There is not much the AFL doesn’t have over the other major football codes in Australia. The competition is in rude health. Crowds and memberships are as big as they’ve ever been, a 19th team is coming in to further broaden its already enviable national spread, and long-term media deals with Seven and Fox will ensure that none of these things will change at any foreseeable point in the future. Plus, the on-field product is excellent, save for a few umpire-related gripes. But when don’t we have those?

The game does have one glaring weakness, and always has: the absence of any form of representative football. It’s just the AFL. That’s it, no higher honours available, aside from a blazer for a team that doesn’t ever actually play - and when they do, once in a blue moon, it’s with a round ball against the Irish. Your personal perspective will dictate whether you think this is a big problem, a little problem, or no problem at all.

Tony Lockett and Dermott Brereton (having swapped guernseys with an opponent) after the win over South Australia in 1989.Credit: Getty Images

Whether the AFL should bring back State of Origin is one of those annual........

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