THREE-TIME Brisbane Lions premiership player and former coach Michael Voss says he would like to see the International Rules series replaced by State of Origin.
But outgoing AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has again dismissed reintroducing the concept, with the League focused on maintaining its hold as the best club versus club competition in the country.
On Wednesday night, New South Wales won an epic rugby league State of Origin clash with Queensland in front of more than 50,000 at Suncorp Stadium.
Coverage of the game prompted Voss to suggest making AFL State of Origin a "pinnacle" event held every two or three years as a way of keeping players interested.
Despite the risk of injuries, Voss said NRL players were always keen to play State of Origin – and "parochial" fans wanted it too.
"Should we be making decisions based on the fact that one player or two players might get injured in a whole game?" Voss told SEN on Thursday morning.
"You're talking about 40 players and the enormity of the game and the passion and drive and how special it is and how much players do invest in the game and the code itself.
"(It’s) about being able to drive passion in your state.
"I think if you put the right form around them, rather than doing the Australian series [International Rules], why not the State of Origin?"
However, Demetriou – who will officially leave his post of CEO next week – said he could not see the League bringing back AFL State of Origin, despite the NRL's version being "an incredible event".
"At club level, we've got the greatest club versus club competition in the country and that's what we pride ourselves on,” Demetriou said on SEN.
"We shouldn't pretend we're anything else.
"Every week there are classic games that get 50, 80, 70,000 (fans) … we should be pretty proud of that and shouldn't try and be what we're not."
With state derbies and marquee games such as Anzac Day, Queen's Birthday and potentially Good Friday next year, Demetriou said there were plenty of opportunities for players to appear in games based on intense rivalries
"There will probably be more events we'll try and find for clubs," he said.
"In a truly national competition, you are starting to see teams from Perth – Fremantle playing Sydney – that are becoming a bit of a rivalry.
"And, even last week, that was a cracking game, Port Adelaide-Hawthorn.
Voss remains keener on reviving the concept for AFL. He said injuries, such as the broken arm sustained by Melbourne Storm and Queensland player Cooper Cronk on Wednesday night, were not a reason why State of Origin shouldn't exist.
"Every player should have the opportunity to be able to play State of Origin," Voss said.
"The Storm they are probably upset, it's one of their best players they've ended up losing.
"Cooper Cronk is disappointed because he's missing club football … but he's [also] disappointed he'll miss the next Origin."
