Prediction Predict your state's 2026 SoO team

[GC2015]

Now that it's looking like State of Origin will be returning in Feb/Mar 2026, one can't help but wonder what each state/territory team will actually look like. So the challenge is to predict what your state's team will look like early next year. Here are some hypothetical 2024 state teams (not mine) to give you something to work off:

 

[NetworkNerd]

Does anyone under 40yo even care?

 

[Colonial]

Does anyone under 40yo even care?

You commented so…..

 

[Cmarsh]

Now that it's looking like State of Origin will be returning in Feb/Mar 2026, one can't help but wonder what each state/territory team will actually look like. So the challenge is to predict what your state's team will look like early next year. Here are some hypothetical 2024 state teams (not mine) to give you something to work off:

Peatling and Briggs need to be in the NSW side.

 

[GC2015]

Peatling and Briggs need to be in the NSW side.

So how does the NSW team end up looking with them? Something like this?

FB: D.Rampe (Syd), J.Buckley (GWS), Z.Williams (Car)
HB: N.Blakey (Syd), H.Himmelberg (GWS), H.Perryman (Col)
C: I.Heeney (Syd), T.Green (GWS), C.Mills (Syd)
HF: L.Breust (Haw), T.Walker (Ade), B.Campbell (Syd)
FF: K.Briggs (GWS), T.Marshall (PA), L.Schultz (Col)
FOL: J.Witts (GC), E.Gulden (Syd), J.Steele (StK)
INT: J.Hopper (Ric), J.Peatling (Ade), M.Kennedy (WB), H.Cunningham (Syd)
Coach: J.Longmire

 

[Cmarsh]

So how does the NSW team end up looking with them? Something like this?

FB: D.Rampe (Syd), J.Buckley (GWS), Z.Williams (Car)
HB: N.Blakey (Syd), H.Himmelberg (GWS), H.Perryman (Col)
C: J.Hopper (GWS), T.Green (GWS), C.Mills (Syd)
HF: L.Breust (Haw), T.Walker (Ade), B.Campbell (Syd)
FF: K.Briggs (GWS), T.Marshall (PA), L.Schultz (Col)
FOL: J.Witts (GC), E.Gulden (Syd), J.Steele (StK)
INT: J.Peatling (Ade), M.Kennedy (WB), H.Cunningham (Syd), S.Wicks (Syd)
Coach: J.Longmire

Needs Heeney in there. (Hopper plays for Richmond now.)

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

B: Michaelanny, Petty, Wilkie
HB: Wanganeen-Milera, Ballard, Redman
C: Rozee, Horne-Francis, Day
HF: Lukosius, Fogarty, Rankine
F: Stengle, Thilthorpe, Pickett
R: Grundy, Dawson, Neale
I: Hinge, Hewitt, Hayward, Neal-Bullen
E: Laird

Edit: forgot Wanganeen-Milera

 

[GC2015]

Needs Heeney in there. (Hopper plays for Richmond now.)

Edited accordingly.

B: Michaelanny, Cox, Wilkie
HB: Redman, Petty, Hinge
C: Rozee, Horne-Francis, Day
HF: Lukosius, Fogarty, Rankine
F: Stengle, Thilthorpe, Pickett
R: Grundy, Dawson, Neale
I: Laird, Hewitt, Hayward, Neal-Bullen

Dawson, Neale, Horne-Francis, Rozee, Day and Rankine rotating through the midfield is a phenomenal line up. Midfield is clearly SA's strong point and you'd have to say their forward line is looking a bit better at the moment given the form of the Crows with Thilthorpe and Fogarty firing. Backline is probably the weak point for SA (no Ballard?), but overall it's a pretty strong state team.

South Australia will be entertaining to watch during the SoO carnival next year. It'll be fascinating to see how their midfield goes if it lines up against the Vics.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Edited accordingly.


Dawson, Neale, Horne-Francis, Rozee, Day and Rankine rotating through the midfield is a phenomenal line up. Midfield is clearly SA's strong point and you'd have to say their forward line is looking a bit better at the moment given the form of the Crows with Thilthorpe and Fogarty firing. Backline is probably the weak point for SA (no Ballard?), but overall it's a pretty strong state team.

South Australia will be entertaining to watch during the SoO carnival next year. It'll be fascinating to see how their midfield goes if it lines up against the Vics.

Ballard was an oversight with his unfortunate injury. Would play him ahead of Cox. Move Petty to fullback.

 

[Lingsface]

WA
Baker Taylor Barrass
Clark Mcgovern Martin
Jackson Cripps Bolton
Ah Chee Allen Georgiades
Bo Hill Hogan Cameron

English Warner Kelly

Coniglio Curtin Naughton Powell Pepper Starcevich

 

[Son of Superboot]

Is slim pickings trying to get a genuine Qld team:

B: Caleb Daniel (Kangaroos) Jack Payne (Lions) Harry Himmelberg (GWS)

HB: Bailey Scott (Kangaroos) Harris Andrews (Lions) Daniel Rioli (Suns)

C: Jack Bowes (Cats) Tom Green (GWS) Jasper Fletcher (Lions)

HF: Jed Walter (Suns) Eric Hipwood (Lions) Dayne Zorko (Lions)

F: Charlie Cameron (Lions) Mabior Chol (Hawks) Willie Rioli (Power)

Foll: Lachlan Keeffe (GWS) Will Ashcroft (Lions) Ben Keays (Crows)

Inter: Oskar Baker (Bulldogs), Connor Budarick (Suns), Zak Bailey (Lions), Lachie Weller (Suns),

Sub: Bruce Reville (Lions)

Emergencies: Bodhi Uwland (Suns), Kiddy Coleman (Lions), Aliir Aliir (Power), Levi Ashcroft (Lions)

Coach: M Voss

Assistant Coaches: J Dunstall, B Hudson, S Black

 

[JPetro83]

Does anyone under 40yo even care?

i feel sorry for anyone that missed the 90s

 

[BigPond101]

If Acres is in the WA team the whole thing is a bust, he's awful. Make it Victoria vs combined rest of Australia

 

[GC2015]

Is slim pickings trying to get a genuine Qld team:

B: Caleb Daniel (Kangaroos) Jack Payne (Lions) Harry Himmelberg (GWS)

HB: Bailey Scott (Kangaroos) Harris Andrews (Lions) Daniel Rioli (Suns)

C: Jack Bowes (Cats) Tom Green (GWS) Jasper Fletcher (Lions)

HF: Jed Walter (Suns) Eric Hipwood (Lions) Dayne Zorko (Lions)

F: Charlie Cameron (Lions) Mabior Chol (Hawks) Willie Rioli (Power)

Foll: Lachlan Keeffe (GWS) Will Ashcroft (Lions) Ben Keays (Crows)

Inter: Oskar Baker (Bulldogs), Connor Budarick (Suns), Zak Bailey (Lions), Lachie Weller (Suns),

Sub: Bruce Reville (Lions)

Emergencies: Bodhi Uwland (Suns), Kiddy Coleman (Lions), Aliir Aliir (Power), Levi Ashcroft (Lions)

Coach: M Voss

Assistant Coaches: J Dunstall, B Hudson, S Black

No need to combine Queensland and Northern Territory. Not only did Eddie confirm the two teams will be separate, but Queensland can field its own team just fine in 2026:

B: B.Uwland (GC), H.Andrews (Bri), J.Payne (Bri)
HB: K.Coleman (Bri), A.Aliir (PA), D.Zorko (Bri)
C: J.Fletcher (Bri), B.Keays (Ade), J.Bowes (Gee)
HF: J.Rogers (GC), E.Hipwood (Bri), W.Graham (GC)
F: L.Lombard (GC), J.Walter (GC), C.Cameron (Bri)
Fol: M.Chol (Haw), W.Ashcroft (Bri), L.Ashcroft (Bri)
Int: E.Read (GC), B.Scott (NM), S.Marshall (Bri), Z.Uwland (GC), D.Annable (Bri)
Coach: M.Voss (Car)

 

[My_Username]

As with all SOO teams, at least 4-5 of the named players will probably be unavailable, some due to genuine injuries, some due to niggles that give them (or more likely, their club) and excuse to say no.

So anyone naming teams, should add a half dozen 'reserves'. (call it a squad of 30, and be sure to cover lots of options).

This is where the bigger/stronger states really kill...Their depth. Vics 2nd or 3rd best player in a position will be very competitive in his spot. Not sure the same could be said of all states.

 

[darcytiger]

Unfortunately the only viable option is Vic v The rest.

That’s crap because Vics get to cheer/play for their state and everyone else is meant to find emotion in supporting/putting their head over the ball for “the rest”.

 

[My_Username]

Unfortunately the only viable option is Vic v The rest.

That’s crap because Vics get to cheer/play for their state and everyone else is meant to find emotion in supporting/putting their head over the ball for “the rest”.

My favorite was back when Vic fielded 3 teams at once.

and Tas still like to gloat about how they beat Victoria (while forgetting it was the Vic 3rds).

 

[beside the seaside]

B: Michaelanny, Petty, Wilkie
HB: Redman, Ballard, Hinge
C: Rozee, Horne-Francis, Day
HF: Lukosius, Fogarty, Rankine
F: Stengle, Thilthorpe, Pickett
R: Grundy, Dawson, Neale
I: Laird, Hewitt, Hayward, Neal-Bullen

Would have Nasiah on HB.

 

[Soggy2112]

Is slim pickings trying to get a genuine Qld team:

B: Caleb Daniel (Kangaroos) Jack Payne (Lions) Harry Himmelberg (GWS)

HB: Bailey Scott (Kangaroos) Harris Andrews (Lions) Daniel Rioli (Suns)

C: Jack Bowes (Cats) Tom Green (GWS) Jasper Fletcher (Lions)

HF: Jed Walter (Suns) Eric Hipwood (Lions) Dayne Zorko (Lions)

F: Charlie Cameron (Lions) Mabior Chol (Hawks) Willie Rioli (Power)

Foll: Lachlan Keeffe (GWS) Will Ashcroft (Lions) Ben Keays (Crows)

Inter: Oskar Baker (Bulldogs), Connor Budarick (Suns), Zak Bailey (Lions), Lachie Weller (Suns),

Sub: Bruce Reville (Lions)

Emergencies: Bodhi Uwland (Suns), Kiddy Coleman (Lions), Aliir Aliir (Power), Levi Ashcroft (Lions)

Coach: M Voss

Assistant Coaches: J Dunstall, B Hudson, S Black

Daniel would be considered SA for SoO eligibility I think.

 

[1990crow]

SA SOO

FB: Michalanney ~ Cox ~ Wilkie
HB: Redman ~ Ballard ~ Wanganeen-Milera
C: Day ~ Horne-Francis ~ Dawson
R: Grundy ~ Neale ~ Rankine
HF: Rozee ~ Fogarty ~ Pickett
FF: Hayward ~ Thilthorpe ~ Stengle
B: Hinge ~ Laird ~ Neale-Bullen ~ Draper
S: Burgoyne

Hopefully Adelaide have 10 reps from this side next year.

 

[hazpaz]

Would be hopeful Aleer comes on given our key backs are a bit thin, but have had a crack:

Aleer - Wilkie - Maynard (not sure we can claim him)
NWM - Ballard - Burgoyne

Rankine - Neale - Dawson
Day - Grundy - JHF

Bailey - Forgarty - Rozee
Pickett - Thilthorpe - Stengle

Hayward - Phillipou - Roberts - Michaelanney - Cox - Hinge

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Daniel would be considered SA for SoO eligibility I think.

Moved to SA aged 6, so I think you're correct.

 

[Son of Superboot]

Moved to SA aged 6, so I think you're correct.

So what is the correct definition of SoO? Is it where you were born, or where you first played aussie rules, and then, at what level?

Caleb Daniel was born in Beaudesert, QLD, and lived there until he was 6yo, then moved to SA and grew-up playing football.

 

[The Punter]

If it happens, and they pick teams like this, it's going to be Christmas for small forwards. Barely a lockdown small defender among any of the six teams.

Also, where is the Indigenous team? Aren't they playing?

 

[Soggy2112]

So what is the correct definition of SoO? Is it where you were born, or where you first played aussie rules, and then, at what level?

Caleb Daniel was born in Beaudesert, QLD, and lived there until he was 6yo, then moved to SA and grew-up playing football.

The exact rules I’m not sure, but it’s generally based on where you played your junior footy.

Daniel played all his juniors in SA and played for SA at under 18 level, therefore no matter how the specific criteria gets drawn up he’d be an SA player.

The Ashcroft brothers would be more interesting. Both played a lot of footy in Queensland and moved to Vic late, however did play for Vic Metro in the under 18s so that’d be unclear