The State of Origin concept, introduced in 1977, really hit its peak in the 1980s, with many great games played between the three ‘major’ states of Australian Rules – Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia (with apologies to Tasmania).
These games also saw a collection of some of the best players featured prominently in State of Origin football this period-names such as Weightman, Madden, Wiley, Glendinning, Aish, McIntosh.
To put together a team is a selection nightmare, with so many good players left out.
The team line-up is as follows:
B: Greg Phillips (SA) Bruce Doull (Vic) Ross Glendinning (WA)
HB: Gary Ayres (Vic) Peter Knights (Vic) Chris Mew (Vic)
C: Craig Bradley (SA) Greg Williams (Vic) Robert Wiley (WA)
HF: Michael Aish (SA) Gary Buckenara (WA) Steve Kernahan (SA)
F: Gary Ablett Snr (Vic) Tony Lockett (Vic) Garry McIntosh(SA)
R: Simon Madden (Vic) Steve Malaxos(WA) Dale Weightman (Vic)
INT:Stephen Michael (WA) Andrew Bews (Vic) Brian Peake (WA) Chris McDermott (SA)
EMERG: Maurice Rioli (WA) Bruce Lindsay (SA) Mark Naley (SA) Dermott Brereton (Vic)
COACH: Graham Cornes (SA).
What do you think of this team?