Whateley: Origin has a place in the modern AFL landscape

There was a glow around Origin that you could feel from the moment you touched down in Perth.

Almost a yearning that it work.

State of Origin was a concept invented for Aussie Rules and something far too casually cast aside.

The feel-good factor of the event on Saturday night suggested it has a vibrant future on the modern AFL landscape… worthy of refining and perfecting.

Let’s count the ways it was triumphant.

Historically football has no presence on this weekend, so it can literally be said it was better than nothing.

We shouldn’t creep into a footy season.

It should land with heft.

Without Origin, the first act of the fresh journey would be a scratch match today at Dingley with remedial streaming coverage.

The sport is frankly bigger than that… worthy of a 58,000-strong crowd for a showpiece occasion.

A pop to set the season in trail.

The best versus the best has become vexed around the world, but it remains a worthy ambition.

The camaraderie was very real and I suspect there’s a legacy to that between the players themselves that has a lasting worth.

And how can the wide-eyed fan not love the combinations.

Kozzie and Charlie and Shai in collaboration.

Dangerfield and Daicos crafting their cunning plan.

The West Australian crowd provided a grand atmosphere.

They saluted a leader in Patrick Cripps who likely will never play locally.

They sang for Charlie Cameron who has played his days east and north.

They rose to Jesse Hogan who endured his most miserable years in his hometown.

And they selected the designated villains – Nick Daicos and Bailey Smith likely have very little in common… but they were Saturday night’s boo brothers.

There was an undeniable nostalgia to that environment.

When Victoria picked off the Sandgropers and launched one of their smooth attacks, it prompted silence before a burst of displeasure when a goal was kicked.

That felt very reminiscent of the Tuesday afternoon games I’d rush home from school to watch at Grandma and Grandpas in the 80s.

The contest was spirited and the commitment clear.

You could see that in the Cripps approach early and Tom Barrass’ unflinching courage late.

Naughton ran down Butters. Georgiades got hold of Daicos. Xerri halted Pickett.

There were small joys dotted throughout.

Bontempelli defending the honour of Zak Butters and what that might mean for the future.

The Bulldogs coming to the aide of sworn enemy Toby Greene.

Toby was brilliant off almost no preparation.

And when the game had to be saved Dangerfield wanted a contest more than Rory Lobb and settled it with his raw physicality.

The game sealed by a rare unpopular deed from Caleb Serong on a field where he is typically adored.

At the end they played Holy Grail for Victoria.

The Giants claimed both medals.

Patrick Cripps declared Origin here to stay - and you suspect he meant geographically in Perth as much as the fixture more broadly.

And Bont channeled the only Bulldog greater than him with a mic drop - “we stuck it right up 'em”.

It all combined to be a terrific night for footy

The ultimate test for Origin was what would happen if a serious injury was suffered.

Jacob Weitering has long wanted the opportunity to wear the Big V.

And he was the case study.

It came early and shudderingly… squashed under a marking contest.

The long, long delay gave everyone a chance to ponder what this might mean to the remainder of the game and the future of the concept.

Carlton fans might have called it all off there and then.

But the game prevailed.

The intensity asked a lot of the players first up in February.

They over-clubbed on game time badly and played to a near stand still by the end.

A handful of players didn’t finish the game but, as was horribly demonstrated with Tom Green, that can happen in any circumstance at this time of year.

So what to do next?

In the immediate aftermath there was a clear leaning toward reprising WA and Victoria in the same circumstances next year.

But we know South Australia wants in desperately.

It’s been the eternal and largely unanswerable question when it comes to AFL Origin… how do you find the right pairings when you have three predominant states?

Perhaps one day the Northern Academies could combine and wear black but for now it would still be the bloodless Allies.

There is now stimulus for the most creative minds to contemplate reprising a national championship over a number of years.

For what we were reminded of on Saturday night was Origin has a place in the modern AFL despite what the 'No brigade' has been preaching for far too long.