut as we name teams from Victoria, SA, WA and the Allies. HAVE YOUR SAY

Robbie Gray is eligible for Victoria. Picture SARAH REED

A STAGGERING 79 per cent of AFL players would back a return to State of Origin football.

And with the pre-finals bye, what better time to showcase some of the game’s best talent that won’t be taking part in September.

If the AFL is to bring back State of Origin this might be the best format with teams not willing to risk their best players mid-season.

PLAYERS SURVEY: WHAT THE STARS THINK

DUSTY + BEN: WHY TOP TIGER HAD TO BLOCK COUSINS

PARTY POOPER: HOW CLARKO LEFT FEV STRANDED ON 99

We’ve put together star-studded teams from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australian and the Allies with players from non-finals teams.

There’s no shortage of star power with the likes of Charlie Curnow and Marcus Bontempelli (Victoria), Patrick Cripps and Nat Fyfe (WA), Lachie Neale and Rory Laird (SA) and Ben Brown and Dayne Beams (Allies) otherwise unoccupied at this time of year.

What format would you like to see State of Origin return in and who do you think would win between the teams picked?

Robbie Gray could pull on the Big V. Pic: Sarah Reed

VICTORIA

B: Daniel Talia, Robbie Tarrant, Michael Hurley

HB: Lachie Hunter, Jake Carlisle, Adam Saad

C: Rory Sloane, Ollie Wines, Shaun Higgins

HF: Charlie Curnow, Eddie Betts, Marcus Bontempelli

FF: Robbie Gray, Josh Jenkins, Jack Ziebell

Foll: Stef Martin, Matt Crouch, Zach Merrett/Devon Smith

Int: Jack Steven, Jake Stringer, Dyson Heppell, Jack Macrae

LIAM TWOMEY SAYS: There is an embarrassment of riches in the middle for this powerful Victorian team, with Rory Sloane and Ollie Wines leading the charge.

The race to 50 touches will be on between Matt Crouch and Jack Macrae while Bombers Dyson Heppell and Zach Merrett will add more than a touch of class.

Up forward, the thought of Robbie Gray and Eddie Betts in the same backline would be enough to give any defender nightmares.

The ruck battle was an interesting one. Stefan Martin got the nod over Matthew Kreuzer, we didn’t have room for both.

Josh Jenkins hasn’t been talked about much this year, but you can’t argue with 46 goals.

Bryce Gibbs would lead the Croweaters’ midfield. Pic: Michael Klein

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

B: Luke Brown, Tom Jonas, Rory Laird

HB: Brodie Smith, Jack Hombsch, Aaron Francis

C: Jared Polec, Bryce Gibbs, Caleb Daniel

HF: Chad Wingard, Justin Westhoff, Sam Gray

F: Matthew Wright, Brennan Cox, Orazio Fantasia

Foll: Sam Jacobs, Lachie Neale, Brad Ebert

Int: Trent Dumont, Luke Dunstan, Riley Bonner, Wayne Milera

BEN HIGGINS SAYS: With Adelaide and Port Adelaide out of September the Crow Eaters are dominated by Crows and Power stars.

It makes for a powerful outfit with All-Australians Rory Laird and Robbie Gray and squad members Tom Jonas and Lachie Neale anchoring the line-up.

Interceptors Jonas and Aaron Francis will farm the ball out to playmakers Laird, Smith, Jared Polec and Caleb Daniel.

While in attack, the forwardline is well balanced with marking targets Justin Westhoff and Brennan Cox as Chad Wingard, Sam Gray and Orazio Fantasia sweep up the crumbs.

Nat Fyfe is WA through and through. Pic: Getty Images

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

B: Marley Williams, Joel Hamling, Nathan Wilson

HB: Blake Acres, Aaron Naughton, Jason Johannisen

C: Brad Hill, Nat Fyfe, Stephen Hill

HF: Michael Walters, Cale Hooker, Jack Martin

F: Mitch McGovern, Cam McCarthy, Zac Fisher

Foll: Paddy Ryder, Patrick Cripps, David Swallow

Int: Sam Powell-Pepper, Matt Guelfi, Hayden Ballantyne, Sam Petrevski-Seton

BEN HIGGINS SAYS: With West Coast still in action the Sandgroppers are a little understrength. Add in the likes of Lance Franklin (Sydney), Alex Rance (Richmond), Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn) and Mitch Duncan (Geelong) and this would be one powerful line-up.

However, with the likes of Patrick Cripps, Nat Fyfe and the Hill brothers in the midfield alongside Paddy Ryder in the ruck, WA would still take some beating in a hypothetical State of Origin clash.

Despite being a first-year player, Aaron Naughton has proved himself an intercept-marking machine in defence while in the forward line Mitch McGovern has claim to the stickiest hands in the AFL.

Ben Brown would start in the goal square for the Allies. Pic: Getty Images

THE ALLIES

B: Harris Andrews, Alex Pearce, Jimmy Webster

HB: Conor McKenna, Steven May, Jarrod Harbrow

C: Aaron Hall, Jed Anderson, Jack Steele

HF: Hugh Greenwood, Charlie Dixon, Alex Sexton

FF: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Ben Brown, Taylor Walker

Foll: Tom Bellchambers, Dayne Beams, Dayne Zorko

Int: Eric Hipwood, Mitch Robinson, Lachie Weller, Steven Motlop

AL PATON SAYS: No shortage of marking power up front for the Allies with Tasmanian Ben Brown, Queenslander Charlie Dixon and Broken Hill’s favourite son Taylor Walker as targets inside 50.

Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Tiwi Islands) and Hugh Greenwood (Tasmania) provide the forward pressure, supported by Gold Coast local, and Suns leading goalkicker, Alex Sexton.

Tom Bellchambers edged out Jarrod Witts for the ruck role and has an A-grade combination from the sunshine state in which to direct his hit-outs.

Another Queenslander Harris Andrews anchors the defence with Docker Alex Pearce (Tasmania) another underrated stopper while Conor McKenna adds an international flavour and some pace out of the back half.

Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >

Originally published as SuperFooty experts reveals their State of Origin teams featuring stars not playing in September