State of Origin

[Beaussie]

I watched Origin at a Sydney Swans pub with mates. Pub was packed with Swans regulars who go meet there to watch away games, finals and grand finals. Was a great atmosphere in the pub with virtually everyone cheering loudly for WA and in particular whenever Chad Warner got the ball. I thought the standard of play was great and not kick n giggle rubbish that a lot of people were predicting.

Would love to see an origin festival with all states involved like back in the day. Still remember NSW beating VIC at the SCG.

That sounds interesting beatup. A packed Sydney pub in February full of AFL fans going off about a state game not involving NSW. I'd have loved to be there to witness that pal lolololololol!!!!!!!!!!! Got any pics?????

Let me know next time there is a happening like this at your pub - I'd love to be there to see it.

Yeah Terry, every tv bar one on AFL, with one tv set aside for NRL charity shield trial game. I drank way too much and had nasty hangover yesterday. Footy, atmosphere and banter at pub was great fun though. Next time maybe you can join us lol.

[Terry]

I watched Origin at a Sydney Swans pub with mates. Pub was packed with Swans regulars who go meet there to watch away games, finals and grand finals. Was a great atmosphere in the pub with virtually everyone cheering loudly for WA and in particular whenever Chad Warner got the ball. I thought the standard of play was great and not kick n giggle rubbish that a lot of people were predicting.

Would love to see an origin festival with all states involved like back in the day. Still remember NSW beating VIC at the SCG.

That sounds interesting beatup. A packed Sydney pub in February full of AFL fans going off about a state game not involving NSW. I'd have loved to be there to witness that pal lolololololol!!!!!!!!!!! Got any pics?????

Let me know next time there is a happening like this at your pub - I'd love to be there to see it.

Yeah Terry, every tv bar one on AFL, with one tv set aside for NRL charity shield trial game. I drank way too much and had nasty hangover yesterday. Footy, atmosphere and banter at pub was great fun though. Next time maybe you can join us lol.

I'd love to come and witness this type of event in Sydney beatup. Let me know next time one is on. I'm sure it will be...............ummmmm............ enlightening loololololol!!!!!!!!

[Beaussie]

[Terry]

Incredible stuff beatup. I give it 2............maybe 3 years........and it'll be back in hibernation due to lack of interest. Mark this post folks. Its gonna happen.

[leeroy*NRL*]

are they saying 367k from WA watched the AFL SOO over tv and 7plus

so WA was approx 40% of the total figure.

[Fred]

Watched a little when got home - the standard was pretty good I thought - good seeing Gawn, to Daicis, Dangerfield etc. But was an exhibition match that’s all - no real passion or strong vibes re: win at all costs type thing.

you would want the Standard of play to be quite high lol being that it had some of the best playing
but 100% agree... was very little passion >> the passion from the crowd drove the WA boys
but win at all costs body on the line contact hits etc etc was very little.

but as a EXHIBATION match it still has its place. and could achieve good figures down the track.

After some thought - I think that's the line the AFL should take - it is an exhibition match - a show case - and not try and replicate the passion that is seen in RL SoO - that could work.

[Fred]

I watched Origin at a Sydney Swans pub with mates. Pub was packed with Swans regulars who go meet there to watch away games, finals and grand finals. Was a great atmosphere in the pub with virtually everyone cheering loudly for WA and in particular whenever Chad Warner got the ball. I thought the standard of play was great and not kick n giggle rubbish that a lot of people were predicting.

Would love to see an origin festival with all states involved like back in the day. Still remember NSW beating VIC at the SCG.

With a stack of players not from NSW............

[leeroy*NRL*]

Watched a little when got home - the standard was pretty good I thought - good seeing Gawn, to Daicis, Dangerfield etc. But was an exhibition match that’s all - no real passion or strong vibes re: win at all costs type thing.

you would want the Standard of play to be quite high lol being that it had some of the best playing
but 100% agree... was very little passion >> the passion from the crowd drove the WA boys
but win at all costs body on the line contact hits etc etc was very little.

but as a EXHIBATION match it still has its place. and could achieve good figures down the track.

After some thought - I think that's the line the AFL should take - it is an exhibition match - a show case - and not try and replicate the passion that is seen in RL SoO - that could work.

Agree, i recan the path the AFL should take is totally different to the NRL
and bring in SA AND TAS >> and NSW AND QLD to a degree

[Beaussie]

Agree, i recan the path the AFL should take is totally different to the NRL
and bring in SA AND TAS >> and NSW AND QLD to a degree

Please, just no Allies shit foisted on us again. We want to support our own states, not some messed up states and territories combined rubbish vs Victoria.

I would think NSW vs QLD would be competitive. Add to that , SA vs TAS. Encouraging to see the AFL is thinking along these lines too.



Based on the amazing passion demonstrated by the Western Australian public, not to mention the government financial support, I’d give them Origin again over there next year vs Victoria.

[Terry]

Agree, i recan the path the AFL should take is totally different to the NRL
and bring in SA AND TAS >> and NSW AND QLD to a degree

Please, just no Allies shit foisted on us again. We want to support our own states, not some messed up states and territories combined rubbish vs Victoria.

I would think NSW vs QLD would be competitive. Add to that , SA vs TAS. Encouraging to see the AFL is thinking along these lines too.



Based on the amazing passion demonstrated by the Western Australian public, not to mention the government financial support, I’d give them Origin again over there next year vs Victoria.

Great idea's beatup. NSW v Qld would be a rip snorter. SA v Tas would surely stop the nation! Those stupendous match ups have the ability to be slightly more exciting than reading page 225 of the phone book lolololololol.

Bring it on! Woooooo Hoooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beaussie]

Watched a little when got home - the standard was pretty good I thought - good seeing Gawn, to Daicis, Dangerfield etc. But was an exhibition match that’s all - no real passion or strong vibes re: win at all costs type thing.

This is a pretty silly thing to say IMO. You could clearly hear the passion from the overwhelmingly pro WA crowd in the stands… loud and clear on the broadcast all night. And to suggest the players were not trying to win, I think is a ridiculous thing to say.

[Terry]

Watched a little when got home - the standard was pretty good I thought - good seeing Gawn, to Daicis, Dangerfield etc. But was an exhibition match that’s all - no real passion or strong vibes re: win at all costs type thing.

This is a pretty silly thing to say IMO. You could clearly hear the passion from the overwhelmingly pro WA crowd in the stands… loud and clear on the broadcast all night. And to suggest the players were not trying to win, I think is a ridiculous thing to say.

I'm with Fred on this one. The game was very contrived with the AFL and its boosters doing their best to pump it up. No doubt some of the sandgropers bought in but it was a big yawn for the rest of the country.

They'll trot it out for 2 or 3 more years but it'll be canned again due to indifference. You read it here first.

[Beaussie]

I'm with Fred on this one. The game was very contrived with the AFL and its boosters doing their best to pump it up. No doubt some of the sandgropers bought in but it was a big yawn for the rest of the country.

They'll trot it out for 2 or 3 more years but it'll be canned again due to indifference. You read it here first.

Well of course you would be negative of anything AFL. No surprise there.

Meanwhile….

AFL Origin: Millions tune in on Channel 7 to watch historic clash between Western Australia and Victoria
Mitchell Woodcock
The West Australian
Sun, 15 February 2026

https://thewest.com.au/sport/AFL/AFL-or ... c-21644042#

Not only was Optus Stadium packed for the highly-anticipated return of AFL Origin, but viewers across Australia tuned in to watch Western Australia battle Victoria on Saturday night.

The historic clash was a ratings smash-hit, with nearly two million Australians tuning in on Seven and 7PLUS to watch Victoria claim a 24-point victory over Western Australia in what was the first State against State clash since 1999.

The average TV audience was 843,000, which was up 34 per cent on last year’s full season average, while over on 7plus Sport it was streamed by more than 182,000 viewers, up 227 per cent on the 2025 season average and 41 per cent on the finals.

[Terry]

I'm with Fred on this one. The game was very contrived with the AFL and its boosters doing their best to pump it up. No doubt some of the sandgropers bought in but it was a big yawn for the rest of the country.

They'll trot it out for 2 or 3 more years but it'll be canned again due to indifference. You read it here first.

Well of course you would be negative of anything AFL. No surprise there.

Meanwhile….

AFL Origin: Millions tune in on Channel 7 to watch historic clash between Western Australia and Victoria
Mitchell Woodcock
The West Australian
Sun, 15 February 2026

https://thewest.com.au/sport/AFL/AFL-or ... c-21644042#

Not only was Optus Stadium packed for the highly-anticipated return of AFL Origin, but viewers across Australia tuned in to watch Western Australia battle Victoria on Saturday night.

The historic clash was a ratings smash-hit, with nearly two million Australians tuning in on Seven and 7PLUS to watch Victoria claim a 24-point victory over Western Australia in what was the first State against State clash since 1999.

The average TV audience was 843,000, which was up 34 per cent on last year’s full season average, while over on 7plus Sport it was streamed by more than 182,000 viewers, up 227 per cent on the 2025 season average and 41 per cent on the finals.

Did you actually read this article beatup? It's BS pal. The headline says "....millions tune in.....". The author must mean the reach which is irrelevant . And even that didn't make it to 'millions'. It got to something over 1M which is a singular figure.

The number that counts is the average and it was 843k. Yep, not 'millions', not even A million. Just a reasonable number but not great. Yep, the article is BS.

[Beaussie]

Terry, you may not like reach as a measurement of tv ratings, but the fact remains the broadcasters look closely at reach, as well as average, and regularly boast about reach figures in media releases. Add to that the AFL State of Origin was also broadcast on Foxtel and Kayo to which we have currently no viewer numbers, yet we can be confident the audience was massive based on trends we saw reported last season.