10 matchups we want to see at the opening bounce of State of Origin

With the AFL's State of Origin match between Victoria and the All-Stars set for Friday February 28, we've listed 10 matchups we want to see at the opening bounce. While the teams are yet to be announced for the once-off charity match, these are the dream contests we want to see. In no particular order, here are the 10 dream Origin matchups we want to see: Max Gawn vs. Brodie Grundy A matchup that we have seen before but nonetheless one we want to see again. This time the duo will be followed by elite midfield groups giving a more equal battleground for the big men to do their work. Gawn will no longer be handicapped by Melbourne's struggling engine room as opposed to Grundy's elite midfield at the Pies which may give us a more even look at the pairing. [caption id="attachment_35184" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 10: Brodie Grundy of the Magpies and Max Gawn of the Demons compete for the ball during the 2019 AFL round 12 match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Melbourne Demons at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 10, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Stephen Coniglio vs. Josh Kelly A duel we may never see again, GWS' star midfield duo both recently signed long-term deals and look set to be Giants for life. If we are do never see this matchup again, we surely deserve just one look at it. At times, both looked like they might leave the Giants but stayed loyal. Now they can play 'what could've have been' if one had left. Two Perhaps the winner of this battle will be stuck with a tag for the opening weeks of the 2020 season. [caption id="attachment_29118" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 27: Josh Kelly of the Giants celebrates after the round 6 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants at Sydney Cricket Ground on April 27, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)[/caption] Adam Saad vs. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti The two Essendon speedsters would make for incredible viewing on the fast track of Marvel Stadium. And nothing would be more exhilarating than an open fifty and these two chasing a loose ball over the top. The speed and agility on show would be a true display of what our game has to offer as well as highlight what the indigenous community have brought to the game and would light up Marvel. [caption id="attachment_32898" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti of the Bombers celebrates a match winning goal during the 2019 AFL round 17 match between the Essendon Bombers and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium on July 13, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] Charlie Cameron vs. Tom Stewart Two All-Australians who represent completely different styles, Cameron is fast, electrifying and creative while Stewart is a man who gets the job done by any means and without much showmanship. Who's to say what style is better? But if they clash we may get an idea of what style comes out on top. Will pace and dash be too much or will wile and poise be what wins out? [caption id="attachment_22151" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 05: Tom Stewart of the Cats is tackled during the round 16 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Geelong Cats at Sydney Cricket Ground on July 5, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)[/caption] Dane Rampe vs. Toby Greene Please let us have this matchup and please mic the boys up. While we may need a good man on the censor button the banter and the constant nipping at each other would provide for some great entertainment. Neither man would take a backward step and that's what we love to see! [caption id="attachment_11759" align="alignnone" width="1024"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Toby Greene of the Giants celebrates a goal during the 2017 AFL round 05 match between the Sydney Swans and the GWS Giants at the Sydney Cricket Ground on April 22, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Nat Fyfe vs. Dustin Martin A matchup we have seen a few times before but not one we are yet tired of, two players with styles that will force the other into areas somewhat foreign to them. Fyfe will take Dusty to the air while Martin may lead the Fremantle skipper on a merry dance with his burst speed. Dusty is the reigning Norm Smith medalist and Fyfe the Brownlow medalist. Both dual winners and out to prove who is the best player in the game heading into 2020. [caption id="attachment_20122" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, VICTORIA - MAY 06: Dustin Martin of the Tigers beats the tackle of Nat Fyfe of the Dockers during the 2018 AFL round seven match between the Richmond Tigers and the Fremantle Dockers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 6, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Harris Andrews vs. Jeremy Cameron Two of the best key position players in the game today, Cameron is the reigning Coleman medalist and Harris Andrews an All-Australian last year. And this duel goes even deeper. Andrews was knocked out cold by a stray and somewhat reckless elbow from Cameron in 2018 that saw the Giant forward miss six weeks. While all seems to be forgiven now, maybe the atmosphere of a full Marvel Stadium can get the blood boiling and perhaps bring out some underlying grudges. [caption id="attachment_21301" align="alignnone" width="785"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 23: Harris Andrews of the Lions collides with Jeremy Cameron of the Giants during the round 14 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Greater Western Sydney Giants at The Gabba on June 23, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)[/caption] Mark Blicavs vs. Tom Hawkins Tom Hawkins seems unstoppable when body to body with his direct opponent. He bullies defenders and makes them look out of their depth. But if one man is to know how he does this and how to avoid the trap while exploiting some flaws Hawkins may have, it will be Blicavs. The former steeplechase athlete will have seen Hawkins do his work every day and will have matched up with him at training countless times. We would love to see a new way to combat the TommaHawk. [caption id="attachment_4655" align="alignnone" width="594"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 30: Tom Hawkins of the Cats marks the ball during the round six AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Gold Coast Suns at Simonds Stadium on April 30, 2016 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)[/caption] Tim Kelly vs. Patrick Dangerfield Yes, we will get to see this match up in 2020 after Kelly finally got his move back home to West Coast. But why wait? The two stars were dominant forces throughout 2019 in the Geelong midfield and perhaps cost each other a Brownlow Medal in the process. Maybe now we will get to see who was Geelong's best midfielder and exactly how costly losing Kelly might prove to be. [caption id="attachment_30403" align="alignnone" width="1024"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 15: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats breaks away from Jack Steele of the Saints during the 2018 AFL Round 04 match between the Geelong Cats and the St Kilda Saints at GMHBA Stadium on April 15, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)[/caption] Patrick Cripps vs. Marcus Bontempelli Both 2013 first-round draft picks, both captains of their club and both seen as the future faces of the game. Cripps and Bontempelli have gone head to head a few times with differing results and we are ready for another duel. As the Bulldogs' new captain, Bontempelli will want to show his ready to take the next step and what better stage to do so. A contest that will consume the AFL landscape over the next decade may well take centre stage and announce themselves as the faces of the game as of right now! Surrounded by elite teammates, a chance Cripps would be longing for and may well use as a final definitive stamp on his position as the games premium player. [caption id="attachment_33440" align="alignnone" width="1024"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 15: Patrick Cripps of the Blues and Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs line up on each other in the centre of the ground during the round 13 AFL match between the Carlton Blues and the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on June 15, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)[/caption]

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	ADEL	23	18	5	72	139.3
2	GEEL	23	17	6	68	141.5
3	BL	23	16	6	66	114.2
4	COLL	23	16	7	64	122.4
5	GWS	23	16	7	64	115.3
6	FRE	23	16	7	64	109
7	GC	23	15	8	60	124.9
8	HAW	23	15	8	60	120.9

10 matchups we want to see at the opening bounce of State of Origin

We list 10 dream matchups for the AFL’s bushfire relief Origin match.

8. Adam Saad vs. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

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