State of Origin: How a Tackle Ended Football’s Greatest Rivalry

A desperate tackle by Hawthorn’s Andy Collins on his teammate Tony Hall during the 1989 State of Origin match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is widely considered a pivotal moment that contributed to the demise of a cherished era of Australian Rules football. The incident, occurring in front of a crowd of 91,960, resulted in Hall rupturing three ligaments in his right knee, sidelining him for 16 months and sparking a debate about the risks associated with the fiercely contested interstate matches.

Hall, a strong-marking half-forward who had already achieved premiership success with Glenelg in the SANFL, described the State of Origin games as the closest experience to a grand final. “If you never played in a grand final, State of Origin was the closest thing to it,” he told the Adelaide Football Club in 2015. Collins, deeply affected by the injury to his friend and teammate, visited Hall in hospital that night, expressing his distress over the incident. “Andy was shattered. He was in the hospital with me that night and was really upset about it. He was a fine mate, and I still observe Andy every now and again these days. It was really tough. The ground was terrible and muddy. You don’t get grounds like that any more, it was horrendous,” Hall recalled.

The 1989 match itself showcased a powerful Victorian side boasting a formidable forward line featuring Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall, and Dermott Brereton. However, the severity of Hall’s injury cast a shadow over the victory and foreshadowed a shift in attitudes towards the representative format.

By 1999, State of Origin football as it was known had largely disappeared. The decline wasn’t immediate, but a series of factors contributed to its fading relevance. The introduction of the Adelaide and West Coast Eagles into the VFL/AFL in the late 1980s and early 1990s fundamentally altered the landscape. With more interstate rivalries occurring weekly at the club level, the unique appeal of State of Origin diminished, as former Victorian dominance was challenged.

Concerns over player welfare also grew. The Hall injury served as a stark reminder of the potential for career-altering damage in the high-intensity, often brutal, State of Origin contests. In 1999, Victorian coach Robert Walls and chairman of selectors Gerard Healy faced a roll call of players withdrawing from selection, citing injury or a perceived lack of commitment. A crowd of just 26,063 attended the 1999 match between Victoria and South Australia, a stark contrast to the 91,960 who had gathered for the 1989 encounter.

Former Fitzroy and Sydney player Paul Roos, who played regularly for Victoria, observed a growing skepticism among players. “We were all sceptical as players if you saw someone walk into state training and walk out who didn’t look injured but suddenly weren’t playing,” Roos said from Hawaii. “We sort of understood it. It wasn’t that controversial, that’s probably why it died a natural death.” Roos himself suffered a broken jaw playing for Victoria in 1993, an injury that impacted Fitzroy’s season.

The AFL’s decision to pursue an International Rules series against Ireland, beginning with a four-year deal in 1998, further diverted attention and resources away from State of Origin. A one-off game in 2008 and a bushfire appeal match in 2020 offered brief revivals, but failed to reignite sustained interest.

Legendary Victorian selector Ted Whitten, a staunch advocate for State of Origin, witnessed the beginning of the end before his death in 1995. His famous catchphrase, “we stuck it right up ’em,” encapsulated the fierce pride and rivalry that defined the era. His farewell appearance at the 1995 match was a poignant moment for many fans, and his passing two months later marked a symbolic loss for the concept of state representation.

While the NRL’s State of Origin series continues to thrive, drawing audiences of over 2.5 million viewers per game in 2022, the Australian Football League has not revisited the format on a regular basis. The increased professionalism of the game and the financial implications of player injuries have seemingly outweighed the historical significance and passionate following that once characterized State of Origin football.