Australian Football League CEO Opposes Rugby League-Style State Of Origin Series

Australian Football League CEO Andrew Demetriou all but quashed the prospect of reintroducing a state-versus-state, rugby league-style State of Origin, series, "saying the strength of the indigenous code was its club rivalries," according to David Sygall of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. He suggested that there was "little use trying to imitate" the National Rugby League's showpiece event. However, "a familiar voice popped up from the other direction -- that of Greater Western Sydney coach Kevin Sheedy, who suggested the perfect way to open the redeveloped Adelaide Oval to Australian football next year would be a match between South Australia and Victoria." However, Demetriou said the first game at the ground, which is undergoing a A$535M ($550M) upgrade to a 50,000-seat cricket and football stadium, would "absolutely be'' the Showdown Adelaide derby between Port Adelaide and Adelaide. That did not impress Sheedy, who, "with more than a hint of seriousness, described that scenario as 'pretty boring'"(SMH, 4/19).