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What footy fans are really barracking for
By Danny Russell
It’s the question on every nervous footy fan’s lips as a plane load of the state’s best talent jets west for AFL Origin – how do they avoid coming back injured?
Carlton fans would be top of that list. Could the long-suffering Blues fans endure a large chunk of the season without Patrick Cripps or Jacob Weitering?
Not that the Magpie Army would be far behind them in the anxiety stakes. They would love to see Darcy Cameron and Nick Daicos fly back from WA in one piece.
Jacob Weitering (Victoria via Carlton) and Darcy Cameron (WA via Collingwood) are pumped up for Saturday’s State of Origin match.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
But fear not. The secret to staying injury free, according to Cameron, is to not think about getting injured. Let’s hope he’s never heard of Murphy’s Law.
“It’s the first game, sort of, pre-season, so you want to treat it like a proper game, a proper hit-out,” the reigning Magpies best and fairest said before boarding the flight.
“We’ll be going out all guns blazing. I feel like anytime you go out there and try not to get injured, is when is you get injured.”
Weitering dismissed concerns that the match would become a bruise-free exhibition match. Which is probably not what the Blues faithful want to hear.
“I just think it’s going to be hot,” the Blues defender said. “Boys are going to compete for the jumper and each other.
“It’s an opportunity that you just don’t get regularly. And we’ve seen, it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do it, so I think the first 10 minutes is, you know, there’s going to be a few contests.”
Cameron and Weitering conduct a media doorstop on Wednesday ahead of the State of Origin match.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
What happens if one of those contests involves the Blues skipper? What will Weitering prioritise if he finds Cripps between himself and the ball on Saturday.
“It’ll be done fairly but, but it’ll be a hell of a contest for sure,” he said.
Weitering said he was not worried about getting injured when he takes the field against Western Australia.
“The preparation, the time that has been put into it, the team that we’ve got around us, the trainers, the doctors, the communication between the clubs and the AFL, I think, has been pretty good,” he said.
Weitering expected every players’ game time to be managed.
“We’ve got 25 guys per team, so the rotations in some pretty hot weather will be handy.
“As Darcy said, if you go out thinking of maybe going at 80 or 90 per cent, that’s when you do get injured.”
So, rest assured club land fans – your precious players are in safe hands. Fingers crossed, touch wood.
You’ve seen the teams, so who will win?
The teams
What footy fans are really barracking for
By Danny Russell
It’s the question on every nervous footy fan’s lips as a plane load of the state’s best talent jets west for AFL Origin – how do they avoid coming back injured?
Carlton fans would be top of that list. Could the long-suffering Blues fans endure a large chunk of the season without Patrick Cripps or Jacob Weitering?
Not that the Magpie Army would be far behind them in the anxiety stakes. They would love to see Darcy Cameron and Nick Daicos fly back from WA in one piece.
Jacob Weitering (Victoria via Carlton) and Darcy Cameron (WA via Collingwood) are pumped up for Saturday’s State of Origin match.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
But fear not. The secret to staying injury free, according to Cameron, is to not think about getting injured. Let’s hope he’s never heard of Murphy’s Law.
“It’s the first game, sort of, pre-season, so you want to treat it like a proper game, a proper hit-out,” the reigning Magpies best and fairest said before boarding the flight.
“We’ll be going out all guns blazing. I feel like anytime you go out there and try not to get injured, is when is you get injured.”
Weitering dismissed concerns that the match would become a bruise-free exhibition match. Which is probably not what the Blues faithful want to hear.
“I just think it’s going to be hot,” the Blues defender said. “Boys are going to compete for the jumper and each other.
“It’s an opportunity that you just don’t get regularly. And we’ve seen, it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to do it, so I think the first 10 minutes is, you know, there’s going to be a few contests.”
Cameron and Weitering conduct a media doorstop on Wednesday ahead of the State of Origin match.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
What happens if one of those contests involves the Blues skipper? What will Weitering prioritise if he finds Cripps between himself and the ball on Saturday.
“It’ll be done fairly but, but it’ll be a hell of a contest for sure,” he said.
Weitering said he was not worried about getting injured when he takes the field against Western Australia.
“The preparation, the time that has been put into it, the team that we’ve got around us, the trainers, the doctors, the communication between the clubs and the AFL, I think, has been pretty good,” he said.
Weitering expected every players’ game time to be managed.
“We’ve got 25 guys per team, so the rotations in some pretty hot weather will be handy.
“As Darcy said, if you go out thinking of maybe going at 80 or 90 per cent, that’s when you do get injured.”
So, rest assured club land fans – your precious players are in safe hands. Fingers crossed, touch wood.
Why did State of Origin die?
In 2023, as the NRL’s annual State of Origin campaign captured attention around Australia again, we looked back at the AFL’s state v state match-ups, and why they died out. Now, on the eve of the AFL’s State of Origin return, we revisit the history.
Are you heading to Western Australia for the match?
Welcome to our coverage
Hello and welcome to our coverage of the lead-up to the return of State of Origin. This will be your one-stop shop for the inside word on what’s happening on the ground (and in the air) as players and coaches gather before Saturday night’s match between Victoria and Western Australia.
Stay tuned!
Danny Russell travelled to Perth with the support of the AFL.
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