AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon aims to bring back representative football and is making active efforts to achieve this.
The regular State of Origin format has not been witnessed in the league since the 1990s, whereas the international format featuring Australia versus Ireland was last seen back in 2017.
Nevertheless, the triumph of the Indigenous All Stars match in February Fremantle has reinstated it onto the agenda.
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Dillon, who assumed the role of AFL chief in 2023, mentioned that reviving representative football is a personal objective he aims to achieve.
"It’s something I’m very keen to achieve, provided we can make it happen," Dillon said to SEN.
"When you sit at the Hall of Fame or you speak to players who played the '80s and '90s, they talk a lot about the representative footy that they played.
I believe that incorporating international regulations or featuring representative football matches could greatly benefit the competition, and I think the supporters would enthusiastically support this idea.
What we witnessed at the All-Star game in Perth earlier this year is that it proves effective, and the supporters genuinely rally around it, particularly when it holds significance for both the players and our clubs support it.
We are currently addressing this issue with our clubs and players since I believe that getting it correct could make it a fantastic enhancement, similar to how Gather Round has become a phenomenal addition to the football schedule.
Dillon thinks that the main factor for their success lies in scarcity, mentioning that they must maximize the sense of exclusivity to make players feel special as a way to secure fan support.
"If an athlete has a 12-year career, they should have multiple opportunities to represent their state and get several chances to represent their country as well," he stated.
I believe another aspect is treating each game as ‘when your moment arrives, here’s your chance,’ similar to what occurred during the previous State of Origin series. Due to its frequency, players had the option to skip one year and still have their turn later.
Finding this delicate equilibrium is crucial. It’s about providing something significant for the players, which consequently holds value for their supporters as well.
The AFL has attempted one-off representative games in the last 20 years, with Victoria versus The Allies concepts in 2008 and 2020.