Push From Stars To Bring State Of Origin Back Thwarted In Favor Of Int'l Rules

The Australian Football League "has blocked an attempt by the AFLPA to revive State of Origin football next year, despite overwhelming support from the competition’s biggest stars," according to Adam Baldwin of the HERALD SUN. The AFLPA felt that "it presented a strong model and most importantly, unanimous support from the players." However, the AFL executive instead "committed to the revamped International Rules series." The resistance of AFL clubs to a pre-season representative football concept and scheduling difficulties around the six-week 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup "are considered to be the major roadblocks." The AFLPA "is disappointed by the outcome" but "remains committed to it’s proposal." Acting AFLPA CEO Ian Prendergast said, “The PA is driven by players who believe strongly in representative football, so we will continue to pursue it, but with respect to next year we think it’s a missed opportunity that would have really whet the fans appetite leading into the season” (HERALD SUN, 4/24).