Victoria State of Origin team: The incredible honour roll of Big V players and their match history

Representative football was first played between the colonies of Victoria and South Australia in 1879, while the first national carnival was held in 1908.

Through the 20th century, state football was regularly played. It was initially representative of the league a player was playing in, rather than where they came from.

Given the VFL’s financial might and increasing recruitment of players from others states, Victoria generally dominated. Often some of South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania’s finest players would line up in a Victorian guernsey against their home state by virtue of them playing in the VFL.

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That all changed in October 1977. After years of campaigning (its brainchild was Leon Larkin, the marketing manager from the Subiaco Football Club), a ‘State of Origin’ criteria was applied to Victoria and Western Australia games. That is, players were compelled to represent the state where they first played football, rather than the league they now played in.

The first game under these rules was played in Perth. It resulted in a 93-point win to Western Australia over Victoria, dramatically reversing a 63-point victory for Victoria earlier that year under the old concept of ‘league v league’.

From the first State of Origin game in 1977 through to 1999, most matches between states were played under origin criteria, with a few exceptions. In 1978, on the same day Victoria played Western Australian in a State of Origin game, a game was played between Victoria and Tasmania under the old representative rules rather than the player background criteria. The next day, yet another Victorian VFL team played an ACT representative team.

Criteria for ‘State of Origin’ differed over this period. Somehow, born and bred Queenslander Jason Dunstall played multiple games for Victoria. Players could find themselves on different State of Origin teams depending on who was playing and how the rules were enforced (ie. the age for ‘origin’ differed over the years). Through most of the State of Origin era, the legendary Ted Whitten held the title of Victorian chairman of selectors, as well as chief spruiker and provocateur. When it came to state football, Whitten would ham it up for any camera or microphone in sight. Appropriately, his public farewell before passing was a lap of honour at a State of Origin game.

Up until now, a record of who played in these State of Origin games, and who won them, remained deep in the archives.

Using the extensive records of AFL historian Col Hutchinson, CODE Sports has pieced together all the results and all the teams that wore the Big V for Victoria in the State of Origin era (1977-99), from the champions to the lesser lights who had their moment alongside greatness.

1977 

October 8 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 25,467

WA 23.13 151 def Victoria 8.9.57

Goals: Moore 4, Hendrie 2, Schimmelbusch, Picken 1.

Coach: Ron Barassi

Captain: Francis Bourke (Richmond)

Trevor Barker (St Kilda)

John Byrne (North Melbourne)

John Cassin (North Melbourne)

Gary Dempsey (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

John Hendrie (Hawthorn)

Steven Icke (North Melbourne)

Peter Knights (Hawthorn)

Peter Moore (Collingwood)

Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Billy Picken (Collingwood)

Barry Rowlings (Hawthorn)

Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Don Scott (Hawthorn)

Kevin Sheedy (Richmond)

Len Thompson (Collingwood)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Greg Wells (Melbourne)

Bryan Wood (Richmond)

1978

June 10 at VFL/Waverley Park, crowd 45,192

Victoria 25.13.163 def WA 8.15.63

Goals: Matthews 5, Teasdale, Templeston 4, Browning, Flower 3, Barker, Tuck 2, McKay, Wilson 1.

Coach: Tom Hafey

Captain: Keith Greig (North Melbourne)

Trevor Barker (St Kilda)

Mark Browning (South Melb/Sydney)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Gary Dempsey (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Peter Knights (Hawthorn)

Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn)

David McKay (Carlton)

Harvey Merrigan (Fitzroy)

John Murphy (South Melb/Sydney)

Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Val Perovic (St Kilda)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Graham Teasdale (South Melb/Sydney)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Paul Vander Haar (Essendon)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

October 7 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 30,195

Victoria 17.13.115 def WA 14.17.101

Goals: Templeton 6, McKay 3, Bartlett, Irwin, Wilson 2, Browning, Schimmelbusch 1.

Coach: Ron Barassi

Captain: Don Scott (Hawthorn)

Garry Baker (Melbourne)

Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

Mark Browning (South Melb/Sydney)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Warwick Irwin (Fitzroy)

Peter Keenan (North Melbourne)

Peter Knights (Hawthorn)

David McKay (Carlton)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

Bruce Nankervis (Geelong)

Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Geoff Raines (Richmond)

Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

1979

As of 1979, Victoria was still playing other states under the old rules, until the 1979 national carnival which saw State of Origin rules used. This resulted in the bizarre situation of Malcolm Blight captaining a Victoria/VFL team against South Australia/SANFL in May, before playing for South Australia against Victoria in October.

Carnival semi-final: October 6 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 15,186

Victoria 25.30.180 def South Australia 20.15.135

Goals: Bartlett, Templeton 4, Irwin, P Moore 3, Dempsey, Schimmelbusch, Wilson 2, Cloke, Flower, Nankervis, Tuck, Turner 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Max Crow (Essendon)

Gary Dempsey (North Melbourne)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Ian Dunstan (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Garry Foulds (Essendon)

Wayne Harmes (Carlton)

Warwick Irwin (Fitzroy)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

Peter Moore (Collingwood)

Bruce Nankervis (Geelong)

Billy Picken Collingwood)

Geoff Raines (Richmond)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

Carnival final: October 8 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 30,876

WA 17.21. 123 def Victoria 16.12.108

Goals: Wilson 5, Bartlett, Cloke 2, Allan, Flower, Irwin, P Moore, Raines, Templeton, Turner 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Graeme Allan (Fitzroy)

Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

David Clarke (Geelong)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Gary Dempsey (North Melbourne)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Garry Foulds (Essendon)

Warwick Irwin (Fitzroy)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

Peter Moore (Collingwood)

Bruce Nankervis (Geelong)

Geoff Raines (Richmond)

Barry Round (South Melb/Sydney)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

1980

July 5 at VFL/Waverley Park, crowd 31,467

Victoria 18.15.123 def WA 15.12.102

Goals: Matthews, Templeton 3, Bartlett, Clarke, Watson 2, Briedis, Cloke, Flower, Grieg, Raines, Wilson 1.

Coach: Tom Hafey

Captain: Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn)

Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

Arnold Briedis (North Melbourne)

David Clarke (Geelong)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Gary Dempsey (North Melbourne)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Jeff Dunne (St Kilda)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Keith Greig (North Melbourne)

Jim Jess (Richmond)

Steve McCann (North Melbourne)

Kelvin D. Moore (Hawthorn)

Peter Moore (Collingwood)

Geoff Raines (Richmond)

Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

NATIONAL CARNIVAL

Carnival semi-final: October 11 at Football Park, crowd 10,666

Victoria 14.20.104 def WA 9.15.69

Goals: Wilson 4, Sheldon, Templeton 3, Bartlett, Flower, Raines, Weightman 1.

Coach: Tom Hafey

Captain: Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

Rod Blake (Geelong)

Terry Bright (Geelong)

Mark Browning (South Melb/Sydney)

Neale Daniher (Essendon)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Jim Jess (Richmond)

Mark Lee (Richmond)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

Bruce Nankervis (Geelong)

Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Billy Picken (Collingwood)

Geoff Raines (Richmond)

Ken Sheldon (Carlton)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

Carnival final: October 13 at Football Park, crowd 17,579

Victoria 15.12.102 def SA 12.13.85

Goals: Bartlett, Templeton 3, Flower, Jess, Moncrieff 2, Raines, Sheldon, Turner 1.

Coach: Tom Hafey

Captain: Kevin Bartlett (Richmond)

Terry Bright (Geelong)

David Clarke (Geelong)

Neale Daniher (Essendon)

Ian Dunstan (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Robert Flower (Melbourne)

Jim Jess (Richmond)

Mark Lee (Richmond)

Michael Moncrieff (Hawthorn)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

Bruce Nankervis (Geelong)

Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Merv Neagle (Essendon)

Billy Picken (Collingwood)

Geoff Raines (Richmond)

Ken Sheldon (Carlton)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

After a distinguished history of dominating the National Carnival, Victoria would win it for the last time in 1980.

1981

April 27 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 26,000

WA 16.23.119 def Victoria 13.12.90

Goals: Roach 4, Ashman 3, Conlan, N Daniher, Neagle, Smith, Weightman, Williams 1.

Coach: Tony Jewell

Captain: Peter Moore (Collingwood)

Rod Ashman (Carlton)

Trevor Barker (St Kilda)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Mick Conlan (Fitzroy)

Neale Daniher (Essendon)

Gary Dempsey (North Melbourne)

Rodney Eade (Hawthorn)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

Ian Nankervis (Geelong)

Merv Neagle (Essendon)

Val Perovic (Carlton)

Michael Roach (Richmond)

Michael Roberts (St Kilda)

Greg Smith (South Melb/Sydney)

Geoff Southby (Carlton)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Mark Williams (Collingwood)

Officially, State of Origin rules were fully in play by the early 1980s, but the rules were flimsy to say the least. The Vics could still pick players from the VFL who hailed from other states, as long as they weren’t playing against their home state. Michael Roach, Rodney Eade (Tasmania), Mark Williams (SA), Mick Conlan (ACT) and Neale Daniher (NSW) found themselves wearing the Big V in 1981.

1982

May 17 at Football Park, crowd 40,399

Victoria 21.13.139 def SA 18.19.127

Goals: Templeton 7, Healy 5, Cloke, Wiley, Wilson 2, Buhagiar, Hawker, Turner 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Mike Fitzpatrick (Carlton)

Tony Buhagiar (Essendon)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Geoff Cunningham (St Kilda)

Mick Egan (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Ross Glendinning (North Melbourne)

Glenn Hawker (Essendon)

Doug Hawkins (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Gerard Healy (Melbourne)

Ken Hunter (Carlton)

Leigh Matthews (Hawthorn)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

John Mossop (Geelong)

Bruce Nankervis (Geelong)

David O’Halloran (Hawthorn)

Bernie Quinlan (Fitzroy)

Barry Rowlings (Richmond)

Kelvin Templeton (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Robert Wiley (Richmond)

Brian Wilson (Melbourne)

July 13 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 29,182

Victoria 19.10.124 def WA 15.11.101

Goals: Marcou 4, Healy 3, CLoke, Flower, Rowlings, Smith 2, Buckley, Turner, B Wilson, G Wilson 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Robert Flower (Melb)

David Ackerly (South Melb/Sydney)

Mark Browning (South Melb/Sydney)

Jim Buckley (Carlton)

David Cloke (Richmond)

Geoff Cunningham (St Kilda)

Jim Edmond (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Glenn Hawker (Essendon)

Gerard Healy (Melbourne)

Justin Madden (Essendon)

Alex Marcou (Carlton)

Steve McCann (North Melbourne)

Kelvin Moore (Hawthorn)

David O’Halloran (Hawthorn)

Barry Round (South Melb/Sydney)

Barry Rowlings (Richmond)

Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Greg Smith (South Melb/Sydney)

Bernard Toohey (Geelong)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Terry Wallace (Hawthorn)

Brian Wilson (Melbourne)

Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

The Victorian loopholes were in effect again in 1982. Reigning VFL premiership skipper Mike Fitzpatrick captained Victoria to a win against South Australia but two months later, he was playing against the Vics for WA. 

1983

May 16 at Football Park, crowd 42,521

SA 26.16.172 def Victoria 17.14.116

Goals: Flower 4, B Wilson, T Daniher 3, S Madden 2, Ashman, Cunningham, Hawker, Marcou, Smith 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Robert Flower (Melb)

Rod Ashman (Carlton)

Neil Clarke (Essendon)

Neil Cordy (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Geoff Cunningham (St Kilda)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Jim Edmond (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Robert Elphinstone (St Kilda)

Glenn Hawker (Essendon)

Steven Icke (Melbourne)

Grant Lawrie (Fitzroy)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Alex Marcou (Carlton)

Steve McCann (North Melbourne)

Peter McConville (Carlton)

John Mossop (Geelong)

Barry Rowlings (Richmond)

Laurie Serafini (Fitzroy)

Ken Sheldon (Carlton)

Greg Smith (South Melb/Sydney)

Brian Wilson (Melbourne)

July 12 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 44,213

WA 16.22.118 def Vic 16.19.115

Goals: Wallace, Lee 3, Knights, Madden 2, Flower, Daniher, Johnston, Watson, Royal, Weightman 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Robert Flower (Melb)

Mark Browning (South Melb/Sydney)

Jim Buckley (Carlton)

Mick Conlan (Fitzroy)

Geoff Cunningham (St Kilda)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

David Dench (North Melbourne)

Des English (Carlton)

Russell Greene (Hawthorn)

Keith Greig (North Melbourne)

Steven Icke (Melbourne)

Wayne Johnston (Carlton)

Peter Knights (Hawthorn)

Mark Lee (Richmond)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Steve McCann (North Melbourne)

Geoff Raines (Collingwood)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Terry Wallace (Hawthorn)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

From 1983 to 1987, State of Origin football was played as part of the Australian Football Championships. Each season would feature a round robin between Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, with the table leader declared the national champion. The stand-alone pride of winning each match seemed to overshadow the overall table and strangely, despite its claim as the premier football state, Victoria never won a championship. 

1984

May 15 at Football Park, crowd 52,719

Victoria 16.12.108 def SA 16.8.104

Goals: Salmon 5, Daicos 3, Buckley 2, Carroll, Evans, Hawkins, Johnston, Moore, Wilson 1.

Coach: Allan Jeans

Captain: Garry Wilson (Fitzroy)

David Ackerly (South Melb/Sydney)

Mark Bos (Geelong)

Jim Buckley (Carlton)

Dennis Carroll (South Melb/Sydney)

Geoff Cunningham (St Kilda)

Peter Daicos (Collingwood)

Bruce Doull (Carlton)

Bernie Evans (South Melb/Sydney)

Doug Hawkins (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Gerard Healy (Melbourne)

Jim Jess (Richmond)

Wayne Johnston (Carlton)

John Kennedy Jr (Hawthorn)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Chris Mew (Hawthorn)

Peter Moore (Melbourne)

Gary Pert (Fitzroy)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

July 17 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 42,500

WA 21.16.142 def Victoria 21.12.138

Goals: Ablett 8, Healy 5, Mew 2, Buckley, Evans, Greene, Johnston, Madden, Williams 1.

Coach: Allan Jeans

Captain: Michael Tuck (Hawthorn)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

David Ackerly (South Melb/Sydney)

Gary Ayres (Hawthorn)

Jim Buckley (Carlton)

Geoff Cunningham (St Kilda)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn)

Bernie Evans (South Melb/Sydney)

Russell Greene (Hawthorn)

Doug Hawkins (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Gerard Healy (Melbourne)

Steven Icke (Melbourne)

Wayne Johnston (Carlton)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Roger Merrett (Essendon)

Chris Mew (Hawthorn)

Peter Moore (Melbourne)

Gary Pert (Fitzroy)

Tony Shaw (Collingwood)

Michael Turner (Geelong)

Darren Williams (Essendon)

Such was Gary Ablett Sr’s impact in his second try at VFL football in 1984 that after just 15 career games Whitten, who watched him each week calling games for Geelong radio station 3GL, wanted him in the State of Origin team.

An argument ensued between Victorian coach Allan Jeans, who Ablett had exasperated during his short stint at Hawthorn, as relayed in Gary Linnell’s book ‘Playing God’. Jeans thought he didn’t defend, that he only went ‘one way’. Whitten’s reply: “As long as he’s going the right f--king way it doesn’t matter. Look, I guarantee you this bloke is the most exciting player I’ve seen in years.”

Ablett kicked eight goals and a star was born.

1985

May 14 at Football Park, crowd 44,287

Victoria 20.13.133 def SA 11.10.76*

Goals: Weightman 6, Ablett, Merrett 4, Vander Haar 3, Brereton, Harvey, Healy 1.

Coach: Kevin Sheedy

Captain: Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Mark Bos (Geelong)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Russell Greene (Hawthorn)

Mark Harvey (Essendon)

Doug Hawkins (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Gerard Healy (Melbourne)

Shane Heard (Essendon)

Mark Lee (Richmond)

Roger Merrett (Essendon)

Chris Mew (Hawthorn)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

Geoff Raines (Collingwood)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Peter Russo (Hawthorn)

Paul Vander Haar (Essendon)

Steven Wallis (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Darren Williams (Essendon)

Mark Yeates (Geelong)

July 16 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 38,000

Victoria 19.16.130 def WA 9.11.65

Goals: Weightman 4, Brereton, Harvey, Madden, Merrett, Wallis 2, Barham, News, Lockett, Osborne, Royal 1.

EJ Whitten Medal (best Victorian player): Paul Roos

Coach: Kevin Sheedy

Captain: Russell Greene (Hawthorn)

Tommy Alvin (Carlton)

Ricky Barham (Collingwood)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Alan Ezard (Essendon)

Garry Foulds (Essendon)

Mark Harvey (Essendon)

Tony Lockett (St Kilda)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Roger Merrett (Essendon)

Merv Neagle (Essendon)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

Gary Pert (Fitzroy)

Geoff Raines (Collingwood)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Bernard Toohey (Geelong)

Steven Wallis (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Kevin Walsh (Essendon)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Tassie Medal (best player of championships): Dale Weightman

Two wins would normally guarantee Victoria victory in the Australian Football Championships but a mad Kevin Sheedy idea meant that the title didn’t go to Victoria.

Sheedy secretly enlisted his Essendon tagger Shane Heard to play in the Victorian team, yet he was not listed in the squad. As the teams ran out, Heard appeared and Victoria played an extra player off its interchange bench – the reason why there are 22 players on the May 14 game list.

Victoria was later stripped of the win.

1986

May 13 at Football Park, crowd 43,143

SA 18.17.125 def Victoria 17.13.115

Goals: Salmon 4, Brereton, Clark, Poole 3, Harvey 2, Weightman, Williams 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Kevin Walsh

Coach: Kevin Sheedy

Captain: Roger Merrett (Essendon)

Tommy Alvin (Carlton)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Dennis Carroll (South Melb/Sydney)

Steven Clark (Essendon)

Peter Dean (Carlton)

Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn)

Garry Foulds (Essendon)

Mark Harvey (Essendon)

Glenn Hawker (Essendon)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Shane Heard (Essendon)

Richard Loveridge (Hawthorn)

Paul Meldrum (Carlton)

Gary Pert (Fitzroy)

Trevor Poole (Richmond)

Geoff Raines (Collingwood)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Kevin Walsh (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

Mark Yeates (Geelong)

July 8 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 39,863

WA 21.11.137 def Victoria 20.14.134

Goals: Royal, Weightman 5, Taylor 4, Brereton 3, Alvin, Bews, Healy 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Dale Weightman

Coach: Kevin Sheedy

Captain: Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Tommy Alvin (Carlton)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Dennis Carroll (South Melb/Sydney)

Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn)

Garry Foulds (Essendon)

Wayne Harmes (Carlton)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Rick Kennedy (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Justin Madden (Carlton)

Darren Millane (Collingwood)

Tony Morwood (South Melb/Sydney)

Gary Pert (Fitzroy)

Trevor Poole (Richmond)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Brian Taylor (Collingwood)

Mark Thompson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

1987

May 27 at Football Park

SA 12.13.85 def Victoria 11.15.81 Crowd: 41,605

Goals: Brereton 2, Ablett, Bews, Larkin, Lockett, Meldrum, Osborne, Roos, Royal 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Chris Langford

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Wayne Schimmelbusch (North Melbourne)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Gary Ayres (Hawthorn)

Doug Barwick (Fitzroy)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Rodney Eade (Hawthorn)

David Glascott (Carlton)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Wayne Johnston (Carlton)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Matthew Larkin (North Melbourne)

Mark Lee (Richmond)

Tony Lockett (St Kilda)

Paul Meldrum (Carlton)

Russell Morris (Hawthorn)

David Murphy (South Melb/Sydney)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Kevin Walsh (Essendon)

July 22 at Subiaco Oval, crowd: 22,000

Victoria 16.20.116 def WA 13.14.92

Goals: Salmon 5, Rhys-Jones, Royal 3, Foster, Johnston, Morris, Murphy, Williams 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Greg Williams

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn)

Peter Foster (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Shane Heard (Essendon)

Ray Jencke (Hawthorn)

Wayne Johnston (Carlton)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Richard Loveridge (Hawthorn)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Russell Morris (Hawthorn)

David Murphy (South Melb/Sydney)

Merv Neagle (South Melb/Sydney)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

David Rhys-Jones (Carlton)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Bernard Toohey (South Melb/Sydney)

Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

1988

The national carnival was back, but this time to celebrate Australia’s bicentenary and with two divisions. As well as Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW, the ACT and Tasmania competed. But also included were the VFA (made up of players in the VFA or current top-line players recruited directly from the VFA) and an Australian Amateur team (made up of amateur players or current top-line players recruited directly from amateur clubs).

The exalted occasion didn’t help Victoria, with the Big V thrashed by South Australia in the final. The carnival was a financial disaster, losing $40,000 due to disappointing crowds, meaning the billed prize money was never awarded.

March 2 at Football Park, crowd 5,195

Victoria 20.13.133 def WA 10.13.73

Goals: Salmon 7, Roos 4, Osborne 2, Bews, Daicos, Harris, Healy, R Smith, Watson, Williams 1.

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Tommy Alvin (Carlton)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Mark Bos (Geelong)

Peter Daicos (Collingwood)

Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Leon Harris (Fitzroy)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Chris Mew (Hawthorn)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

Gary Pert (Fitzroy)

David Rhys-Jones (Carlton)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Ross W. Smith (North Melbourne)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

Carnival final: March 5 at Football Park, crowd: 19,387

SA 15.12.102 def Victoria 6.6.42

Goals: Morris 2, Osborne, Royal, Salmon, Weightman 1.

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Tommy Alvin (Carlton)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

David Bolton (South Melb/Sydney)

Mark Bos (Geelong)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Peter Daicos (Collingwood)

Robert DiPierdomenico (Hawthorn)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Leon Harris (Fitzroy)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Chris Mew (Hawthorn)

Russell Morris (Hawthorn)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

EJ Whitten Medal: Paul Roos

Tassie Medal: Paul Salmon

July 5 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 23,000

Victoria 21.23.149 def WA 15.9.99

Goals: Healy 5, Mitchell, Weightman 3, Madden, Wilson 2, Daniher, Dunstall, Millane, Murphy, Stynes, Williams.

EJ Whitten Medal: Gerard Healy

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn)

Peter Foster (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Gerard Healy (South Melb/Sydney)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Matthew Larkin (North Melbourne)

Brett Lovett (Melbourne)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Darren Millane (Collingwood)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Shane Morwood (Collingwood)

David Murphy (South Melb/Sydney)

Steven O’Dwyer (Melbourne)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Sean Wight (Melbourne)

Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

Brian Wilson (Melbourne)

1989

May 16 at Subiaco Oval, crowd 20,993

Victoria 19.12.126 def WA 10.12.72

Goals: Dunstall 9, Ablett, Daniher, Scott 2, Bews, Collins, Lambert, Williams 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Jason Dunstall

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Greg Williams (South Melb/Sydney)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Matthew Armstrong (Fitzroy)

Gary Ayres (Hawthorn)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Matthew Larkin (North Melbourne)

Brett Lovett (Melbourne)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Simon Madden (Essendon)

Scott Maginness (Hawthorn)

David Murphy (South Melb/Sydney)

Wayne Schwass (North Melbourne)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

July 1 at the MCG, crowd 91,960

Victoria 22.17.149 def SA 9.9.63

Goals: Lockett 5, Dunstall 4, Brereton 3, Bruns, Daniher 2, Bews, Murphy, Pritchard, Scott, Watson, Weightman 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Gavin Brown

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Simon Madden (Essendon)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Neville Bruns (Geelong)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Paul Couch (Geelong)

Terry Daniher (Essendon)

Tim Darcy (Geelong)

Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Tony Lockett (St Kilda)

Brett Lovett (Melbourne)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Shane Morwood (Collingwood)

David Murphy (South Melb/Sydney)

Darrin Pritchard (Hawthorn)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

After State of Origin football had been absent from Melbourne for most of the 1980s, the Victorian football fraternity banded together for revenge after a string of losses to South Australia. Dunstall and Lockett shared the goal square in front of 90,000 as they won in a canter.

Yet it was also the day where things went downhill. Victorian Andy Collins tackled his Hawthorn teammate Tony Hall, who was representing South Australia, and saw his knee buckle. Hall was out of the game for 12 months and clubs became wary of having their assets risk injury playing for their state.

July 2 at North Hobart Oval, crowd 12,342

Victoria ‘B’ 25.13.163 def Tasmania 15.17.107

Goals: Salmon 7, Ayres 4, Hanna, Greg Healy, Hocking 3, Roos 2, Kerrison, Loewe, Newport 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Gary Ayres (Hawthorn)

Gavin Crosisca (Collingwood)

Greg Dear (Hawthorn)

Mick Dwyer (St Kilda)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Doug Hawkins (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Greg Healy (Melbourne)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Shane Kerrison (Collingwood)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Scott Maginness (Hawthorn)

Mick Martyn (North Melbourne)

Scott McIvor (Brisbane)

Darren Millane (Collingwood)

Stephen Newport (Melbourne)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Sean Wight (Melbourne)

Darren Williams (Essendon)

Jim Wynd (Fitzroy)

1990

May 22 at the SCG, crowd 13,424

NSW 13.8.86 def Victoria 10.16.76

Goals: Brereton 3, Weightman 2, Crosisca, Salmon, Silvagni, Stoneham, Wright 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Dale Weightman

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Dale Weightman (Richmond)

Gary Ayres (Hawthorn)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Gavin Crosisca (Collingwood)

Steven Febey (Melbourne)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Adrian Gleeson (Carlton)

Russell Jeffrey (St Kilda)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Brett Lovett (Melbourne)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Spiro Malakellis (Geelong)

Shane Morwood (Collingwood)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Graham Wright (Collingwood)

The biggest shock in State of Origin history came when NSW defeated Victoria on a wet night at the SCG, fired by John Longmire’s eight goals. NSW was given access to players that had played for Sydney (and were not chosen for Victoria) and got back its own, such as the Danihers, who had been picked for Victoria in matches against South Australia and Western Australia. The loss caused major embarrassment for Whitten and the Victorian hierarchy.

June 24 at North Hobart Oval, crowd 18,649

Tasmania 20.14.134 def Victoria ‘B’ 14.17.101

Goals: Lyon 4, Toohey 3, Romero 2, Foster, Kerrison, Liberatore, Longmire, Monkhorst 1.

Coach: David Parkin

Captain: Gary Ayres (Hawthorn)

Brett Allison (North Melbourne)

Brendan Bower (Richmond)

Anthony Condon (Hawthorn)

Paul Dear (Hawthorn)

Peter Foster (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Michael Gallagher (North Melbourne)

John Kennedy Jr (Hawthorn)

Shane Kerrison (Collingwood)

Matthew Knights (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Tony Liberatore (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

John Longmire (North Melbourne)

Ross Lyon (Fitzroy)

Mick Martyn (North Melbourne)

Damian Monkhorst (Collingwood)

Jose Romero (North Melbourne)

Bernard Toohey (South Melb/Sydney)

Terry Wallace (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Stuart Wigney (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Stephen Wright (South Melb/Sydney)

Barry Young (Richmond)

John Longmire and Brett Allison had played for NSW a month earlier but were now conscripted to the Victorian ‘B’ team, due to the fact that it was not a NSW/ACT game and the duo had played Under 19 football in Victoria. Yet it didn’t help. Victoria suffered another crushing loss on a most memorable day for Tasmanian footy.

June 26 at the WACA, crowd 21,897

Victoria 14.13.97 def WA 8.12.60

Goals: Ablett 6, Salmon 4, Brereton, Bruns, Loewe, Rice 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Simon Madden

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Simon Madden (Essendon)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Dean Anderson (Hawthorn)

Dermott Brereton (Hawthorn)

Neville Bruns (Geelong)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Paul Couch (Geelong)

Peter Daicos (Collingwood)

Alan Ezard (Essendon)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Mick McGuane (Collingwood)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Shane Morwood (Collingwood)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Dean Rice (St Kilda)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Tony Shaw (Collingwood)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

1991

May 28 at Football Park, crowd 37,277

Victoria 12.14.86 def SA 11.4.70

Goals: Madden 4, Couch, Harvey 2, Bourke, Loewe, Lyon, Weightman 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Alan Ezard

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Simon Madden (Essendon)

Mark Bayes (South Melb/Sydney)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Damian Bourke (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Paul Couch (Geelong)

Alan Ezard (Essendon)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Ray Jencke (Hawthorn)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Bradley Plain (Essendon)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Tony Shaw (Collingwood)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Tim Watson (Essendon)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

May 28 at North Hobart Oval, crowd 16,000

Victoria ‘B’ 17.14.116 def Tasmania 14.20.104

Goals: Hinkley 4, Hanna, McMullin 3, Morris 2, Alvin, German, Larkin, Somerville, Stynes 1.

Coach: Rod Austin

Captain: Justin Madden (Carlton)

Tommy Alvin (Carlton)

Mark Arceri (Carlton)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Greg Eppelstun (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Tony Free (Richmond)

Peter German (North Melbourne)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Ken Hinkley (Geelong)

Matthew Knights (Richmond)

Matthew Larkin (North Melbourne)

Tony Liberatore (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Brett Lovett (Melbourne)

Ian McMullin (Essendon)

Russell Morris (St Kilda)

Andrew Phillips (Carlton)

Craig Sholl (North Melbourne)

Peter Somerville (Essendon)

Brett Stephens (Fitzroy)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Jamie Turner (Collingwood)

Steven Wallis (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

July 16 at the Gabba, crowd 8,519

Queensland 23.14.152 def Victoria ‘B’ 15.8.108

Goals: Hogg 4, Morris 3, Rock, Stynes 2, German, Phillips, Royal, J Wynd.

Coach: Rod Austin

Captain: Brett Stephens (Fitzroy)

Anthony Condon (Hawthorn)

Neil Cordy (South Melb/Sydney)

Peter Dean (Carlton)

Peter German (North Melbourne)

Adrian Gleeson (Carlton)

Jeff Hogg (Richmond)

Ray Jencke (Hawthorn)

Shane Kerrison (Collingwood)

Brett Lovett (Melbourne)

Ron McKeown (Collingwood)

Ian McMullin (Essendon)

Russell Morris (St Kilda)

Chris Naish (Richmond)

Andrew Phillips (Carlton)

Anthony Rock (North Melbourne)

Brian Royal (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Craig Sholl (North Melbourne)

Sean Simpson (Geelong)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Jim Wynd (Fitzroy)

Scott Wynd (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Queensland had its moment just like New South Wales and Tasmania experienced in 1990. A mishmash of Queenslanders and Brisbane Bears players stunned Victoria’s B team.

July 16 at the WACA, crowd: 24,397

WA 19.13.127 def Victoria 7.9.51

Goals: Ablett, Mitchell 2, Ezard, Hocking, Weightman.

EJ Whitten Medal: Barry Mitchell

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Simon Madden (Essendon)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Dean Anderson (Hawthorn)

Mark Bayes (South Melb/Sydney)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Paul Couch (Geelong)

Greg Eppelstun (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Alan Ezard (Essendon)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Dean Rice (St Kilda)

Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Dale Weightman (Richmond)

With two Victorian ‘B’ team games, a bunch of obscure names wore the Big V in 1991.

Journeyman Ian McMullin played 24 of his 49 VFL/AFL games for Essendon and didn’t feature in its 1990 or 1991 finals campaigns, yet was in enough form to crack it for two games for the Big V in mid-1991. Andrew Phillips was a Carlton rover who had a breakout 1991 and earned two ‘B’ team selections. He finished third in the Blues’ best and fairest that season but at 21 years of age, never played at AFL level again due to a degenerative back issue.

Footscray defender Grep Eppelstun went one better, being elevated to the ‘A’ team alongside legends like Ablett, Roos and Harvey. After 1991, he played just two more AFL games.

1992

May 26 at the MCG, crowd 32,152

Victoria 23.19.157 def WA 13.12.90

Goals: Lockett 5, Loewe 4, Ablett, McGuane, Scott 3, Bayes, Brown, Mitchell, Osborne, Stoneham 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Stewart Loewe

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Mark Bayes (South Melb/Sydney)

Andrew Bews (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Ken Hinkley (Geelong)

Steven Kolyniuk (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Tony Lockett (St Kilda)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Mick McGuane (Collingwood)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Richard Osborne (Fitzroy)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Barry Stoneham (Geelong)

Scott Wynd (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

July 7 at Football Park, crowd 33,984

SA 19.19.133 def Victoria 18.12.120

Goals: Salmon 5, Roos, Scott 3, Couch, McGuane 2, Harvey, Lambert, Stynes 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Robert Harvey

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Mark Bayes (South Melb/Sydney)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Paul Couch (Geelong)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Mark Harvey (Essendon)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Ken Hinkley (Geelong)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Mick McGuane (Collingwood)

Barry Mitchell (South Melb/Sydney)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Tony Shaw (Collingwood)

Craig Sholl (North Melbourne)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Scott Wynd (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

1993 

The national carnival was back, but was marred by player unavailability and fan indifference. The MCG final was a crowd flop, overshadowing one of South Australian football’s finest performances. The last carnival and the beginning of the end of State of Origin football.

NATIONAL CARNIVAL

June 1 at the MCG, crowd 22,409

Victoria 19.16.130 def NSW-ACT 8.17.65

Goals: Salmon 6, Ablett 4, Knights, Loewe, Silvagni 2, Burke, Lambert, Rock 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Chris Langford

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Chris Grant (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Matthew Knights (Richmond)

Craig Lambert (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Glenn Lovett (Melbourne)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Anthony Rock (North Melbourne)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Wayne Schwass (North Melbourne)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Craig Sholl (North Melbourne)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Ross Smith (North Melbourne)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Shane Watson (Collingwood)

Carnival final: June 5 at the MCG, crowd: 31,792

SA 16.13.109 def Victoria 14.13.97

Goals: Ablett 5, Lyon 3, Loewe, Williams 2, McGuane, Roos 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Robert Harvey

Coach: Bill Goggin

Captain: Paul Roos (Fitzroy)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Mark Harvey (Essendon)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Matthew Knights (Richmond)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Glenn Lovett (Melbourne)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Mick McGuane (Collingwood)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Anthony Rock (North Melbourne)

Paul Salmon (Essendon)

Robert Scott (Geelong)

Craig Sholl (North Melbourne)

Ross W. Smith (North Melbourne)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Greg Williams (Carlton)

1994

May 3 at Football Park, crowd 44,598

SA 11.9.75 def Victoria 10.13.73

Goals: Ablett 4, Hocking 2, Brown, Hanna, Mercuri, Stynes 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: David Calthorpe

Coach: Rod Austin

Captain: Gary Lyon (Melbourne)

Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

John Barnes (Geelong)

Brad Boyd (Fitzroy)

Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

David Calthorpe (Essendon)

Leon Cameron (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Andy Collins (Hawthorn)

Danny Frawley (St Kilda)

Chris Grant (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Mil Hanna (Carlton)

Mark Harvey (Essendon)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Matthew Hogg (Carlton)

Chris Langford (Hawthorn)

Mark Mercuri (Essendon)

David Neitz (Melbourne)

Craig Sholl (North Melbourne)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

Stephen Tingay (Melbourne)

Perhaps the last State of Origin classic, low-scoring and tense, highlighted by a couple of physics-defying goals from Tony Modra and Gary Ablett. Ablett kicked the go-ahead goal in the final 30 seconds but a free kick was paid against him in the contest and the Croweaters took the win.

1995

June 17 at the MCG, crowd 64,186

Victoria 18.12.120 def SA 8.9.57

Goals: Lockett 7, Ablett 4, Couch 3, Boyd, Campbell, Lyon, Monkhorst 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Tony Lockett

Coach: Rod Austin

Captain: Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong)

Mark Bayes (South Melb/Sydney)

Brad Boyd (Fitzroy)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Wayne Campbell (Richmond)

Ang Christou (Carlton)

Paul Couch (Geelong)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Duncan Kellaway (Richmond)

Matthew Knights (Richmond)

Tony Lockett (South Melb/Sydney)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Garry Lyon (Melbourne)

Michael Mansfield (Geelong)

Damian Monkhorst (Collingwood)

David Neitz (Melbourne)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Wayne Schwass (North Melbourne)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Anthony Stevens (North Melbourne)

Jim Stynes (Melbourne)

A game that was almost completely overshadowed by the farewell lap of honour of a gravely ill Ted Whitten. As Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero’ played, Whitten said goodbye to football, and urged on the Lockett and Ablett forward combination in the rooms prior to the game. Whitten passed away a month later and there would never be the same passion for the Big V.

1996

June 1 at the MCG, crowd 35,612

Victoria 20.17.137 def Allies 11.18.84

Goals: Mercuri 4, Loewe, Archer 3, Grant, McKernan, 2, Burke, Colbert, Harvey, Hocking, Riccardi, Williams 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Robert Harvey

Coach: Rod Austin

Captain: Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Glenn Archer (North Melbourne)

John Barnes (Geelong)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Ang Christou (Carlton)

Leigh Colbert (Geelong)

Chris Grant (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Duncan Kellaway (Richmond)

Nigel Lappin (Brisbane)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Michael Mansfield (Geelong)

Corey McKernan (North Melbourne)

Mark Mercuri (Essendon)

Gary O’Donnell (Essendon)

Liam Pickering (Geelong)

Brett Ratten (Carlton)

Peter Riccardi (Geelong)

Michael Sexton (Carlton)

Anthony Stevens (North Melbourne)

Greg Williams (Carlton)

To breathe life into the State of Origin concept, the Allies were created; a team made up of players from outside Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia. The Allies had defeated WA in 1995 to earn their shot at the ‘title’ against Victoria in 1996.

Sadly but unsurprisingly, it never engendered the state passions of yesteryear. This was typified by the undisputed best player of the game during the period, Wayne Carey, who with his NSW heritage was now an Allies player but never suited up for the combined side. Player interest was waning as club priorities and a fully professional AFL competition took over.

1997

June 21 at Football Park, crowd 40,595

Victoria 13.15.93 def SA 12.13.85

Goals: Loewe 4, Lloyd 3, Grant 2, Archer, Burke, Johnson, Jones 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Gavin Brown

Coach: Leigh Matthews

Captain: Gavin Brown (Collingwood)

Glenn Archer (North Melbourne)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Leigh Colbert (Geelong)

Peter Everitt (St Kilda)

Chris Grant (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Daniel Harford (Hawthorn)

Robert Harvey (St Kilda)

Brad Johnson (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Austinn Jones (St Kilda)

David King (North Melbourne)

Nigel Lappin (Brisbane)

Dale Lewis (South Melb/Sydney)

Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Michael Mansfield (Geelong)

Brett Ratten (Carlton)

Paul Salmon (Hawthorn)

Michael Sexton (Carlton)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Rohan H. Smith (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Anthony Stevens (North Melbourne)

1998

July 10 at the Gabba, crowd 13,977

Victoria 22.16.148 def Allies 14.11.95

Goals: Everitt 7, Johnson, Lloyd, Loewe, Lucas, Thompson 2, Archer, Burke, Hocking, Mansfield, Mercuri 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Rohan Smith

Coach: Leigh Matthews

Captain: Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Glenn Archer (North Melbourne)

John Blakey (North Melbourne)

Wayne Campbell (Richmond)

Leigh Colbert (Geelong)

Andrew Dunkley (South Melb/Sydney)

Peter Everitt (St Kilda)

Shaun Hart (Brisbane)

Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Brad Johnson (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

David King (North Melbourne)

Matthew Knights (Richmond)

Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)

Stewart Loewe (St Kilda)

Scott Lucas (Essendon)

Michael Mansfield (Geelong)

Tim McGrath (Geelong)

Mark Mercuri (Essendon)

Justin Peckett (St Kilda)

Brad Sholl (Geelong)

Rohan H. Smith (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Anthony Stevens (North Melbourne)

Andrew Thompson (St Kilda)

Jeff White (Melbourne)

1999

May 29 at the MCG, crowd 26,063

Victoria 17.19.121 def SA 10.7.67

Goals: B Harvey 5, Lloyd 3, Hocking, Johnson, Lappin 2, Everitt, Smith, Thompson 1.

EJ Whitten Medal: Brent Harvey

Coach: Robert Walls

Captain: Garry Hocking (Geelong)

Matthew Allan (Carlton)

Nathan Burke (St Kilda)

Wayne Campbell (Richmond)

Trent Croad (Hawthorn)

Peter Everitt (St Kilda)

Chris Grant (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)

Brad Johnson (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

David King (North Melbourne)

Anthony Koutoufides (Carlton)

Nigel Lappin (Brisbane)

Angelo Lekkas (Hawthorn)

Andrew Leoncelli (Melbourne)

Justin Leppitsch (Brisbane)

Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)

Chad Morrison (West Coast Eagles)

Brett Ratten (Carlton)

Peter Riccardi (Geelong)

David Schwarz (Melbourne)

Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)

Rohan H. Smith (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Andrew Thompson (St Kilda)

Scott West (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

The final State of Origin game of the golden era, on a horrible rainy winter day that meant only 26,000 people showed up to see Brent Harvey star after his late inclusion in the team. It was the last time Victoria took on its greatest rival, South Australia, at the highest level.

Latter day matches

Since the end of State of Origin football in 1999, there has been two games featuring Victorian teams selected under State of Origin rules taking on ‘the rest’. In 2008, a match was held to celebrate the 150th birthday of the game, while in 2020, a match was held to raise money for bushfire relief.

2008: May 10 at the MCG, crowd 69,294

Victoria 21.11.137 def Dream Team 18.12.120

Goals: Fevola 6, J Brown, Harvey, Johnson 3, Bradshaw, C Brown, Chapman, Foley, Murphy, O’Keefe 1.

Allen Aylett Medal: Brendan Fevola

Coach: Mark Thompson

Captain: Jonathan Brown (Brisbane)

Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)

Daniel Bradshaw (Brisbane)

Campbell Brown (Hawthorn)

Paul Chapman (Geelong)

Trent Croad (Hawthorn)

Brendan Fevola (Carlton)

Nathan Foley (Richmond)

Josh Fraser (Collingwood)

Adam Goodes (South Melb/Sydney)

Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)

Steve Johnson (Geelong)

Chris Judd (Carlton)

James Kelly (Geelong)

Darren Milburn (Geelong)

Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)

Bob Murphy (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Ryan O’Keefe (South Melb/Sydney)

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)

Luke Power (Brisbane)

Matthew Scarlett (Geelong)

Joel Selwood (Geelong)

Heath Shaw (Collingwood)

Troy Simmonds (Richmond)

Jarrad Waite (Carlton)

2020: February 28 at Docklands 

Victoria 24.10.154 def All Stars 15.18.108

Goals: Papley 5, Greene, Kelly 4, Bontempelli, Gaff, Gresham, D Martin 2, J Cameron, Dangerfield, Lynch 1.

Best Player Medal: Dustin Martin

Coach: Damien Hardwick

Captain: Trent Cotchin (Richmond)

Mark Blicavs (Geelong)

Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)

Marcus Bontempelli (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Jeremy Cameron (GWS)

Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)

Andrew Gaff (West Coast Eagles)

Todd Goldstein (North Melbourne)

Toby Greene (GWS)

Jade Gresham (St Kilda)

Nick Haynes (GWS)

Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne)

Bachar Houli (Richmond)

Josh Kelly (GWS)

Jake Lloyd (Sth M-Syd)

Tom J. Lynch (Richmond)

Jack Macrae (Footscray/Western Bulldogs)

Dustin Martin (Richmond)

Stefan Martin (Brisbane)

Darcy Moore (Collingwood)

Tom Papley (South Melb/Sydney)

Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)

Adam Saad (Essendon)

James Sicily (Hawthorn)

Steele Sidebottom (Collingwood)

Rory Sloane (Adelaide)

Lachie Whitfield (GWS)