The hype surrounding the Rugby League State of Origin in Queensland is something to behold – and I’m sure it’s the same in New South Wales.

It has dominated pretty much all the sport news items on television for the past week or so and occupies at least the back ten pages of the newspaper every day.

Even though I am a born and bred Victorian, it’s been hard not to get sucked up into the hype as Queensland go for four series wins in a row.

Ironically, their campaign kicks off tonight in Melbourne where Rugby League still hasn’t quite taken off despite the success of their local team – the Melbourne Storm.

Fortunately for the Rugby League State of Origin, they have two very distinct states that hate each others guts which fuels the rivalry further.

It got me thinking about the possibility of State of Origin ever returning to the AFL.

I know a fair bit was spoken about this issue last year when the AFL introduced the Hall of Fame game which pitted Victoria against a team made up of the best from the rest of the country.

It was a great initiative, but didn’t seem to have the same passion that Rugby League State of Origin brings.

I used to love watching the Big V go head-to-head with South Australia back in the days when Ted Whitten would get stuck into those ‘Croweaters’. There seemed to be a genuine – but respectful – hatred between the two states.

Victoria had guys like Tony Lockett, Garry Ablett, Robert Harvey, Chris Grant and Stephen Silvagni in the same side going up against South Australia with Stephen Kernahan, Gavin Wanganeen, John Platten, Darren Jarman and Craig Bradley.

It was a pretty awesome sight and the players always seemed to enjoy representing their home state.

But unlike Rugby League, the AFL isn’t limited to just two states of origin. Western Australia is probably equally fanatical about their footy while the recent development of the sport means that previously foreign football states such as Queensland and New South Wales could probably participate as well.

Maybe the AFL could reintroduce a State of Origin carnival between six sides – Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland/Northern Territory, Tasmania and New South Wales/ACT.

Purely from a Lions perspective, we could potentially have guys like Jonathan Brown, Luke Power and Jed Adcock playing for Victoria, Joel Patfull for South Australia, Simon Black for Western Australia and Justin Sherman for Tasmania.

Queensland/Northern Territory could include Lions players such as Daniel Merrett, Jamie Charman, Jared Brennan, Josh Drummond and Rhan Hooper. Unfortunately we don’t have any guys from either NSW or ACT other than our U18 scholarship players.

Add to that guys like Buddy Franklin and Joel Corey (WA), Garry Ablett and Chris Judd (VIC), Matthew Pavlich and Bryce Gibbs (SA), Matthew Richardson and Russell Robertson (TAS), Nick Riewoldt and Kurt Tippett (QLD) and Lenny Hayes and Brett Kirk (NSW) and you could probably field some pretty strong sides.

I guess the major issue would be when to schedule such an event.

Unlike in the Rugby League, AFL players would be reluctant to play during the season in case in disrupts their Club preparation. Even if it were during a weekend off, the risk of injury playing State of Origin probably wouldn’t sit too well with the actual Clubs.

The same goes for in the pre-season. Your work so hard on the track to get yourself fit for Round 1 that you would be hesitant playing State of Origin on the eve of the season proper.

The only solution I can see is potentially playing it at the end of the season – like the International Rules Series. I know most guys would probably prefer to kick back and enjoy their time off post season, but if it was held maybe once every four years, I think it would become something pretty special.

I would happily put my hand up to play if I was ever fortunate enough to have the opportunity to represent Victoria in a State of Origin match.

In the meantime, I’ll be hoping the Maroons can get up tonight and eventually make it four series in a row.