However, the 63-year-old, who played 150 AFL matches for Footscray, the Brisbane Bears and Collingwood, said the match could also prove an entertaining goal-fest.
“Scott and Cox will be like the Ringling Brothers Circus, having to juggle so many midfielders, so they’re going to have to push a few forward, so it could be a shootout,” he said.
Max Gawn and Tom Barrass at Perth Airport on Wednesday.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“The players will need to look after themselves as well, because when the adrenaline is running, they’ll start playing, because they’re the best of the best of their current crop.”
Hardie, who was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2019, said he played in some amazing Origin contests, but he couldn’t separate the 1984 and ’86 games against Victoria.
WA won both contests by less than a kick.
The respected football commentator said what he remembered most was the noise from the crowd at Subiaco Oval.
“The fans were delirious,” he said. “There were about seven lead changes in the last quarter of the ’86 game, so the fans were riding every bump, every kick, every handball, and every tackle.”
Former West Coast enforcer Karl Langdon, who played in WA’s last outing against the Big V in 1992, is a passionate advocate for the State of Origin concept.
“I reckon it’s brilliant and outside of a premiership, which only one team can win each year, it’s the next best thing,” he said.
“If the best play against the best, you’ve got the spirit in which we used to play, the pride of the jumper, and the representation of your state, then I’m all for it.
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“I always have been.”
Langdon, who played 100 games for the Eagles, said the WA players were champing at the bit to don the state jumper featuring the iconic black swan.
The 1992 premiership player said the match would be anything but friendly.
“I think that the players have openly said prior to the decision being made that they wanted to represent WA,” he said.
“I think that’s probably the main reason they’re now revitalising the concept, and if the players are happy, then ultimately the fans will support it.”
“But the AFL has to make it worthwhile because, if you look at the NRL’s State of Origin, it’s almost more important than their grand final.”
Langdon said his favourite Origin moment was thumping the Victorians at the WACA ground in 1991.
The co-host of the Radio 6PR Breakfast show said the game meant so much to him that he swapped jumpers with Victorian legend Paul Roos after the final siren.
“If you look at the makeup of the Victorian side, it was a bloody good team,” he said.
“From my own personal experience, and having played a few times, that ’91 game was by far the most satisfying because we beat the Vics on home soil.
“I can’t remember how many people were at the game, but I remember there were some beer snakes out near the hill.”
Naturally, Langdon is tipping the Sandgropers to win.
“I’m only barracking for one team, and that’s Western Australia,” he said.
“And I don’t care if it’s by one point.”
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