I honestly think it was time in football to bring back true state of origin footy and the international hybrid game in off season is not replacing that void for me as a pure footy fan. Think the AFL has really stuffed it up in last two decades. March without the clubs playing for a pre-season series is perfect time to make a place for state of origin but the AFL lack of vision is pathetic on this issue, for mine.
I know a lot of players want to and would play. However, what happens if the State of Origin game is played in March (pre season) or in a single bye round (mid season) and a player like Selwood gets injured? We know Selwood would love to play State of Origin and he would go in just as hard and tough as ever. Geelong as a club/team playing for premiership points, don't want to see one of their stars get injured pre-season, mid season or at any point.
This is one of the problems i can see the AFL having, getting the actual clubs on board. Clubs are mostly worried about money and premiership points. Clubs don't want to see their superstars play in a game that doesn't help them financially and an injury could actually hurt them financially. The clubs would want the power over which players they would allow to play State of Origin. However, if the clubs only allow mid-lower end types of players with no real star power, the game will not be very popular from an audience point of view.
As a Carlton supporter, if Murphy or Gibbs got a 8-10 week injury in State of Origin how pi$$ed would you be?