Bring Back State of Origin
Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2007 10:10 am
Love the idea, but will the clubs and the AFL support it? Also should it return, I want to see NSW and QLD have their own teams and not a repeat of that Allies crap we saw last time. It's not as if NSW can't beat VIC. We proved that in the 90s.
Bring back State of Origin
DOUG ROBERTSON
February 18, 2007 10:30pm
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 43,00.html
The Advertiser and West End have launched the "Battle for Origin" to convince the AFL to bring back regular State-of-Origin football.
The SA giants will give a voice to the people of South Australia through the Adelaidenow website and will use that information to lobby the AFL on behalf of those who crave again seeing State-of-Origin in all its splendour.
From next Monday, footy fans can log-on to www.Adelaidenow.com.au and they will be heard.
The petition will run until April asking if Origin football should be a regular feature on the AFL calendar.
The results will be presented to the AFL as undeniable proof of what footy fans want.
Earlier survey's show the SA football public wants State-of-Origin football, many AFL players have added support, even AFL chief executive Andrew Demitriou said the governing body should re-examine where Origin matches sit in modern football.
The league will soon announce its intentions to incorporate the Origin concept in some form next year to help celebrate the 150th birthday of the great Australian game.
The Advertiser and West End want a commitment from the AFL for a return to regular Origin matches. The simplest research proves South Australian's want it back, West End spokesman Jake Parkinson said.
"From speaking with our consumers we know South Australian's are passionate about a couple of things," he said. "No.1 is the River Murray but they're also very passionate about State-of-Origin football."
It won't be easy to convince the AFL to support a regular Origin competition and even harder to hook some clubs. But it's a fight SA can win, Parkinson said.
"We're fighting a major uphill battle but we'll definitely collect enough names on the petition to make the AFL realise there's major interest in State-of-Origin football," he said. "If the footy public is reward with games they want to see, they will continue to support the game. The AFL should remember that."
West End is spearheading its campaign with 215,000 cartons of "Battle for Origin" draught beer on sale from today and 900 posters calling people to action to swamp metropolitan and country streets.
Buy a "Battle for Origin" carton of West End Draught and receive a flag for your car and proudly show support. Parkinson says West End and The Advertiser is taking the fight to the streets and it needs You.
"This campaign will bring to light the depth of passion there is for Origin footy," he said. "We know the passion is there, we just hope we can bring it to the fore."
