With the annual blockbuster Rugby League State-of-Origin series between New South Wales and Queensland kicking off tonight, AFL.com.au has decided to revive the concept for AFL football – in print.

AFL.com.au writers have assessed the form of the AFL competition’s best performers throughout the first half of the 2017 AFL season, and accordingly picked players to fill four State-of-Origin teams – Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Allies (NSW/ACT, Queensland, Tasmania, Northern Territory).

Under their rules, a state could only claim ownership of a player if he had played his junior football (under 15-under 18) in that particular state. The player’s birthplace was considered irrelevant. Overseas players were aligned to the Allies.

Richmond has five players who gained State-of-Origin selection across the four teams – Dustin Martin (Victoria), Alex Rance (Western Australia), Shane Edwards (South Australia), Jack Riewoldt (the Allies) and Toby Nankervis (the Allies).

Martin was named on a half-forward flank for the Big V, with Rance at full-back for WA, Edwards half-forward for SA, Riewoldt in a forward pocket for the Allies and Nankervis No. 1 ruckman for the Allies.

The Tigers’ captain Trent Cotchin could consider himself unlucky to have missed selection in the Victorian team.

VICTORIA

B: Heath Shaw, Robbie Tarrant, Dylan Roberton
HB: Easton Wood, Michael Hurley, Sam Docherty
C: Josh Kelly, Joel Selwood, Zach Merrett
HF: Marcus Bontempelli, Joe Daniher, Dustin Martin
F: Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron, Eddie Betts
R: Shane Mumford, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane
INT: Ollie Wines, Gary Ablett, Andrew Gaff, Clayton Oliver
UNLUCKY: Marc Murphy, Scott Pendlebury, Tom Lynch (Gold Coast), Matthew Kreuzer, Seb Ross

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

B: Nathan Wilson, Alex Rance, Brad Sheppard
HB: Elliot Yeo, Jeremy McGovern, Jason Johannisen
C: Bradley Hill, Patrick Cripps, Mitch Duncan
HF: Michael Walters, Lance Franklin, Cam McCarthy
F: Jeff Garlett, Paddy Ryder, Charlie Cameron
Ruck: Aaron Sandilands, Nat Fyfe, Tom Mitchell 
INT: Connor Blakely, Matt Priddis, Daniel Wells, Stephen Hill
UNLUCKY: Jack Darling, Sam Menegola, Sam Powell-Pepper 

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 

B: Rory Laird, Phil Davis, Tom Jonas
HB: Shannon Hurn, Heath Grundy, Shaun Burgoyne
C: Jared Polec, Bryce Gibbs, Bernie Vince
HF: Paul Puopolo, Justin Westhoff, Shane Edwards
F: Orazio Fantasia, Daniel Menzel, Brodie Grundy
R: Sam Jacobs, Brad Ebert, Lachie Neale
INT: Caleb Daniel, Brodie Smith, Ryan Burton, Trent Dumont
UNLUCKY: Hamish Hartlett, Andrew Mackie, Jack Hombsch

ALLIES

B: Jarrod Harbrow, Dane Rampe, Jeremy Howe
HB: Callum Mills, Steven May, Zac Williams
C: Isaac Smith, Dayne Beams, Nick Riewoldt
HF: Steven Motlop, Taylor Walker, Mav Weller
F: Jack Riewoldt, Ben Brown, Luke Breust
R: Toby Nankervis, Isaac Heeney, Dayne Zorko
INT: Sam Gilbert, Zach Tuohy, Jack Steele, Lachie Weller 
UNLUCKY: Harris Andrews, Jarrod Witts, Josh Green