The AFL is edging closer to reviving State of Origin in 2026, but West Coast coach Adam Simpson has poured cold water on the idea, questioning whether the format can capture the passion and longevity the league hopes for.
Chief executive Andrew Dillon confirmed talks are underway with state governments, clubs and players to launch a clash between Victorian and Western Australian representatives. "I'm really keen to see that our best players on the ground at the same time," Dillon said earlier this week.
But Simpson told SEN Whateley he doubts the appetite will last. "They've got to look at that, because you'll get the sugar hit, and it might work for a year or two, but what you don't want is in three years' time it's like 'ugh'," he said.
"You're (Marcus) Bontempelli, 'do I want to play this game? What are we playing for anyway? It's not a genuine hatred anyway, we're all mates.' Whereas the State of Origin for Queensland (Rugby), we're never going to get that. Unless there's an all in (brawl) one day, and it's on, state versus state, mate versus mate."
MORE: Ross Lyon says close Saints win was 'a bit disappointing'
Simpson admitted he enjoyed the AFL's Indigenous All-Stars clash earlier this year, praising its spirit and intensity, but warned that even that could fade. "I just worry about that," he added.
The AFL first introduced State of Origin in the late 1970s, but the format gradually declined through the 1990s, with the last official match played in 1999. Its most recent revival came in 2020 for Bushfire Relief, when Victoria defeated the All-Stars in front of a packed MCG.