Australian rules football matches between teams representing Australian colonies/states and territories have been held since 1879. For most of the 20th century, the absence of a national club competition and international matches meant that football games between state representative teams were regarded with great importance. Football historian John Devaney has argued that: "some of the state of origin contests which took place during the 1980s constituted arguably the finest expositions of the game ever seen."[2]
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Until 1976, interstate Australian rules football games were played by teams representing the major football leagues or organisations. From 1977 to 1999, players were generally selected under State of Origin selection rules and they were chosen mostly from the Australian Football League (AFL). Since 2000, all matches have been between teams representing the second-tier state or territorial leagues. Players from the AFL no longer take part in interstate matches.
The matches have mostly been held on a stand-alone basis. However, an Australian Football Carnival, a national championship series, held in either one or two cities, took place between 1908 and 1993, usually at three year intervals. Teams which have taken part have included a combined Australian Amateurs team, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), NSW-ACT, New Zealand (NZ; 1908 carnival only), Northern Territory, Queensland (Qld), Qld-NT, South Australia (SA), Tasmania (Tas), Victoria (Vic), the Victorian Football League (VFL), the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and Western Australia (WA). The Allies, a combined team representing the states and territories other than the three major Australian rules states — South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia — also took part in State of Origin games during the 1990s.
Between 1937 and 1988 the player judged the best at each of these carnivals was awarded the Tassie Medal.
Between 1953 and 1988, the selection of All Australian Teams was based on players' performance during Australian Football Carnivals, and the team was named after each carnival concluded.
As the birthplace of Australian rules, and with advantages of population and finances, Victoria dominated the first hundred years of intercolonial and interstate football. This was the case in the first ever interstate game, held on Tuesday, 1 July 1879, at East Melbourne Cricket Ground. The final score was Victoria (represented by the VFA) 7 goals, 14 points to South Australia 0.3 — a margin of seven goals as points did not count unless both sides scored the same number of goals. The match was attended by more than 10,000 people, a big crowd for a weekday at that time.
The third and fourth teams to commence intercolonial competition were New South Wales and Queensland, playing each other in a two-game series in Brisbane in 1884; the result of the series was a one-all draw. Tasmania played its first game, against Victoria, in 1887. New Zealand entered the competition with a victory over NSW in Sydney, in 1889.
Victoria's long-term dominance briefly faltered in the 1890s, when other Colonies recorded their first ever wins over the VFA: South Australia in Adelaide in 1890 and 1891 and Tasmania in Hobart in 1893 (twice). In 1897, the VFL split from the VFA and the two selected separate representative teams, further weakening Victoria in intercolonial competition, which became interstate competition following Federation of the six British colonies in Australia, in 1901.
Western Australia played its first two interstate games in 1904, including a win over SA in Adelaide.
The VFL's dominance, at least within Victoria, was established by the time an interstate carnival was held for the first time — in Melbourne in 1908 — to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of "Australasian football" (as it was known at the time). The widening gap between the three major footballing States/leagues and the others was shown in the organisation of the competition: the VFL, SA and WA constituted "Section A", and Tasmania, NSW, Queensland and NZ were relegated to "Section B". The VFA did not take part and the carnival was New Zealand's last appearance in representative football. The VFL team went through the competition undefeated.
This impression was reiterated by the 1911 Carnival, in Adelaide, which also set the pattern of a carnival every three years. The VFL lost only one game, against SA. At the Sydney carnival of 1914, the VFL was once again undefeated. Following the onset of World War I, interstate matches then went into a five year hiatus.
By the 1970s, VFL clubs were signing up an increasing number of the best players from other states and Victoria dominated state games. West Australians, led by the marketing manager of the Subiaco Football Club, Leon Larkin, began to campaign for players to be selected according to state-of-origin rules. The West Australian Football League (WAFL) negotiated with the VFL for two years before agreement was reached on the format.
In the first such game, at Subiaco Oval in Perth, on 8 October 1977, Western Australia defeated Victoria, 23.13 (151) to 8.9 (57), a huge reversal of the results in most previous games. In the words of one football historian:
Games involving each of the other states soon followed. Western Australia and South Australia began to win many of their games against Victoria.
Possibly the largest attendance at a state of origin match was recorded in 1989, when a crowd of 91,960 people attended a game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground between Victoria, featuring greats of the game such as Gary Ablett, Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Terry Daniher, and South Australia, featuring Andrew Jarman, Stephen Kernahan and Craig Bradley. The selection of Dunstall (who won the E.J. Whitten Medal for best Victorian player) and Daniher, who were born in and recruited from Queensland and New South Wales respectively, exemplified the often loose and constantly mutating selection rules applied in state of origin games. This reached farcical levels the following year, when the selectors of a "New South Wales" team (captained by Daniher) were allowed to include any player who had played for Sydney, resulting in the inclusion of players from several states. Later, controversy also surrounded the selection for South Australia of the NSW-born and raised Wayne Carey, after his best-on-ground performances.
However, during the 1990s, following the emergence of a national club competition, the Australian Football League, state of origin games declined in importance, relative to Origin games in the rival code of rugby league. There were an increasing number of withdrawals by AFL players, who were under increasing pressure from their clubs, concerned by the risk of injuries.
No official State of Origin matches were held between 1999 and 2008, when the concept made a return, to celebrate 150 years of Australian football. In spite of lobbying for three or more games, involving at least six different teams, or even an Interstate Carnival, only one all-star game was played in 2008. The sides competing were Victoria and a "Dream Team", representing the rest of Australia.
2008
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| Victoria | 21.11 (137) | Dream Team | 18.12 (120) | MCG | 69,294 | Date | 7:40 PM | Ten |
1999
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| Victoria | 17.19 (121) | South Australia | 10.7 (67) | MCG | 26,063 | 29 May 1999 | 2:00 PM | Seven |
1998
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| The Allies | 14.11 (95) | Victoria | 22.16 (148) | The Gabba | 13,977 | 10 July 1998 | 7:00 PM | Seven |
| South Australia | 22.11 (143) | Western Australia | 16.11 (107) | Football Park | 18,204 | 11 July 1998 | 4:00 PM | Seven |
1997
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| South Australia | 12.13 (85) | Victoria | 13.15 (93) | Football Park | 40,595 | 21 June 1997 | 8:00 PM | Seven |
| Western Australia | 16.12 (108) | The Allies | 18.8 (116) | Subiaco Oval | 16,795 | 20 June 1997 | 6:00 PM | Seven |
1996
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| South Australia | 20.6 (126) | Western Australia | 13.13 (91) | Football Park | 16,722 | 2 June 1996 | 2:30 PM | Seven |
| Victoria | 20.17 (137) | The Allies | 11.18 (84) | MCG | 35,612 | 1 June 1996 | 2:10 PM | Seven |
1995
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| Victoria | 18.12 (120) | South Australia | 8.9 (57) | MCG | 64,186 | 17 June 1995 | 2:00 PM | Seven |
| Western Australia | 8.13 (61) | The Allies | 13.14 (92) | Subiaco Oval | 15,722 | 18 June 1995 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
1994
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| South Australia | 11.9 (75) | Victoria | 10.13 (73) | Football Park | 44,598 | 3 May 1994 | 8:00 PM | Seven |
1993
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| Victoria | 19.16 (130) | ACT/New South Wales | 8.17 (65) | MCG | 22,409 | 1 June 1993 | 7:00 PM | Seven |
| South Australia | 19.13 (127) | Western Australia | 14.7 (91) | Football Park | 21,487 | 2 June 1993 | 8:00 PM | Seven |
| Victoria | 14.13 (97) | South Australia | 16.13 (109) | MCG | 31,792 | 5 June 1993 | 2:30 PM | Seven |
| Tasmania | 10.16 (76) | Queensland | 16.14 (110) | Bellerive Oval | 9,660 | 6 June 1993 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
1992
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| New South Wales | 22.9 (141) | Queensland | 6.12 (48) | SCG | 7,223 | 12 May 1992 | 7:00 PM | Seven |
| Victoria | 23.19 (157) | Western Australia | 13.12 (90) | MCG | 32,152 | 26 May 1992 | 7:00 PM | Seven |
| South Australia | 19.19 (133) | Victoria | 18.12 (120) | Football Park | 33,984 | 7 July 1992 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
1991
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| Tasmania | 14.20 (104) | Victoria | 17.14 (116) | North Hobart Oval | 16,000 | 28 May 1991 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
| South Australia | 11.4 (70) | Victoria | 12.14 (86) | Football Park | 37,277 | 28 May 1991 | 8:00 PM | Seven |
| Queensland | 23.14 (152) | Victoria | 15.8 (108) | Gabba | 8,519 | 16 July 1991 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
| Western Australia | 19.13 (127) | Victoria | 7.9 (51) | WACA | 24,397 | 16 July 1991 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
1990
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| New South Wales | 13.8 (86) | Victoria | 10.16 (76) | SCG | 13,482 | 22 May 1990 | 8:30 PM | Seven |
| Tasmania | 20.14 (134) | Victoria | 14.17 (101) | North Hobart Oval | 18,649 | 24 June 1990 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
| Western Australia | 8.12 (60) | Victoria | 14.13 (97) | WACA | 21,897 | 26 June 1990 | 6:30 PM | Seven |
1989
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date | Time | Broadcast Network |
| Western Australia | 10.12 (72) | Victoria | 19.12 (126) | WACA | 20,993 | 16 May 1989 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
| Victoria | 22.17 (149) | South Australia | 9.9 (63) | MCG | 91,960 | 1 July 1989 | 2:10 PM | Seven |
| Tasmania | 15.7 (107) | Victoria | 25.13 (163) | North Hobart Oval | 12,342 | 2 July 1989 | 12:00 PM | Seven |
1988 - Adelaide Bicentennial State of Origin Carnival
| Round | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Section Two - Preliminary Stage | Northern Territory | 19.20 (134) | Tasmania | 10.8 (68) | Football Park | - | 2 March 1988 |
| Section Two - Preliminary Stage | Australian Amateurs | 14.12 (96) | ACT | 12.11 (83) | Football Park | - | 2 March 1988 |
| Section One - Semi Final | Victoria | 20.13 (133) | Western Australia | 10.13 (73) | Football Park | 5,195 | 2 March 1988 |
| Section Two - Preliminary Stage | VFA | 17.10 (112) | Queensland | 4.11 (35) | Football Park | - | 3 March 1988 |
| Section Two - Preliminary Stage | Northern Territory | 11.19 (85) | Australian Amateurs | 8.9 (57) | Football Park | - | 3 March 1988 |
| Section One - Semi Final | South Australia | 12.8 (80) | New South Wales | 8.11 (59) | Football Park | 5,755 | 3 March 1988 |
| Section Two - Semi Final | VFA | 18.20 (128) | ACT | 9.16 (70) | Norwood Oval | - | 4 March 1988 |
| Section Two - Wooden Spoon Play Off | Tasmania | 11.16 (82) | Queensland | 10.10 (70) | Norwood Oval | - | 4 March 1988 |
| Section Two - Final | Northern Territory | 17.10 (112) | VFA | 9.13 (63) | Football Park | - | 5 March 1988 |
| Section One - 3rd Place Play Off | New South Wales | 10.8 (68) | Western Australia | 9.12 (66) | Football Park | - | 5 March 1988 |
| Section One - Final | South Australia | 15.12 (102) | Victoria | 6.6 (42) | Football Park | 19,387 | 5 March 1988 |
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Western Australia | 15.9 (99) | Victoria | 21.23 (149) | Subiaco Oval | 23,006 | 5 July 1988 |
1987
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 12.13 (85) | Victoria | 11.15 (81) | Football Park | 41,605 | 27 May 1987 |
| Western Australia | 13.14 (92) | Victoria | 16.20 (116) | Subiaco Oval | 22,000 | 22 July 1987 |
1986
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 18.17 (125) | Victoria | 17.13 (115) | Football Park | 43,143 | 13 May 1986 |
| Western Australia | 21.11 (137) | Victoria | 20.14 (134) | Subiaco Oval | 39,863 | 8 July 1986 |
1985
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 11.10 (76) | Victoria | 20.13 (133) | Football Park | 44,287 | 14 May 1985 |
| Western Australia | 9.11 (65) | Victoria | 19.16 (130) | Subiaco Oval | 38,000 | 16 July 1985 |
1984
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 16.8 (104) | Victoria | 16.12 (108) | Football Park | 52,719 | 15 May 1984 |
| Western Australia | 21.16 (142) | Victoria | 21.12 (138) | Subiaco Oval | 42,500 | 17 July 1984 |
1983
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 26.16 (172) | Victoria | 17.14 (16) | Football Park | 42,521 | 16 May 1983 |
| Western Australia | 16.22 (118) | Victoria | 16.19 (115) | Subiaco Oval | 44,213 | 12 July 1983 |
1982
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 18.19 (127) | Victoria | 21.13 (139) | Football Park | 40,399 | 17 May 1982 |
| Western Australia | 15.11 (101) | Victoria | 19.10 (124) | Subiaco Oval | 29,182 | 13 July 1982 |
1981
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Western Australia | 16.23 (119) | Victoria | 13.12 (90) | Subiaco Oval | 26,000 | 27 May 1981 |
| Tasmania | 16.12 (108) | Victoria | 31.20 (206) | North Hobart Oval | 6,349 | 4 July 1981 |
| Queensland | 12.18 (90) | Victoria | 32.29 (221) | Gabba | 9,000 | 12 July 1981 |
1980
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Victoria | 18.15 (123) | Western Australia | 15.12 (102) | Waverley Park | 31,467 | 5 July 1980 |
| Queensland | 16.10 (106) | Victoria | 28.18 (186) | Gabba | 16,000 | 6 July 1980 |
| ACT | 13.17 (95) | Victoria | 11.16 (82) | Manuka Oval | 10,600 | 6 July 1980 |
1980 – Second State-of-Origin Australian Championships
The second State-of-Origin Australian Championships were held in Adelaide in October 1980, but were a financial disaster for the organisers, with only 28,245 people attending the four games. Following this series, the VFL decided to not participate in any future carnivals which put the future of the carnival concept in doubt. Graham Cornes was awarded the Tassie Medal with 12 votes, ahead of Geoff Raines and Maurice Rioli with 6 votes and Mark Williams, Brian Peake and Geoff Southby with 4 votes.[2]
| Round | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Semi Final 1 | South Australia | 22.18 (150) | Tasmania | 8.13 (61) | Football Park | 10,666 | 11 October 1980 |
| Semi Final 2 | Victoria | 14.20 (104) | Western Australia | 9.15 (69) | Football Park | 10,666 (double-header) | 11 October 1980 |
| 3rd Place Final | Western Australia | 17.23 (125) | Tasmania | 12.18 (90) | Football Park | 17,579 | 13 October 1980 |
| Grand Final | Victoria | 15.12 (102) | South Australia | 12.13 (85) | Football Park | 17,579 (double-header) | 13 October 1980 |
1979
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| South Australia | 6.13 (49) | Victoria | 15.20 (110) | Football Park | 32,054 | 21 May 1979 |
| Tasmania | 8.14 (62) | Victoria | 26.21 (177) | North Hobart Oval | 12,197 | 18 June 1979 |
1979 - Perth State of Origin Carnival
| Round | Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Section 1 Qualification Play Off | Tasmania | 17.20 (122) | Queensland | 13.12 (90) | Perth Oval | - | 4 October 1979 |
| Section 1 Semi Final 1 | Western Australia | 23.33 (171) | Tasmania | 9.10 (64) | Subiaco Oval | - | 6 October 1979 |
| Section 1 Semi Final 2 | Victoria | 25.30 (180) | South Australia | 20.15 (135) | Subiaco Oval | 15,186 | 6 October 1979 |
| Section 2 Final | Queensland | 23.13 (151) | ACT | 18.12 (120) | Leederville Oval | - | 7 October 1979 |
| Section 1 3rd Place Playoff | South Australia | 22.20 (152) | Tasmania | 17.11 (113) | Subiaco Oval | - | 8 October 1979 |
| Section 1 Final | Western Australia | 17.21 (123) | Victoria | 16.12 (108) | Subiaco Oval | 30,876 | 8 October 1979 |
1978
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Tasmania | 18.6 (114) | Victoria | 25.11 (161) | North Hobart Oval | 16,776 | 10 June 1978 |
| Victoria | 25.13 (163) | Western Australia | 8.15 (63) | Waverley Park | 45,192 | 10 July 1978 |
| ACT | 12.11 (83) | Victoria | 21.21 (147) | Manuka Oval | 10,300 | 11 June 1978 |
| Western Australia | 14.17 (101) | Victoria | 17.13 (115) | Subiaco Oval | 30,195 | 7 October 1978 |
1977
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Ground | Crowd | Date |
| Western Australia | 13.12 (90) | Victoria | 23.16 (154) | Subiaco Oval | 44,891 | 25 June 1977 |
| Western Australia | 23.13 (151) | Victoria | 8.9 (57) | Subiaco Oval | 25,467 | 8 October 1977 |
The best player on the ground during these State of Origin matches was awarded a particular medal.
Following the death of Ted Whitten — who is regarded as one of the finest ever players of Australian rules — from prostate cancer in 1995, his son Ted Whitten Jr organised an interstate charity match between teams of retired players, to raise money for research into the disease. The only two teams which have taken part in these games are Victoria and the All Stars (similar to the AFL's "Allies"), who represent the rest of Australia. The first E. J. Whitten Legends Game was played at Whitten Oval in 1995, and it has become an annual event. The games have often attracted crowds of over 10,000, and this has resulted in them being moved from Whitten Oval to Optus Oval, Adelaide Oval (South Australia) and the Telstra Dome.
Games between representative teams of players in the several competitions – VFL (VFA before 1996), SANFL, WAFL, AFL Queensland, AFL Canberra and AFL Sydney – still occur, with most leagues usually playing one interstate game each year. Frontline AFL players are generally excluded from these games, although members of AFL rookie lists often play. Tasmania left representative matches off the calendar after 1999, after the statewide league folded and separate North and South leagues were introduced. They re-entered the state league arena in 2007 at Launceston, in addition to the intrastate match between the North and South leagues, AFL Tasmania put together a team to play AFL Queensland. The Northern Territory Football League (now AFL-NT) has opted for challenging AFL or other league clubs just before the end of their season. They haven't played against another league since 1995.
An agreement was reached between the South Australian, Western Australian and Victorian leagues in 2003 following that year's match between the WAFL and the SANFL, in which a three-match rotation system was introduced. This would see each league play each other once every three years which also involved a rotation of hosting rights. Under this agreement, unless alternative competition could be arranged, one of the three participating leagues would not be involved in interstate competition for one season. However, with the introduction of the AFL's state league club-based Foxtel Cup, these matches are currently in limbo with the 2011 contest between the SA and Victorian leagues subsequently cancelled.
The State League Representative matches, like State of Origin, have individual best on ground medals as well.
State League Representative Match Results (1991–)****
| Year | Result | Venue |
| 1991 | WAFL 17.20 (122) SANFL 11.12 (78) | Subiaco Oval |
| 1992 | SANFL 9.18 (72) WAFL 9.12 (66) | AAMI Stadium |
| 1993 | WAFL 15.20 (110) SANFL 13.8 (86) | WACA Ground |
| TFL 11.8 (74) QLD 9.10 (64) | Bellerive Oval | |
| 1994 | AFL-NT 15.13(103) VFA 12.8 (80) | Melbourne |
| WAFL 10.14 (74) SANFL 7.18 (60) | AAMI Stadium | |
| QLD 18.18 (126) TFL 10.10 (70) | Brisbane | |
| 1995 | AFL-NT 11.11 (77) ACT 9.16 (70) | Canberra |
| TFL 14.15 (99) SANFL 12.12 (84) | North Hobart Oval | |
| WAFL 14.14 (98) QLD 8.17 (65) | Brisbane | |
| VFA 16.15 (111) NSW 2.7 (19) | Melbourne | |
| 1996 | VFL 15.18 (108) TFL 13.8 (86) | Melbourne |
| SANFL 15.20 (110) WAFL 6.9 (45) | Subiaco Oval | |
| 1997 | SANFL 13.17 (95) ACT 8.5 (53) | Canberra |
| VFL 11.25 (91) ACT 10.6 (66) | Canberra | |
| 1998 | SANFL 17.13 (115) WAFL 10.10 (70) | AAMI Stadium |
| TFL 13.10 (88) VFL 6.17 (53) | North Hobart Oval | |
| 1999 | SANFL 12.11 (83) VFL 8.11 (59) | MCG |
| ACT 9.11 (65) NSW 9.6 (60) | Sydney | |
| WAFL 20.12 (132) TSFL 10.14 (74) | Kalgoorlie | |
| 2000 | SANFL 15.17 (107) def. WAFL 8.17 (65) | Adelaide Oval |
| 2001 | SANFL 20.14 (134) def. VFL 14.12 (96) | Adelaide Oval |
| 2002 | VFL 18.17 (125) def. SANFL 10.9 (69) | Adelaide Oval |
| WAFL 24.15 (159) def. QLD 6.12 (48) | Fremantle Oval | |
| 2003 | SANFL 17.16 (118) def. WAFL 8.10 (58) | Fremantle Oval |
| QLD 10.9 (69) def. ACT 5.13 (43) | Brisbane Cricket Ground | |
| 2004 | VFL 10.9 (69) def. WAFL 8.10 (58) | Leederville Oval |
| QLD 10.11 (71) def. ACT 8.9 (57) | Manuka Oval | |
| 2005 | SANFL 20.8 (128) def. VFL 18.16 (124) | TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne |
| WAFL 18.21 (129) QLD 11.5 (71) | Carrara Oval | |
| QLD 18.14 (122) ACT 12.12 (84) | Manuka Oval | |
| 2006 | SANFL 14.14 (98) def. WAFL 12.9 (81) | Adelaide Oval |
| 2007 | VFL 25.11 (161) def. WAFL 5.12 (42) | TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne |
| ACT 16.11 (107) def. NSW 14.9 (93) | Manuka Oval | |
| QLD 13.7 (85) def. TAS 10.14 (74) | Aurora Stadium, Launceston | |
| 2008 | SANFL 25.11 (161) def. VFL 14.12 (96) | Adelaide Oval |
| WAFL 24.20 (164) def. QLD 14.7 (97) | Tony Ireland Stadium, Townsville | |
| 2009 | WAFL 12.10 (82) def. SANFL 12.9 (81) | Leederville Oval |
| TSL 20.9 (129) def. QLD 11.14 (80) | Bellerive Oval | |
| 2010 | VFL 20.11 (131) def. WAFL 11.11 (77) | Leederville Oval |
For the 150th celebrations of Australian Football, the AFL staged a once-off interstate match, the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match.
Greg Champion performed a song called Don't let the Big V Down after the traditional navy blue jumper with a large white V used to represent Victoria in such games. It tells the story of a young man playing his first game for the state, when he's approached by a man who advises him to not "let the Big V down, not when EJ's around"
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