Australian football State of Origin

the first state of origin game australian football game between western australia (wa) , victoria, @ subiaco oval in perth on 8 october 1977. leon larkin, marketing manager of subiaco football club in west australian football league (wafl), negotiated vfl 2 years, before arrangements game finalised. in words of football historian john devaney:

a western australian team comprised entirely of home-based players had, on 25 june, taken on victorian team containing many of same players return perth ... state of origin clash. respective scores of 2 matches offered persuasive argument, if such needed, of extent vfl had denuded wafl of elite talent:

on 25 june 1977 victoria 23.16 (154) defeated western australia 13.13 (91) — margin of 63 points
on 8 october 1977 western australia 23.13 (151) defeated victoria 8.9 (57) — margin of 94 points, representing overall turn around of 157 points

western australia s previous biggest winning margin against victorian state team had been mere 38 points in 1948. overnight, inferiority complex dismantled: victoria, seemed, not intrinsically superior, wealthier.

games involving each of other states followed. in 1989, crowd of 91,960 people — record interstate games in australian rules — attended game between victoria , south australia @ mcg.

however, attendance , interest declined during 1990s, due variety of factors, such vfl s ongoing conversion national club competition, australian football league (afl). last official state of origin game involving afl players held in 1999. however, annual veterans game still held.

a one-off afl hall of fame tribute match between victorian state of origin side , dream team representing other states, staged on 10 may 2008 celebrate 150 years of australian football.