Darcy Moore revealed he’s already fielded calls this week about a potential AFL State of Origin comeback, as momentum builds behind the idea for a 2026 return.
The Collingwood skipper, who also serves as AFLPA president, confirmed that players are warming to the concept, but warned any revival must be serious, sustainable, and properly integrated into the fixture.
“I think there is certainly an openness to the concept,” Moore said on SEN’s Crunch Time. “I don't think players largely, aren’t going to stand in the way of it.”
“We don’t want it to be a Mickey Mouse event”
The 18 AFL club CEOs have discussed a potential State of Origin reboot, while the WA Government has already expressed interest in hosting a game as early as February 2026. But Moore stressed that player support hinges on how it’s presented and placed in the calendar.
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“Where it sits in scheduling, what it sort of offers to the fans, broadcasters, all the commercials (sponsors) that sort of stuff definitely needs to be worked through,” he said.
“And then, what is the medium and long-term goal of it. We don’t want to do it, commit to it and then it be a Mickey Mouse sort of event that happens once in a while.”
Moore added: “If we’re going to do it, I think there is consensus that we want it to be a sustainable thing and something that makes sense in the calendar and ultimately serves the fans. So yeah, we’ll see. Watch this space on that one.”