The night kicked off with fans flocking onto the arena to form a human '150', which was illuminated by glow sticks when the six light towers were switched off. A pyrotechnic display, the individual introduction of players, and the singing of the national anthem then completed the pre-match entertainment.
Throughout the match, the crowd got behind the Victorian side and expressed their excitement through a tradition usually reserved for cricket when the Mexican wave completed lap after lap of the MCG.
"We're just particularly grateful to all the people who came out tonight. There would have been a huge television audience," Demetriou said, after the game.
"The players have been fantastic since day one, since we approached them, and the support we had from the coaches and the clubs and support staff has just been phenomenal.
"We're thrilled and grateful to everyone who put in."
Despite the success of Saturday night's concept, Demetriou said there are no plans to reinstate State of Origin football as a regular feature in the home-and-away season.
"When we went to the players, we pitched it as a one-off," he said.
"I still think it's a one-off. We wanted to celebrate the 150 years of football, and I think the fact this hasn't happened for a number of years has contributed to the success of the night.
"It's not on our radar to do it again next year, but I'd again reiterate we got to see probably 46 of the best 50 players going around.
"We had a few injuries, not many, but it was just fantastic to see them all running around and the joy and the pleasure that the players got out of it was something that was really significant."
Demetriou conceded the success of the evening gave the AFL plenty to consider, with fans and players rediscovering a love of representative football.
He even said the celebration match wouldn't have even existed had it not been for the enthusiasm and "will" of the players.
"Of course you think about things because you think about how fantastic it is to see a group of talented players -- the best players that are running around -- and you think about how fantastic it is that the players are enjoying it so much," he said.
"I've seen the same enjoyment when they play International Rules, but to see them play their own game and to play it at the MCG on a Saturday night is just terrific."
Ultimately, Demetriou said it would be difficult to expect players to regularly participate in such an exhibition, owing to the professional nature of today's competition.
"We're in a national competition where we've got players who are playing for high stakes, you've got clubs that invest in players, you've got coaches who invest in players, and they've got an investment they've got to protect," he said.
"We understand that and we respect that."
