If State of Origin’s not for sheep stations, count me out

If the current crop of AFL players continues to push for the return of State of Origin footy and the AFL complies, we need to get a couple of things straight.

State of Origin footy is not, was not and should never be our own version of the NBA’s All-Star weekend. Footy is a unique sport in so many ways, but something I’ve observed over a long period of time is that it only works if it feels like the most important thing in the world.

Bob Murphy in the Big V rooms while coaches discuss tactics for the 2008 Hall of Fame tribute match.Credit: John Donegan

Is that delusion? Yes, it is. A big part of footy is fully embracing and over-inflating its actual importance. Over 18 years at the Bulldogs, I would run out onto the field with the belief that this looming game was as important as any of the Apollo mission launches out of Houston.

“We’re playing for sheep stations” is how it used to be put. Footy, unlike basketball, tennis or cricket, doesn’t really work when it’s not played full throttle. If you want to draw a crowd, the secret ingredient or, rather, the only ingredient required is a commitment to competition itself.

As a young lad growing up in Gippsland, State of Origin footy was intoxicating. The best league footballers were crowned, acknowledged and then pitted against one another, mid-week!

I have a strong memory of leaping off the school bus and racing home to grab my tattered footy and kick it high up into the power lines in the front of my house.

I counted down the minutes before “the Big V” took on the might of South Australia. My imagination was exploding in multiple directions, the possibilities were endless, yet the game delivered on my expectations.

I’m 43 now, so I doubt that this generation of AFL players would have that first-hand experience of what state representative football looked and felt like. It was competitive. It meant something. Similarly, the NBA All-Star weekend used to mean something. I would argue that it doesn’t mean much now.

The NBA, which I do have an affection for, is also the most vain sport in the world. Confidence, arrogance and ego are baked-in qualities for elite sport, but there’s something about the NBA that has moved past playful ego and towards something more vulgar.

It’s 30 years since the great E.J. Whitten was driven around the MCG, cradled by his son, Ted jnr, in an emotional farewell to the football community that adored him, team or state allegiances be damned.

Whitten, supported by son Ted jnr (left) and Danny Frawley (right), waves to the MCG crowd at the 1995 State of Origin clash.Credit: Ray Kennedy

E.J. would be in the conversation for the most obvious example of the greatest footballing extrovert. Huge talent, but with the showmanship, strut and adversarial theatrics to lift the game to new heights, but the persona was built on the foundations of his competitive spirit.

The lap of honour, at the MCG that day 30 years ago, was about as far away from vulgar as you could get.

That would be my question for the 800 AFL players, the 18 clubs and those at league headquarters. Before you ask about what you get out of it, first ask yourselves, how much are you willing to give? To the stars of the competition: are you willing to play for the honour, or do you need some extra cash? Will you put yourself in harm’s way when the moment arises? Put even more directly, will you defend?

And to the clubs: What about you? If you are willing to commit to rebooting State of Origin, will you accept that at some stage, one of your stars will get seriously injured? If we’re bringing this thing back annually, that’s what will happen, make no mistake about it. Do you accept that risk or will you take your players aside and, with a nod and a wink, say, “take it easy out there, son”?

In 2008, I was one of the lucky ones to wear the big V against a team of All-Stars in front of a big crowd at the MCG, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Australian rules footy.

“Fev” kicked a bag, Jonathan Brown channelled the ghosts of the past in his pre-game speech and the crowd roared with anticipation when Adam Goodes and “Richo” lined up on the wing against one another.

But I remember thinking as we walked off the ground that it was a game that was a bit like footy, but at the same time, was not like footy at all.

Bob Murphy marks for the Big V during the 2008 Hall of Fame Tribute match.Credit: John Donegan

To be honest, the training session the day before was more memorable than the match. The ball never hit the grass and both teams notched basketball scores: Victoria 21.11 (137) to the Dream Team 18.12 (120).

So, is it worth bringing back State of Origin? The best version of it, yes. It would elevate the game and the league to a whole other level. But if it’s not for sheep stations, count me out.

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