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How Lyon would bring back State of Origin with Indigenous All Stars clash
Lachlan Geleit • February 11th, 2025 1:42 pm
Garry Lyon believes that the Indigenous All Stars game presents a golden opportunity for State of Origin football to make somewhat of a return.
The Indigenous All Stars are returning to play for the first time since 2015 on Saturday when they meet Fremantle at Perth Stadium.
While the All Stars have played AFL clubs in their last seven games dating back to 1994, Lyon thinks that the side should instead play against state opposition with representative sides from Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and the Allies taking turns each season.
Lyon, who played 10 games for the Vics from 1988 to 1995, thinks that this concept offers the AFL a legitimate way of bringing back state football at the highest level after State of Origin football finished properly in 1999.
“The attitude of these Indigenous players to this concept is similar to what it should be or has been in the past for State of Origin footy,” Lyon told SEN Breakfast.
“Where's the knock on the Indigenous All Stars saying, ‘Oh, our players are going to get injured, I don't want them playing in an exhibition game’?
“What about, ‘No one's going to put their hand up for a State of Origin game because the players just don't want to do it’. The state players clearly want to do it and the Indigenous players clearly want to do it.
“They're putting their hand up, every single one of them is going like Izak Rankine and Kozzie Pickett, they’re all playing and it’s sensational.
“We should say, they’re going to play Western Australia, and we can put together a Western Australian state team.
“They could put together a fantastic WA team to play them, and next year, the Indigenous All Stars could play South Australia, and the year after that they can play Victoria, and the year after that, they'll play the rest of the competition (Allies).
“It’s once every four years (for each state) and it gives you the chance to represent your team in the manner that we've always talked about. I think it's a genuine and legitimate way to bring it back.”
While much of the pushback surrounding Origin comes from the clubs about players getting injured, Lyon thinks it’s hypocritical to allow the Indigenous All Stars to play in an exhibition but not allow players to represent their state in the same contest.
“Say that West Coast are supporting Tim Kelly to play in the Indigenous All Stars game,” Lyon said.
“Clearly they’re excited for him to play, but if it’s, ‘We’re not going to let Harley Reid play for Victoria’, that’s hypocrisy. That is just blatant hypocrisy if that is the attitude of the clubs.
“It’d happen once every four years, you’re not asking them to play every year.
“We know why the Indigenous boys do it, they’ve got a great sense of camaraderie and togetherness … we’ve got to develop that from a state point of view.”
Saturday’s game between the Indigenous All Stars and Fremantle begins at 7:30 pm (AEDT) and 4:30 pm (local time).
