The AFL could be looking at bringing back State-of-Origin footy instead of the tired International Rules concept.
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Fairfax Media football commentator Dwayne Russell blurted out on 3AW's Sports Today on Friday night, some of the AFL's top brass were thinking of dumping the International Rules games at the end of the year. Australia was due to play Ireland at the end of the 2015 AFL season.
"But beyond that, they have a big decision to make," he said on Sports Today.
"I'm told they're considering that decision right now.
"It's either going to be International Rules again at the end of 2016, or they will go with a one-off, special edition, Victoria against the rest of Australia, rest of the world, State-of-Origin match during the 2017 pre-season.
"It would be on a spare weekend, between the NAB Challenge and round one."
State-of-Origin was last played in 1999.
Prior to the emergence of the national competition, State-of-Origin games were a fierce, bitter contest between interstate rivals.
But the arrival of the Adelaide Crows and West Coast Eagles into the expanded VFL competition meant footy fans were seeing "state games" on a weekly basis.
The concept died out in the late 90s because AFL clubs were reluctant to release players due to the risk of injury.