'That's the problem': Matthew Lloyd's doubts over 'token' AFL State of Origin return

Essendon great Matthew Lloyd doesn't believe the AFL's State of Origin return will be the enormous success that the league hopes.

After a 27-year absence, the AFL has announced that representative footy will return in February of 2026, with Western Australia hosting Victoria in Perth.

AFL chief Andrew Dillon made it his personal mission to bring back State of Origin and widespread support from star players, coupled with the success of this year's Indigenous All-Stars game, gave the idea momentum.

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The format initially died out in the late 1990s as star players began pulling out, with premiership success far outweighing the allure of representing their state.

The AFL has held one-off matches since, including in 2008 and 2020, though those featured Victoria against the rest of the country.

This will be a return to true State of Origin, with Victoria facing Western Australia in what should be a star studded match-up.

Lloyd looks back on that 2020 version and worries what it will look like if players don't take it seriously.

"I remember I commentated a game. It was Victoria versus the All-Stars and it was played at Marvel Stadium and the skills were brilliant, but it was non contact. No one wanted to get hurt, and that's the problem," Lloyd told 3AW.

"I don't want to knock it because it's at least worth giving it a go, but I think it'll just be a token game in February.

"Unless they're paid quite well, I don't think too many would put their hand up.

"I got to play in the last three proper ones in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and by 1999 most guys were pulling out because club football was more important to them."

The timing in February allows the game to take place instead of practice matches, without interrupting the flow of the home-and-away competition or risking key injuries mid-season.

But re-capturing the intensity of the match-ups and rivalries from the early 1990s will be difficult.

The first box to tick will be ensuring players put their hand up to play, particularly given they have universally endorsed representative footy this year.

Lloyd believes the AFL will at the very least put pressure on clubs to make their best players available.

"I don't think the AFL would have put it forward (without player interest). They'll demand clubs put their players up," he said.

"The players can make up that they're injured or sore."

The Victorian team will be hard to stop at full strength. A starting midfield of Nick Daicos, Zak Butters, Marcus Bontempelli and Max Gawn might just be as good as it gets.

The West Australian side will be led by the likes of Patrick Cripps, Jesse Hogan, Chad Warner and Luke Jackson, as well as 2025 All-Australians Jordan Clark and Sam Taylor down back.