AFL State of Origin Tips 2026 | SGM Bets & Predictions!

Footy is back in the most epic way possible – but I have one glaring question. Will the boys take the game seriously, or will it just be a fun kick around to show how skilful we all are?

Obviously no one wants their best player(s) to get injured 3 weeks before the season starts (but at least the odds are against Geelong if anyone does) – and it’s pretty on point for the AFL to bring this in for nothing more than a cash grab.

However, the selectors have gone fully out on every star available, with Nick Daicos, and the Bont lining up for Vic is enough to get me rigid – plus it’ll be interesting to see how Merrett would have gone in a good team.

WA have no shortage of guns either, led by the dual Brownlow medalist Cripps, and with the Chad, Barrass and Georgiades in the mix. However it doesn’t take a genius to figure out the skill mismatches shortly after, and that Vic has the upper hand across the ground overall.

If this was a full serious, balls to the wall, type of game – I’d be backing the big V by 10 goals. But given it seems more a “fun” exhibition than the NRLs pure state on state hatred – I’d imagine they’ll step off the gas at times to keep it tight.

Still, most of the lads in the AFL didn’t get there from just sitting around and being talented. They were very driven, trained their bums off, and almost definitely were the kind of blokes that took PE class way too seriously. I’m looking at you Matt Rowell. There’ll be a lot of testosterone and ego on the field, and they’ll want to prove themselves and go down a winner. Even if the suits tell them to reel it in and keep it close – they’ll still come out hard enough.

Victoria comfortably.