A former Victorian State of Origin representative has highlighted the importance of the State of Origin becoming a regular fixture.
Jeff White, who played 268 games for Melbourne and Fremantle, aspired to represent his state growing up and got that opportunity in 1998.
For the match to reclaim its lustre from that era, White has stressed the importance of the AFL sticking with the idea long term.
"It needs to be consistently done; that's the only way it's going to be aspirational again," White told Zero Hanger.
"People my age would attest to that. You'd look at who the Vics were playing each year and look forward to it.
"From when I was 13-14 and seriously pursuing footy, it was on every year, and it was great. There was Plugger (Tony Lockett), Stewart Loewe, Gary Ablett and Jason Dunstall in the forward line.
"I love that the superstars of the game are going to buy into it this weekend. They'll be fighting for their state, and that's what it should be."
White developed friendships with David King, Shaun Hart, Peter Everitt and more and relished the opportunity to play under Leigh Matthews in 1998.
He was also in the 1999 squad - the most recent proper Origin clash - but did not play.
"It was my dream to play State of Origin," White said. "I still remember our first training session at the MCG when I pulled on the Big V.
"I always wanted to play State of Origin growing up, and it's hard to express to (younger people) how much we looked forward to State of Origin.
"All these great players were playing with each other, so it's sad that the generation in the last 20 years haven't been able to experience it, so I'm looking forward to it."
White recalls the thrill of being his team's starting ruck in his Origin match.
"I remember the night before Leigh Matthews said ‘Spida' Everitt would start in the ruck and I'd start on the bench and we got into the team meeting just before the game and I saw my name in the centre square, and I thought ‘what's going on here'," White recalled.
"Leigh Matthews said, ‘Whitey' just get up and punch it and we'll attack it' so suddenly I was in the centre bounce.
"It was an unreal experience wearing the Big V."
