Mann ready to join Beetson as oldest Maroons debutants
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Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
State of Origin AFL: Players' teenage years to determine eligibility
AFL players born interstate who did their schooling in Victoria could qualify to play for the Big V after league boss Andrew Dillon declared place of birth wouldn't be the qualifying rule when State of Origin football returns in 2026. A revamped State of Origin game is all but certain to take place next February following the successful pre-season match between Fremantle and the Indigenous All Stars. It's likely to be played in Perth, with Western Australia taking on Victoria. On Tuesday, Dillon confirmed the criteria for players to qualify for respective states would follow a historic trend. 'I think it will be about where you spent the most substantial part of your teenage years, which is what it has been historically,' he said. It could mean players who have grown up boarding at some of Victoria's football-heavy schools or moved during their adolescence would be eligible to represent the Big V. Under Dillon's clarification, the Queensland-born Ashcroft brothers – Will and Levi – would be eligible for Victoria having grown up in Melbourne's southeast. Brisbane Lion Zac Bailey – born in Northern Territory but educated in South Australia – would also represent SA. Dillon said there would be an announcement confirming the matches and all the details surrounding them in the not-too-distant future. 'It's a conversation in progress with state governments and also our players and our clubs,' he said. 'I am really keen to see our best players on the ground at the same time. I think the All Stars game at the start of this year showed there's a real appetite for seeing that. 'Hopefully, there will be an announcement soon.' Originally published as AFL CEO Andrew Dillon on State of Origin qualification ahead of impending 2026 return
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Dillon says AFL State of Origin call hopefully 'soon'
The AFL hopes to announce a return to State of Origin "soon", with February already mooted as the date. League chief executive Andrew Dillon pointed to the success of the pre-season exhibition game in Perth earlier this year, when Fremantle played the Indigenous All-Stars. By early next year it will be 27 years since the AFL last had State of Origin games, with WA tipped to play Victoria at Perth's Optus Stadium. "Conversations are in progress with state governments and also with our players and our clubs," Dillon said "I'm really keen to see that our best players on the ground at the same time. "The All-Stars game at the start of the year showed that there's a real appetite for seeing that. "Hopefully there will be an announcement soon." Also on Tuesday, Dillon confirmed there would be no major change this year to the father-son rules, which continue to generate debate in the game. "The father-son rule has stood the test of time and that qualification of 100 games will stay," he said. "In relation to the bidding process, that is always under review, but we have the rules in place for this year." And Dillon is comfortable that no further action was taken after the AFL's integrity unit investigated an incident between Sydney defender Nick Blakey and Brisbane forward Henry Smith, amid concerns about inappropriate contact. "It didn't look great, it's a bit clumsy, but it's not at the stage where we needed a sanction," Dillon said. The AFL hopes to announce a return to State of Origin "soon", with February already mooted as the date. League chief executive Andrew Dillon pointed to the success of the pre-season exhibition game in Perth earlier this year, when Fremantle played the Indigenous All-Stars. By early next year it will be 27 years since the AFL last had State of Origin games, with WA tipped to play Victoria at Perth's Optus Stadium. "Conversations are in progress with state governments and also with our players and our clubs," Dillon said "I'm really keen to see that our best players on the ground at the same time. "The All-Stars game at the start of the year showed that there's a real appetite for seeing that. "Hopefully there will be an announcement soon." Also on Tuesday, Dillon confirmed there would be no major change this year to the father-son rules, which continue to generate debate in the game. "The father-son rule has stood the test of time and that qualification of 100 games will stay," he said. "In relation to the bidding process, that is always under review, but we have the rules in place for this year." And Dillon is comfortable that no further action was taken after the AFL's integrity unit investigated an incident between Sydney defender Nick Blakey and Brisbane forward Henry Smith, amid concerns about inappropriate contact. "It didn't look great, it's a bit clumsy, but it's not at the stage where we needed a sanction," Dillon said. The AFL hopes to announce a return to State of Origin "soon", with February already mooted as the date. League chief executive Andrew Dillon pointed to the success of the pre-season exhibition game in Perth earlier this year, when Fremantle played the Indigenous All-Stars. By early next year it will be 27 years since the AFL last had State of Origin games, with WA tipped to play Victoria at Perth's Optus Stadium. "Conversations are in progress with state governments and also with our players and our clubs," Dillon said "I'm really keen to see that our best players on the ground at the same time. "The All-Stars game at the start of the year showed that there's a real appetite for seeing that. "Hopefully there will be an announcement soon." Also on Tuesday, Dillon confirmed there would be no major change this year to the father-son rules, which continue to generate debate in the game. "The father-son rule has stood the test of time and that qualification of 100 games will stay," he said. "In relation to the bidding process, that is always under review, but we have the rules in place for this year." And Dillon is comfortable that no further action was taken after the AFL's integrity unit investigated an incident between Sydney defender Nick Blakey and Brisbane forward Henry Smith, amid concerns about inappropriate contact. "It didn't look great, it's a bit clumsy, but it's not at the stage where we needed a sanction," Dillon said.
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Dillon says AFL State of Origin call hopefully 'soon'
The AFL hopes to announce a return to State of Origin "soon", with February already mooted as the date. League chief executive Andrew Dillon pointed to the success of the pre-season exhibition game in Perth earlier this year, when Fremantle played the Indigenous All-Stars. By early next year it will be 27 years since the AFL last had State of Origin games, with WA tipped to play Victoria at Perth's Optus Stadium. "Conversations are in progress with state governments and also with our players and our clubs," Dillon said "I'm really keen to see that our best players on the ground at the same time. "The All-Stars game at the start of the year showed that there's a real appetite for seeing that. "Hopefully there will be an announcement soon." Also on Tuesday, Dillon confirmed there would be no major change this year to the father-son rules, which continue to generate debate in the game. "The father-son rule has stood the test of time and that qualification of 100 games will stay," he said. "In relation to the bidding process, that is always under review, but we have the rules in place for this year." And Dillon is comfortable that no further action was taken after the AFL's integrity unit investigated an incident between Sydney defender Nick Blakey and Brisbane forward Henry Smith, amid concerns about inappropriate contact. "It didn't look great, it's a bit clumsy, but it's not at the stage where we needed a sanction," Dillon said.
