“It’s back”: What Kane & Kingy would do with AFL Origin

Andrew Slevison • February 16th, 2026 9:47 am

What should the AFL do with State of Origin moving forward?

Victoria beat Western Australia in an extremely competitive and at times fiery Origin return in Perth in front of 58,141 on Saturday night.

There were a few player casualties in the process but overall the comeback of the concept - for the first time since 1999 - would be described as a success despite many predicting it would be a kick and giggle.

But what does the future hold?

David King and Kane Cornes forecast what they believe should occur with AFL Origin.

“I think they’ve given it some life,” said King on SEN’s Fireball.

“I’m still not sure if it’s an annual event. I still think you need a gap, you need it to be an every second or third-year opportunity so you can force players, when the jumper is available, that they absolutely want to play.

“If you do it every 12 months then the urgency is not there.”

Cornes agreed, referencing Patrick Dangerfield and Marcus Bontempelli in particular who added significant accolades to their impressive footy CVS.

“I tend to agree with that,” Cornes said.

“The reason this one felt big was because players like Dangerfield got himself a ‘Big V’ jumper. There as opportunity for ‘Bont’ who said he didn’t think this would happen.

“If it happens every year they’re going to have a lot of Big V jumpers in their cupboards. Imagine how many Nick Daicos would get.

“You’d need it to be the ones that missed out who desperately want to get there. So I don’t know if it is every year.

“It would be every year if you had four strong contenders competing, but we really don’t. We only have two and that’s it at the moment.”

The pair discussed how AFL Origin could perhaps find a niche in Western Australia.

“Congratulations to all involved. It was well done,” said King.

“I think it is a Western Australian or South Australian thing, you’ve got to get away from the MCG and take the footy to those markets.

“I do feel Western Australia are pushing hard to just make it theirs. Gather Round is in South Australia…”

Cornes added: “I’d be doing the same, but how does it look if Victoria plays South Australia in WA? Are they going to turn up? That’s the hard part.

“When WA aren’t playing - and they can’t play every year because you’ll have to rotate it at some point - is the crowd still going to turn up?

“But I’m supportive of it being there.”

King also floated the possibility of a State Carnival with four teams - Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Allies (NSW, QLD, ACT, NT & TAS) -

“Could you make it a weekend? You could have the All Stars (or Allies) versus Western Australia and South Australia versus Victoria and have it Friday/Saturday.

“Make it the State Carnival in WA.”

Cornes believes Origin is back, but isn’t entirely sure in what life form.

“The crowd was 58,000, it rated it’s socks off on TV. We’re all craving footy, it worked, the players were into it,” he said further.

“It’s definitely got a long life. It’s back, but in what form?”