AFL
1 year ago
Why Kane Cornes isn’t a supporter of bringing back State of Origin
By Lachlan Geleit
Kane Cornes doesn’t support the push to bring back State of Origin for the AFL.
Cornes gave his take after Melbourne great and former Victoria captain Garry Lyon launched an impassioned plea to bring back state football to the code.
Lyon feels that the AFL is missing an opportunity to grow the game around the country, calling it an “unmitigated disgrace” that the AFL doesn’t have Origin as the NRL does.
The last official Origin game was played in 1999 between Victoria and South Australia, but proud Croweater Cornes couldn’t see his state and others competing with the Vics anymore as talent isn’t spread well across the country.
“It's a no for me,” Cornes told SEN Sportsday.
“I think you just wouldn't get the clubs to sign up for it.
“It works in the NRL … but I’m looking at the South Australian State of Origin team, which the SEN Digital crew put up today, it’s a disgrace.
“South Australia would lose by 30 goals. It just wouldn't be what it once was. There isn't the strength.
“What do you do with Tassie? Then you've got WA. Then what do you do with the Allies? It just doesn't work.”
While Cornes, like Lyon, was a huge fan of Origin in the 80s and 90s, he can’t see AFL fans getting around the concept properly as he feels they care far too much about team success and would rather their club’s star players not play in case they get injured.
“I love Garry's passion,” Cornes said.
“I thought it was compelling radio. I thought he made an excellent case.
“He was speaking from clearly a time that meant so much to him, and my old man coached I think six or seven State of Origin games for South Australia and some of my best memories are as a kid going to watch SA. But that was then, this is now.
“Can you imagine if the Bombers’ fans after waiting for so long to win a final, if Zach Merrett is playing State of Origin and he gets injured…
“Our footy fans care about drought-breaking premierships, that is what it's all about, it's not State of Origin.
“As much as it had a special place in the game, it doesn't anymore.”
Cornes also doesn’t see Origin as viable with the AFLPA and AFL clubs as player workloads seem to decrease every year.
“You see how precious teams are now,” Cornes said.
“We're already talking about the season being too long. We're already talking about the AFLPA wanting to shorten quarters.
“We're already talking about the players having 20 weeks of annual leave every year, and that gets longer by the year.
“As if the players are going to sign up to this, and I just don't think it means as much to the supporters as it does for them winning a premiership.
“And without the supporters' passion, I don't think you have State of Origin.”
The most recent Origin game was played between Victoria and the All-Stars for Bushfire relief in 2020. The Vics won that match at Marvel Stadium by 46 points.
