'There are going to be injuries in football': Jimmy Bartel hits back at coaches criticising Origin

It has been just over a month since the revival of the AFL State of Origin and Jimmy Bartel has hit back at those piling on the criticism about the event.

A handful of coaches have come out slamming the injury toll the pre-season match had on their teams, while others have called for the timing of the match to be moved to the middle of the season during a bye round.

The coaches are not alone in criticising the format, with ex-players like Jordan Lewis declaring some players were "filthy" with the amount of game time they received.

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AFL.com.au reporter Cal Twomey revealed on Nine's Footy Classified that a "tense" meeting involving all senior coaches had taken place regarding State of Origin.

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson was reportedly one of the most vocal at that meeting regarding making changes to the State of Origin schedule, suggesting the match should be moved to be held between the preliminary and grand final weekend.

The Footy Classified panel all agreed that Clarkson's suggestion would not garner much support, with Essendon great James Hird making his views known on that matter.

"I don't know how it can be played in the middle (or end) of the year, because players will pull out," he said.

But Bartel believes more leeway needs to be given to the match to allow it to grow.

"Players would've played games anyway," Bartel said, referencing the excuse about player injuries and pre-season fitness, on 3AW's Wide World of Sports radio.

"They would have had intraclub matches or against other sides.

"Yes, they will say the speed of the game was like we have never seen before, and it was the fastest-paced game, but there wasn't a great deal of tackling either."

The biggest injury to come from the match was to Carlton's Jacob Weitering, who was stretchered off the field with a broken rib after being crunched in a marking contest.

Initial fears were that Weitering may not make it back in time for Opening Round, but the Carlton star managed to push through and face the Swans last week.

"He might have been underdone, I get that, but there are going to be injuries in football," Bartel added.

He then pointed to the slight changes that could be made to settle the negative noise that has emerged over the past few weeks.

"Where they can tighten up is to add a player on the bench," he continued.

"It is a bit more unusual to have that many on the bench, but there is ways you can do it.

"Probably not having current coaches coaching it takes a little bit of that angst away in terms of, 'oh, you are playing our boy a little too much' or even with selection.

"We can find plenty of good coaches (to lead it).

"But sometimes the AFL can go, 'We are listening, but we are still going to do it. You are going to deal with it'."