Burgan's State of Origin Teams from AFL website

[Aerie]

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
B: Rene Ioppi (Queanbeyan), Stafford Cooper (Eastlake), Dean Roulstone (Eastlake)
HB: Troy Takenan (Tuggeranong), Craig Bolton (Sydney), Michael Moneagle (Eastlake)
C: Jay Kickett (Tuggeranong), James Hird (Essendon), Jake Myles (Tuggeranong)
HF: Aaron Hamill (St Kilda), Ryan Quade (Queanbeyan), Nick Paine (Ainslie)
F: Craig Healey (Tuggeranong), Matt Ghiradello (Tuggeranong), James Meiklejohn (Port Adelaide Magpies)
FOLL: Steve Maher (Belconnen), James Bennett (Belconnen), Luke Whatman (Queanbeyan)
I/C: Paul Raadts (Belconnen), Ben Maiden (Eastlake), Tim Gray (Eastlake), Scott Dickinson (Queanbeyan),
EMG: Alex Bennett (Belconnen), James Rice (Tuggeranong), Aaron Bruce (Eastlake)

With just three AFL-listed players to select from – Essendon icon James Hird, former St Kilda captain Aaron Hamill and 2005 Sydney premiership player Craig Bolton – the Australian Capital Territory has to turn to its No.1 league to provide the majority of its team. Still, it would be a wonderful opportunity for players from the ACT to play with the likes of Hird. Ex-Swan James Meiklejohn is included in the forward line.

James Bennett is one of the star players in the AFL Canberra competition. He was a member of the AIS/AFL Academy squad in 2004 amd trialed with Essendon last pre-season. Another fine young talent from the ACT is Nick Paine, who represented NSW/ACT in last year's NAB AFL under-18 championships. A familiar football name in the side is Ryan Quade, the nephew of former Sydney coach Ricky.

NEW SOUTH WALES
B: Ben Mathews (Sydney), Leo Barry (Sydney), Lewis Roberts-Thomson (Sydney)
HB: Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney), Justin Koschitzke (St Kilda), Mark McVeigh (Essendon)
C: Jarrad McVeigh (Sydney), Brett Kirk (Sydney), Shane Crawford (Hawthorn)
HF: Brent Staker (West Coast), Cameron Mooney (Geelong), Ben McGlynn (Hawthorn)
F: Adam Schneider (Sydney), Tom Hawkins (Geelong), Nick Davis (Sydney)
FOLL: Hamish McIntosh (Kangaroos), Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs), Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
I/C: Richie Vandenberg (Hawthorn), Dean Solomon (Fremantle), Chris Hyde (Richmond), Ray Hall (Richmond)
EMG: Ben Fixter (Brisbane Lions), Paul Bevan (Sydney), Henry Playfair (Geelong)

This side was selected from the 33 New South Wales AFL-listed players. The majority of players in this team selected themselves, although a handful of spots could be up for debate. NSW has a good spread of key position players and midfielders to choose from, while statistically they have some of the most in-form players in the competition – Daniel Cross is second in handballs, Hamish McIntosh is fourth in hit-outs and Brett Kirk is third in tackles. The NSW side also includes four AFL captains – Leo Barry, Lenny Hayes, Brett Kirk and Richie Vandenberg.

Although from Ireland, Tadhg Kennelly has been selected in this side, since he has spent his entire Australian football career in NSW playing for Sydney. This is the same scenario as when Jimmy Stynes represented Victoria while playing for Melbourne.

NORTHERN TERRITORY
B: Matthew Whelan (Melbourne), Jason Roe (Brisbane Lions), Raphael Clarke (St Kilda)
HB: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide), Joel Bowden (Richmond), Patrick Bowden (Richmond)
C: Aaron Davey (Melbourne), Peter Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Xavier Clarke (St Kilda)
HF: Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Jared Brennan (Brisbane Lions), Alwyn Davey (Essendon)
F: Mathew Stokes (Geelong), Trent Hentschel (Adelaide), Matt Campbell (Kangaroos)
FOLL: Paddy Ryder (Essendon), Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), Richard Tambling (Richmond)
I/C: Richard Cole (Essendon), Tom Logan (Port Adelaide), Anthony Corrie (Brisbane Lions), Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (Richmond)
EMG: Nathan Djerrkura (Geelong), Joe Anderson (Carlton), Malcolm Lynch (Western Bulldogs)

With 25 AFL-listed players to choose from – all have been selected in this side – the Northern Territory has some of the finest indigenous talent on show. Andrew McLeod, Peter Burgoyne and the Davey brothers (Aaron and Alwyn) are tremendous talents. The thought of these players representing the Nothern Territory would tantalise footy fans.

Height could be an issue for the Territory team, but at least it has claimed Paddy Ryder via the State of Origin rule as he played for Rovers in the Northern Territory between the ages 10 to 16. He was then drafted by Essendon from Western Australia. Burgoyne is also an interesting case, as he represented South Australia in 1999 under the current State of Origin rules, although the AFL has since clarified that he is a Northern Territorian. But his brother Shaun is considered South Australian under State of Origin rules.

QUEENSLAND
B: Andrew Raines (Richmond), Mal Michael (Essendon), Daniel Pratt (Kangaroos)
HB: Josh Drummond (Brisbane Lions), Daniel Merrett (Brisbane Lions), Ricky Petterd (Melbourne)
C: Cheynee Stiller (Brisbane Lions), Michael Osborne (Hawthorn), Scott Harding (Brisbane Lions)
HF: Mitch Hahn (Western Bulldogs), Brad Miller (Melbourne), Brett Voss (St Kilda)
F: Rhan Hooper (Brisbane Lions), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda), Jamie Charman (Brisbane Lions)
FOLL: Ben Hudson (Adelaide), Robert Copeland (Brisbane Lions), Jason Akermanis (Western Bulldogs)
I/C: David Hale (Kangaroos), Joel Macdonald (Brisbane Lions), Clint Bizzell (Melbourne), Sam Gilbert (St Kilda)
EMG: Colm Begley (Brisbane Lions), Brad Moran (Kangaroos), Luke McGuane (Richmond)

Queensland now has 50 AFL-listed players to select from and although roughly a third of those players are from the Brisbane Lions, this line-up contains a good sprinkling of non-Lions representatives. Nick Riewoldt is the marquee player in the team, although two triple Brisbane Lions premiership players – Jason Akermanis (now of course with the Western Bulldogs) and Mal Michael (now at Essendon) – still provide star quality.

Considering a record 11 Queensland players were selected via the NAB AFL Draft last season, the depth of the squad will improve in upcoming seasons. Like the selection of Kennelly in the NSW team, this Queensland squad includes the Brisbane Lions' Irish import Colm Begley.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
B: Andrew Mackie (Geelong), Ben Rutten (Adelaide), Brian Harris (Western Bulldogs)
HB: Nathan Bassett (Adelaide), Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide), Corey Enright (Geelong)
C: Simon Goodwin (Adelaide), Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide), Danyle Pearce (Port Adelaide)
HF: Scott Thompson (Adelaide), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle), Alan Didak (Collingwood)
F: Brett Ebert (Port Adelaide), Michael O'Loughlin (Sydney), Scott Welsh (Adelaide)
FOLL: Brendon Lade (Port Adelaide), Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide), Tyson Edwards (Adelaide)
I/C: Brad Ottens (Geelong), Beau Waters (West Coast), Scott Burns (Collingwood), Adam Cooney (Western Bulldogs)
EMG: Sam Fisher (St Kilda), Martin Mattner (Adelaide), Nathan Bock (Adelaide)

One of the "big three" football states, South Australia has the third largest squad of AFL-listed players to choose from. This side has been selected based on the form of South Australian players in the AFL in 2007, which rules out the likes of Mark Ricciuto and Graham Johncock, while Warren Tredrea and Luke Darcy were overlooked after returning from serious knee injuries.

Unfortunately, some players such as Ryan Griffen and Jordan McMahon, were squeezed out based on the form of other South Australians. But the Croweaters boast an awesome spine – Ben Rutten, Chad Cornes, Shaun Burgoyne, Matthew Pavlich and Michael O'Loughlin. A combined total of 14 players from Adelaide (eight) and Port Adelaide (six) are in this 25-man squad, while Geelong has three representatives.

TASMANIA
B: Simon Wiggins (Carlton), Mitch Thorp (Hawthorn), Colin Garland (Melbourne)
HB: Sam Iles (Collingwood), Andrew Lee (Essendon), Ken Hall (Tassie Devils)
C: Grant Birchall (Hawthorn), Brad Green (Melbourne), Justin Sherman (Brisbane Lions)
HF: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond), Matthew Richardson (Richmond), Tom Hislop (Essendon)
F: Sam Lonergan (Essendon), Russell Robertson (Melbourne), Barry Brooks (St Kilda)
FOLL: Simon Taylor (Hawthorn), Brady Rawlings (Kangaroos), Brodie Holland (Collingwood)
I/C: Jason Laycock (Essendon), Peter Street (Western Bulldogs), Todd Grima (Geelong), Cameron Thurley (Tassie Devils)
EMG: Angus Graham (Richmond), Heath Neville (Melbourne), Tom Collier (Tassie Devils)

Tasmania has 22 AFL-listed players to choose from, with Essendon and Melbourne providing the bulk of the representatives with four players each. The superstar in the line-up is Richmond's veteran forward Matthew Richardson, while Melbourne duo Russell Robertson and Brad Green and the Kangaroos' Brady Rawlings are also standouts in the side.

Tassie boasts some young guns – from Justin Sherman through to the yet-to-debut but highly-touted Mitch Thorp. There is no shortage of tall timber coming out of Tasmania – which resulted in 'smalls' Ken Hall (formerly of Essendon) and Cameron Thurley (ex-Geelong and Kangaroos) coming into the side. They now play with the Tassie Devils in the VFL, while AIS/AFL Academy graduate Tom Collier has also been named in the squad.

VICTORIA
B: Jed Adcock (Brisbane Lions), Matthew Scarlett (Geelong), Campbell Brown (Hawthorn)
HB: Nick Malceski (Sydney), Dustin Fletcher (Essendon), Heath Shaw (Collingwood)
C: Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda), Scott West (Western Bulldogs), Brent Stanton (Essendon)
HF: Gary Ablett (Geelong), Scott Lucas (Essendon), Brent Harvey (Kangaroos)
F: Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs), Brendan Fevola (Carlton), Shannon Grant (Kangaroos)
FOLL: Darren Jolly (Sydney), Chris Judd (West Coast), Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
I/C: Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions), Brad Sewell (Hawthorn), Dane Swan (Collingwood), Peter Everitt (Sydney)
EMG: Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Cameron Bruce (Melbourne), Jordan Lewis (Hawthorn)

Unquestionably the hardest side to select of all eight teams, Victoria boasts a plethora of AFL players to choose from – 334 to be exact. This Big V side has been selected on form, based from the first 10 rounds of the season, but will no doubt still cause debate. For example, how do you fit in Brendan Fevola, Scott Lucas, Jonathan Brown, Matthew Lloyd, Barry Hall and Fraser Gehrig? In the end, Fevola leading the goalkicking, Lucas' stunning form and Brown's status as arguably the best big man in the game got them home.

Some unheralded, yet thoroughly deserving, names have been included – such as the Brisbane Lions' Jed Adcock and Sydney's Nick Malceski – while arguably the two best players of the season – Chris Judd and Jimmy Bartel – are both Victorians. Here is another difficult one to ponder – who should captain the state? Brad Johnson's longevity gets him the nod.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
B: Roger Hayden (Fremantle), Darren Glass (West Coast), Luke McPharlin (Fremantle)
HB: Tarkyn Lockyer (Collingwood), Graham Polak (Richmond), Brett Jones (West Coast)
C: Tyson Stenglein (West Coast), Simon Black (Brisbane Lions), Joel Corey (Geelong)
HF: Daniel Wells (Kangaroos), Damon White (Port Adelaide), Peter Bell (Fremantle)
F: Ash McGrath (Brisbane Lions), Quinten Lynch (West Coast), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn)
FOLL: Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle), Paul Hasleby (Fremantle), Daniel Kerr (West Coast)
I/C: Dean Cox (West Coast), Andrew Swallow (Kangaroos), Matt Priddis (West Coast), Adam Hunter (West Coast)
EMG: Josh Carr (Fremantle), Rowan Jones (West Coast), Leon Davis (Collingwood)

Western Australia boasts the second-most AFL-listed players. With 124 players to select from, there is a cracking array of talent available for this line-up. The Sandgropers clearly have the best ruck division with Dean Cox and Aaron Sandilands (the Docker wins first ruck berth simply because the West Coast big man has missed some matches through injury).

Injuries have cost the likes Andrew Embley, James Clement and Mark Williams a place in the line-up, while the form of Western Australia's defenders pushed out Michael Johnson, who missed the opening four matches of the season due to suspension. Ben Cousins' time out of the game meant he was also not considered for selection.

Despite 15 West Coast (nine) and Fremantle (six) players in the squad, Brisbane Lions champion Simon Black has been named skipper.

[Aerie]

Looking through those sides and I reckon just about all of them would put up a good performance against each other except ACT. Makes a pretty strong case to bring back Origin footy with all states being represented. That NT side would be exciting to watch!

[Hondo]

Yes, that comes close to sealing it for me .... no combined team give each state a go in their own right

However, I think they might choose a combined states team from stuff I have heard

[spell_check]

Each state should get two matches each I think. Though I doubt it, but this is how it should be - every state/territory should be involved. At the very least Tasmania deserves a game and would be a big injustice if they don't considering how much the VFL killed Tassie footy.

I'd like to see SA vs Vic (it's our turn for a home match), Vic vs WA (Vics turn for a home match there) and WA vs SA (WAs' turn for that combination). This should be played over two weeks.

Then at the same time these matches could be played: Tas vs NT; NSW vs Qld; NT vs ACT; ACT vs NSW; Qld vs Tas.

I think it should be played over the June break as there is no real basis for selection for a pre-season tournament, only ffrom last seasons form.

So it could be:
Group 1:
Friday 20th June 2008: South Australia vs Victoria (Night)
Wednesday 25th June 2008: Victoria vs Western Australia (Night)
Sunday 29th June 2008: Western Australia vs South Australia

Group 2:
Friday 20th June 2008: Tasmania vs Northern Territory (Night)
Saturday 21st June 2008: New South Wales vs Queensland
Tuesday 24th June 2008: Northern Territory vs Australian Capital Territory (Night)
Wednesday 25th June 2008: Queensland vs Tasmania (Night)
Saturday 28th June 2008:Australian Capital Territory vs New South Wales

[Hondo]

Spelly, I like your idea expect that thinking more about it I wonder how wise it is to consign the likes of McLeod & co (for example) to get stuck in a second-string side in the Division B that never plays SA-Vic-WA.

If ACT (and probably NT) have to find players out of their local leagues just to field a side then not sure that's a good thing for a tournament (think second-string sides in world cup cricket).

I am now thinking along the lines of combining Qld-NT and NSW-ACT + Tas, SA, Vic, WA = 6 sides. But still not sure how to round-robin the 6 teams without having too many matches. We have to make sure WA and SA don't play more than the other sides because of the high % of Eagles, Dockers, Crows and Power players in both state sides - will disadvantage those teams once home + away starts again.

Honestly, I keep coming back to combining Qld-NT-NSW-ACT-Tas as much as I didn't like the Allies last time.

[TroyGFC]

NSW the smoky.
A weekend carnival (much like rugby 7s) with smaller 1/4s at end of season.

[spell_check]

Spelly, I like your idea expect that thinking more about it I wonder how wise it is to consign the likes of McLeod & co (for example) to get stuck in a second-string side in the Division B that never plays SA-Vic-WA.

If ACT (and probably NT) have to find players out of their local leagues just to field a side then not sure that's a good thing for a tournament (think second-string sides in world cup cricket).

I am now thinking along the lines of combining Qld-NT and NSW-ACT + Tas, SA, Vic, WA = 6 sides. But still not sure how to round-robin the 6 teams without having too many matches. We have to make sure WA and SA don't play more than the other sides because of the high % of Eagles, Dockers, Crows and Power players in both state sides - will disadvantage those teams once home + away starts again.

Honestly, I keep coming back to combining Qld-NT-NSW-ACT-Tas as much as I didn't like the Allies last time.

That's true, how you wouldn't want to see players like McLeod in the NT side and not a combined side with superstars, but I would like to see all the states and territories play. But I do agree that it probably would be more better to combine the Qld/NT and ACT/NSW sides. The talk that was being floated of Qld and NSW combining is rather stupid given the rivalry that exists there; I like that pairing you said better.

So the program would be in that case:

Group 1:
Friday 20th June 2008: South Australia vs Victoria (Night)
Wednesday 25th June 2008: Victoria vs Western Australia (Night)
Sunday 29th June 2008: Western Australia vs South Australia

Group 2:
Saturday 21st June 2008: New South Wales/ACT vs Queensland/Northern Territory
Wednesday 25th June 2008: Queensland/Northern Territory vs Tasmania (Night)
Saturday 28th June 2008: Tasmania vs New South Wales/ACT (Night)

As I said, I do understand that those type of players would be more deserving of playing with the best in the Allies, but I would think that each state involved there would be more satisfied with that concept, being represented alone (Qld and NSW with a Territory) rather than grouped. The only negative there is that NT and ACT probably wouldn't get the home match - the SCG and Gabba would get them.

I would think with a Super 7s type of tournament would make everyone walk away feeling like they haven't watched a proper game at all - it wasn't a full match. Kind of like what 20/20 cricket does for me - you feel like you haven't watched much at all, an unsatisfying feeling.

[Aerie]

I think I've said this already in another thread, but this is how I'd like to see State of Origin. 8 states/territories seeded in the first year based on number of AFL players.

So....

1 - Victoria
2 - Western Australia
3 - South Australia
4 - Queensland
5 - New South Wales
6 - Northern Territory
7 - Tasmania
8 - ACT

Every year there would be one weekend in May dedicated to State of Origin. Still have the mid season break and simply start Round 1 of the AFL season on the weekend straight after the NAB Cup instead of having that break. Every year the fixture would be:

1 vs 2
3 vs 4
5 vs 6
7 vs 8

The winner of each match would replace the loser of the match above for the next season and the 1 vs 2 contest would be billed as the Champions of Australia match every year. This means any team can make their way up the ladder if they win, but also reduces the likely dull matches you could get if a round robin series took place. Plus, only having 1 match a year is not too much to ask the players and should keep the public interested. Basically your home state would receive one match in their home state every two years.

[Tight_Lines]

Everyone knows that the only problem thus far stopping State of Origin from returning is players wanting to have the week off well maybe 2 or 3 maybe more weeks off Mid Season for a small Carnival like system mentioned before could be an idea so that players could still get a week off (3 Weeks break, 2 Games each state and One Bye each state) A few rounds off would be a small sacrafice to be able to see the games mentioned above it would be awesome to see these sides go at it. And although a large portion of players would miss a chunk of footy at least it would mean that star players could play at least one of the 2 games and still get the weeks rest that players so actually need. And theres always the SANFL, VFL for those that didnt get named in any of the states.

[Tight_Lines]

Great work Aerie on the teams its very interesting to see the sides listed and your concept is indeed a very good idea there that would be a fantastic week. Although the home game every 2 tears could be very tricky with sides going up and down all the time but indeed would be interesting over a long period to see where sides end up on that ranking list.