Duff: I want to believe in the rebirth or Origin, but I can't

The first Origin to be staged at Optus Stadium. The first Origin clash involving WA for almost 30 years. A game likely to be played in front of the biggest crowd to watch an Origin game in WA.

We are excited – the players seem excited to be a part of it as well – but we are hopeful rather than confident that this version of Origin will fare better than its predecessor which bit the dust in the 1990s as the national competition grew quickly and players wages grew with it.

The cost of getting injured in a State of Origin match multiplies with players incomes. Players became lukewarm about playing and spectators sensed the lack of interest and became completely disinterested.

So to that end, the release of the earning capacity of AFL players this weeks makes for an interesting backdrop to this Origin game as the build up heats up in Perth and as many as 8,000 Victorian supporters prepare to make their way here.

A stunning 58 players earned a million dollars playing AFL football last year. An equally stunning 22 players earned $1.2 million and two players earned $1.6 million.

The average AFL player wage rose around $50,000 from $459,000 to around $505,000. 58 players earning a million – 58 is around the number you would expect to be good enough to play State of Origin footy.

A one million dollar contract is a lot to put on the line to play one game of footy – even if it is to represent your state in what is theoretically at least – the highest standard of footy you can aspire to.

Against that backdrop - there is a lot at stake on Saturday night when WA takes on the Vics – and in particular a Victorian midfield that is just is best described as WOW! Bontempelli, Daicos, Rowell, Anderson, Dangerfield, Smith, Serong, Gawn, Richards.

I am old enough to have seen the first State of Origin game – I watched it live on television – I saw Max Richardson, Graham Moss, Ron Alexander, Ross Glendinning and others dominate the Vics.

I loved the 1979 carnival in Perth which was dominated by Brian Peake. I loved the three big wins in the 1980s and the heroics of Brad Hardie, Gary Buckenara, Robert Wiley, Stephen Michael, Maurice Rioli and Peake again.

That was a long time ago in a completely different time in footy. I reckon I am like a lot of West Australians this week. I desperately want to believe that this is a meaningful rebirth of Origin footy. But I am hoping more than believing that that is the case.

We need a strong performance from the Sandgropers in this game – otherwise the potential rebirth of the game’s highest level is a strong chance to turn into the dead cat bounce of State of Origin footy. This should be no exhibition game. I am not sure that any interstate clash has been played with more on the line.